Los Angeles Chargers running back Isaiah Spiller is fighting to be Austin Ekeler’s backup in 2022. Will Spiller produce enough to be on your fantasy football roster, and what is his current ADP in fantasy drafts?
Isaiah Spiller ADP | Is he worth his current price in fantasy drafts?
Spiller’s current ADP is 120th overall as the 45th running back selected in fantasy drafts. This means he’s being taken in the 12th round of standard leagues. Other players drafted in his range include Kenneth Gainwell and Nyheim Hines.
I had high hopes for Spiller after the Chargers snatched him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Though he botched his 40-yard dash throughout the draft process, Spiller was an impressive runner at Texas A&M. In terms of talent, he should’ve been a massive upgrade behind Ekeler, considering his competition is Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree.
However, Spiller hasn’t run away with the job. He’s split time as the backup and third-teamer throughout the preseason. His production was almost nil until an ankle injury limited his availability after the second preseason game. The running backs in this ADP range are clear backups.
Spiller has the talent to win the job and potentially start if Ekeler suffers an injury. Yet, his résumé hasn’t been as impressive as Rachaad White and Khalil Herbert, for example. He’s almost pure projection on a unit that has struggled to produce an efficient back besides Ekeler in recent years.
I’m fading Spiller at his current ADP despite my initial optimism. He’s not a bad pick, but he’s a high-risk one who has to have more go right for him compared to his peers if he even gets the chance.
Spiller’s projected fantasy value in 2022
We certainly don’t want Ekeler to suffer an injury, but that’s likely the only pathway for Spiller to have fantasy relevance. Ekeler has only started more than 10 games once in his career. It’s very possible he misses some time in 2022, and the door opens for Spiller for a few games.
However, we don’t know that the job is his or that the Chargers won’t rely on Justin Herbert more. Ekeler is a unique talent who draws a huge workload, but the Chargers haven’t treated his backups as if they’re capable clones.
If you can land Spiller as your RB5, he has upside value as a swing pick. But be prepared to move on from Spiller if you need a more impactful player in the short term. Rostering Spiller is a deliberate hold for an Ekeler injury.