Start ‘em or Sit ‘em: Chargers vs. Texans

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

START: Deshaun Watson

SIT: Philip Rivers

Watson is just on the fringe of elite fantasy quarterbacks and this is a game where he should have to throw to keep up with the Chargers’ offense. He’s an easy decision to start. Rivers remains a guy with a relatively high floor, but a low ceiling. He’s a sit unless you’re in a 2QB or SuperFlex league.

Running Back

START: Austin Ekeler

FLEX: Duke Johnson, Carlos Hyde

SIT: Justin Jackson

The Chargers current RB1 is also a clear cut fantasy RB1. You start him every week that he’s healthy. This week is no different. Johnson and Hyde get the plus matchup this week, but as long as they’re splitting carries, they’re more flex plays than they are RB2s. That said, if you feel good about either getting the lion’s share of carries, you should start them because L.A. is a soft matchup against running backs.

Wide Receiver

START: DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen

FLEX: Mike Williams, Will Fuller

SIT: Kenny Stills, Keke Coutee

Hopkins and Allen are two of the top-5 receivers (fantasy or otherwise) in the NFL. Both are looking at a plus matchup this week. WR1 doesn’t get much more obvious than these two. Both Williams and Fuller are WR3 with upside this week. You can feel confident with either in your flex spot. Stills and Coutee can’t count on enough targets to be confident starts, but if you’re desperate both have the opportunity for a high ceiling to go with their low floors.

Tight End

DROP: Virgil Green, Jordan Akins

I hope you aren’t rostering either of these guys. I assume you aren’t. If you are, you should fix that.

Kicker

START: Ka’imi Fairbairn

Michael Badgley has been downgraded to doubtful, and Ty Long can’t be counted on to make his kicks, so I doubt you’re rostering either kicker right now. Faibairn is a solid kicker on a good offense in a game that should have a lot of points. He’s pretty much a must start.

Defense

SIT: Chargers, Texans

Both teams have poor offensive lines that could lend themselves to allowing sacks, which could give these defenses a decent floor, but this projects as a high-scoring game, and I can’t recommend either as a start when there should be better options on your waiver wire.