Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler has not played in either of the last two weeks. As a result, fantasy football managers are sweating on his injury status for Week 4. Let’s look into Ekeler and see what the latest is regarding his injury, whether he is going to play today, and what alternatives fantasy managers should be looking at if he is not.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
Update: Austin Ekeler is inactive for the Chargers’ Week 4 game.
Is Austin Ekeler Going To Play Week 4?
Ekeler has failed to play in each of the last two weeks since being injured in the Week 1 defeat to the Miami Dolphins. In that game, Ekeler sustained an ankle injury.
There was some optimism for fantasy managers this week when Ekeler logged a limited practice on Wednesday. He then went on to log limited practices on both Thursday and Friday.
However, on Saturday, the Chargers listed Ekeler’s official injury status as doubtful. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that Ekeler will be playing today versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
Consequently, who should fantasy managers consider starting instead of Ekeler in Week 4?
Potential Fantasy Options If Ekeler Is Out: Zack Moss, Jerome Ford, and De’Von Achane
While Ekeler is listed as doubtful for today’s contest with the Raiders, fantasy managers should have been prepared for this eventuality.
There have been some good waiver wire options to pick up in Ekeler’s absence, and three of them remain decent replacement options for him today.
Zack Moss was the immediate replacement who was available on the Week 2 waiver wire after Deon Jackson’s disastrous Week 1 performance. Moss was also readily available on the waiver wire in Week 3 after turning in an RB10 performance in Week 2.
Moss is currently ranked as the RB11 in the PFN Consensus Rankings. He has returned back-to-back top-12 RB finishes since leading the backfield for the Colts in Week 2. Jackson has since been cut and Evan Hull moved to IR, meaning Moss has almost no competition for touches out of the backfield.
Moss remains a strong option amid the status of lead back Jonathan Taylor remaining unclear. If fantasy managers grabbed Moss, he is a must-start option until further notice.
Another option for Ekeler managers would have been Jerome Ford. Ford became the next man up after a horrific season-ending injury to Nick Chubb on Monday Night Football in Week 2 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ford has stepped in admirably, and he even came through in a tough matchup with the Tennesee Titans last week as the RB7 in PPR scoring. Today, Ford has the Baltimore Ravens as his opponent.
Ford is currently ranked as the RB19 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings. Ford has a safe floor with significant upside, as he has demonstrated since stepping in for Chubb. Ford should also be considered a must-start this week — and most weeks going forward.
The last option would be last week’s RB1 De’Von Achane. A monstrous 51.3 PPR points made him the player to add off of the Week 4 waiver wire. If Ekeler managers had not managed to grab Moss or Ford, I imagine they would have gone all-in on Achane.
MORE: NFL Bye Weeks Schedule 2023
Achane has clearly shown he is a viable option going forward. He also received six of the Dolphins’ eight touches by running backs inside the 10-yard line in their 70-20 win vs. the Denver Broncos.
While it is unlikely we will see Achane with the points haul he amassed last week, he is still someone you can start in a pinch. Achane is currently the RB29 in our PFN Consensus Rankings due to the presence of Raheem Mostert. However, as already mentioned, it appears that Achane could be in line for the goal-line work in Miami. Therefore, he is someone you could start with considerable upside.
Just be warned that there could be a low floor with Achane should Mostert continue to impress and the scoreline against the Buffalo Bills remain close. After all, according to DraftKings, the Dolphins start as 2.5-point underdogs vs. the Bills. That will mean less rushing action potential for Mostert and Achane.