San Diego Chargers: It’s Kenneth Farrow’s time to shine

The San Diego Chargers’ 2016 season has included one disappointment after another. The playoffs are out of sight and the injuries pile up on a weekly basis.

Most recently, running back Melvin Gordon was carted off the field with a hip injury. For Week 15, Gordon has been described as “highly unlikely” to play. That will open the door for Kenneth Farrow to take his crack at making a big impression.

Farrow would get the start in Gordon’s place against the Oakland Raiders and split time with Ronnie Hillman, who should see his first action of the season.

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Last week against the Carolina Panthers, Farrow was given 16 carries after replacing Gordon. He gained 55 yards on the ground while also catching six passes out of the backfield. It’s telling that the Chargers are willing to put their trust in an undrafted rookie. Of course, injuries have put them in that spot too.

That said, this is Farrow’s time. You don’t get a lot of chances in the NFL, especially if you’re undrafted out of college. Farrow must grab this opportunity by the horns and show those unfamiliar with him what he is capable of.

Farrow looked good from the day training camp opened this past summer. He looked so good during practices that many Chargers weren’t at all surprised that he made the final 53-man roster. In fact, most expected it.

The Raiders may be 10-3, but they have not defended the run well this season. They have allowed an average of 120 yards per game on the ground. Only six teams in the league have given up more.

Hillman will get a few carries to spell Farrow, but this is going to be Farrow’s day in the sun. He should get a minimum of 20 touches in this game, so if you’re still alive in your fantasy playoffs and you’re short of options, you could do a lot worse than this guy.

So even if you could care less about the rest of this season for the Chargers, root for this guy.

One of the true bright spots this season has been the play of Gordon, but he needs some help in that backfield in the future, right? Danny Woodhead is an unrestricted free agent following the season. Perhaps a solid performance by Farrow in the next three games (if he’s needed in each of them) would help the Chargers make a decision on that front.

All kinds of possibilities, and if you think this is all wishful thinking, then you should become more familiar with Farrow’s game.