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Week 5 Fantasy Football Preview: San Diego Chargers

Each week, we take a look at San Diego Chargers players that are popular in fantasy football and see what kind of matchup they have. This week, we've added a new player.

By John Gennaro
John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

Philip Rivers

Quarterbacks have done great against the New Orleans Saints' defense this season. All of them. Look at this:

  • Robert Griffin III - 19/26, 320 yds, 2 TDs (42 rush yds)
  • Cam Newton - 14/20, 253 yds, 1 TD (71 rush yds, 1 rush TD)
  • Matt Cassel - 26/44. 248 yds, 1 INT
  • Aaron Rodgers - 31/41, 319 pass yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT (13 rush yds)

Start or Sit: Start



Antonio Gates

Jermichael Finley had 4 catches for 54 yards against the Saints last week, and is far and away the most successful TE against the Saints this season. Tony Moeaki, Greg Olsen and Fred Davis all had poor games (stat-wise) against the Saints. This isn't all that surprising, seeing as how the Saints moved Malcolm Jenkins from CB to Safety and have had him playing on opposing TEs quite often.

Start or Sit: Sit, if you have another starting TE with a favorable matchup.



Ryan Mathews

The Saints run defense is not good. Let's look at how starting RBs have done against them this season.

  • Alfred Morris - 28 carries, 96 rush yds, 2 rush TDs
  • DeAngelo Williams - 14 carries, 69 rush yds, 1 rush TD
  • Jonathan Stewart - 11 carries, 51 rush yds, 1 catch, 17 rec yds, 1 rec TD
  • Jamaal Charles - 33 carries, 233 rush yds, 1 rush TD, 6 catches, 55 rec yds
  • Cedric Benson - 18 carries, 84 yds, 4 catches, 22 rec yds

Those Williams/Stewart numbers should show you that there's plenty of room for both Mathews and Battle to get their stats in this game.

Start or Sit: Start



Jackie Battle

A new-comer to this post! Battle is the new Mike Tolbert, the San Diego Chargers' "touchdown vulture" that will get most of the goal line carries and probably finish with the most rushing touchdowns. Mathews will put up enough stats without those touches (as he did last year), and Battle becomes a fantasy option because of them.

Start or Sit: Start



Malcom Floyd

The Saints may have given up a few big plays to guys like Pierre Garcon, but they've actually done quite well as slowing down #1 WRs. Let's look:

  • Santana Moss - 3 catches, 47 yds
  • Steve Smith - 3 catches, 104 yds
  • Dwayne Bowe - 7 catches, 70 yds
  • Greg Jennings - 1 catch, 9 yds, 1 TD

The big numbers have come from the second or third WRs (Garcon, Jordy Nelson, Brandon LaFell, Jamaal Charles), spelling a possible big game for Eddie Royal or Robert Meachem. I wouldn't expect a touchdown or 100 yards from Floyd, though.

Start or Sit: Sit

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