Chargers Daily Links: PFF grades Austin Ekeler as best pass-catching back in NFL

Yesterday, Pro Football Focus announced the top receiving grades for running backs in the NFL and you won’t believe who earned the top spot.

Austin Ekeler, the team’s free agent equivalent of the pink panther diamond, was graded as the best receiving running back in the league with a 94.2. He ended up just above last year’s Offensive Player of the Year in Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara of the Saints. Both players behind him have been two of the best backs in the league over the last three seasons and the 2020 season might be Ekeler’s best chance to raise his all-around game to the level of those two superstars.

Ekeler fell short of 1,000 yards receiving in 2019 by just seven yards while setting a career-high in rushing with 557. While his receiving total is higher than any of Kamara’s previous seasons, McCaffrey is still on a whole other level after joining the elite 1,000-1,000 club last season when he totaled 1,387 rushing yards to go with 1,005 receiving. With a new quarterback under center this year, it’ll be tough to see Ekeler get anywhere near those numbers, but it won’t be from a lack of trying.

Expect to see Ekeler as the focal point as he will likely receive 18-20 touches per game as the lead ball-carrier in an adapting and evolving offense.

Now for today’s links.

Chargers News:

Jason Reed lists the five fastest players on the Chargers roster (Bolt Beat)

Get to know rookie QB Justin Hebert (Chargers.com)

Alexander Insdorf thinks TE Charles Clay is a better option than David Njoku (Bolt Beat)

Gavino Borquez goes over the offensive predictions by ESPN’s Mike Clay (Chargers Wire)

NFL News:

Jeremy Fowler ranks the league’s top-10 tight ends with help from NFL personnel (ESPN)

WR Desean Jackson apologizes for anti-semitic comments (Bleacher Report)

Patrik Walker discusses how the Mahomes deal affects Dak Prescott’s future contract (CBS Sports)

Cody Benjamin lists a bunch of things that Patrick Mahomes can buy with $503 million (CBS Sports)

QB Lamar Jackson cancels two-day kids event in Florida (Pro Football Talk)

Ted Nguyen highlights what makes QB Cam Newton a low-risk, high-reward player (The Athletic)