Start ‘em or Sit ‘em: Chargers at Lions

Each week, we will look at all of the potential fantasy starters in the Chargers’ game to help you decide if any of them should be in your fantasy lineup. We will roll through them by position groups and tag them as sits, starts, or potential flex plays. We will assume a PPR format and a 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 W/R/T flex setup.

Quarterback

SIT: Philip Rivers & Matthew Stafford

Neither team’s quarterback in this game should leave you feeling positive about having them in your starting lineup for Week 2 of the fantasy season. Rivers projects as a higher-end QB2 and Stafford as a fringe QB2, so unless you’re playing in a 2 QB or Superflex league, I hope you have other options.

Running Back

START: Austin Ekeler & Kerryon Johnson

SIT: Justin Jackson & C.J. Anderson

The Chargers RB1 should be an RB1 this weekend. The Lions struggled against David Johnson in the passing game last week and it’s fair to expect the same with Ekeler. Jackson is a fringe flex candidate, but in a game where the game script is unlikely to call for him getting a lot of snaps, I’d err on the side of benching him if you have other options. Johnson is a solid RB2 this week since he gets the majority of the Lions’ carries, and Anderson shouldn’t be anywhere near your lineup unless you’re in a deep league.

Wide Receiver

START: Keenan Allen & Kenny Golladay

SIT: Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, & Mike Williams

As he will be most weeks, Allen is a clear cut WR1 and he is a locked in starter. Golladay is a solid WR2. Jones and Amendola don’t command a big enough target share to be started against the Los Angeles secondary, and the Chargers’ Williams even if he suits up isn’t healthy enough to be counted on.

Tight End

START: T.J. Hockenson

Any tight end with a consistent target share is a worthwhile starter, and Hockenson is better than most. On the other side of the field, the Chargers basically don’t have a tight end.

Kicker

START: Matt Prater

SIT: Michael Badgley

The Lions’ Prater is an easy start as the kicker on a home favorite that plays in a dome. Badgley in his first game back from injury isn’t worth the risk.

Defense

START: Chargers DST

SIT: Lions DST

Detroit’s defense even against a banged up Chargers offense doesn’t belong in your starting lineup. And as for the Chargers, they’re pretty close to an every week starter outside truly bad matchups, and the Lions aren’t one.