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Week 16 is here. Will it be just as wild as Week 15 was? We shall see, but big-name players continue to land on the COVID-19 list, while others are injury question marks. Fantasy football managers would love nothing more than to be gifted a win in the fantasy semifinals during Christmas weekend, but you'll need to keep a close eye on all the COVID and injury news as the week progresses.
The Los Angeles Chargers were one of a handful of teams that placed a bunch of players on the COVID-19 list on Monday, including star pass-rusher Joey Bosa. Running back Austin Ekeler's name surfaced as well, putting the Chargers backfield in flux for the second straight week.
Is Austin Ekeler playing in Week 16? Is Justin Jackson or another backup worth grabbing off the waiver wire? With plenty of questions surrounding Ekeler and the Chargers RB situation this week, let's take a deeper dive into it.
Is Austin Ekeler Playing This Week Against the Texans?
Earlier in the week Austin Ekeler was placed on the COVID-19 list. There was some hope that he would be able to clear the league's COVID protocols in time to suit up for the Week 16 game against the Houston Texans, but on Saturday afternoon Ekeler announced that he is out for the week and will not be able to play:
This is an update to the previous news and reports from earlier in the week which are below.
Austin Ekeler Injury and COVID Updates
Running back Austin Ekeler's status remains up in the air for Week 16 against the Texans. It was originally announced on Monday that Ekeler was among eight Chargers players to go on the COVID-19 list, but conflicting reports surfaced. Then on Wednesday, it was officially confirmed that Ekeler has been placed on the COVID-19 list. It's unclear if he will be able to be activated in time for this week's game, so stay tuned for further updates:
The 26-year-old do-it-all back was questionable heading into last Thursday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He didn't have a full workload while nursing an ankle injury from the week prior, but he still managed to help his fantasy managers with 12 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 23 yards.
Only the Colts' Jonathan Taylor has more fantasy points at the position than Ekeler in 2021. Ekeler has 173 carries for 789 yards and 10 rushing scores, but where he really makes a difference in fantasy is in PPR leagues because of his receiving skills. He's third in the NFL in targets (79), tied for second in receptions (62), first in receiving yards (558) and first in receiving TDs (seven).
Fantasy managers that advanced in the first week of the playoffs will be crossing their fingers that Ekeler can play on Sunday against Houston. The Texans defense has allowed the most rushing yards per game (145) and the third-most fantasy points per game to RBs in 2021.
The matchup doesn't get any better, giving Ekeler the potential to be the top fantasy RB this week if he's healthy enough to play and doesn't have his workload limited for the second straight game.
Is Justin Jackson Worth Picking Up Off the Waiver Wire?
Chargers running back Justin Jackson should be a popular waiver-wire pickup heading into Week 16, especially with Austin Ekeler officially going on the COVID-19 list and his status up in the air. If Ekeler is out or limited in any way on Sunday, Jackson figures to lead L.A.'s backfield in touches.
Jackson had his best game of the season in last Thursday's overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, carrying the ball a season-high 13 times for 86 yards (6.62 yards per carry), adding one reception for 13 yards. Ekeler was nursing an ankle injury and didn't see a full workload, but Jackson showed fantasy managers what he can do with more opportunities.
The Bolts will be facing the worst rushing defense in the league this Sunday in the Houston Texans -- they give up a league-high 145 rushing yards per contest. Even if Ekeler is active, Jackson could see significant touches in mop-up duty late in the game if the Chargers are up big on the scoreboard.
Jackson is currently rostered in only 7% of Yahoo leagues, but that number should go up drastically as waiver claims are processed early Thursday morning. Those that have Ekeler rostered should definitely be considering adding Jackson as insurance, as well as any other fantasy managers that need RB help.
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