Chargers fantasy preview: Hunter Henry set for big week vs. Packers
Chargers Fantasy Preview: Wide receivers and the kicking game
The receiving game
No wide receiver for the Chargers has really been lighting up the stat sheet over the last couple weeks. Allen was hobbled last week on a hurt hamstring, and Mike Williams dropped a touchdown pass that was right in his hands. The going will get a little bit easier in Week 9, but those still remain the only two startable options at wideout. Starting Allen is a must, and flexing Williams still probably isn’t a bad idea if your team has him.
Going forward, it’s possible guys like Andre Patton, Jason Moore, and Geremy Davis start to get a few more looks a game just from the standpoint of trying to mix up the offense under Steichen. However, none of them will get games with the desired quantity of targets to make them fantasy-relevant, as the most they can probably expect is still one or two a game. Allen and Williams are still the only ones to go with for now.
The kicking game
Michael Badgley is officially back from his long absence with an injured groin. The first start this season will come against Green Bay, and fantasy owners may want to take notice. Badgley’s probably available in your league since he’s been gone the whole year with Ty Long and Chase McLaughlin subbing in.
How Badgley performs following his injury remains to be seen, but it may not be the worst idea to pick him. Badgley hit clutch kicks as well as some deep kicks down the stretch, one of them ending up setting the record for the longest field goal in team history. Kickers aren’t always consistent from year to year, unless they happen to be Justin Tucker, but rolling with Badgley through the rest of the season may not be a bad idea. He missed just one field goal last year and is going to want to prove the Chargers made the right decision by waiting.
All things considered, the Chargers should put up a better offensive effort than last week, leading to better fantasy days. The only unit fantasy players should really be advised against is the Chargers’ defense. And well, if people have to be advised to not start a defense against Rodgers, they might not be that good at fantasy.
As long as Gordon and Ekeler keep finding the end zone, fantasy players have to ride the hot hands, even if both still struggle on the ground. Rivers feels due for a bounce-back game against a defense that isn’t as suffocating as Chicago at home. Henry is easily the favorite offensive weapon from a fantasy standpoint today.
Next. How the Chargers will defeat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers
The only trustworthy receivers remain Allen and Williams, and even they’ve struggled to get into the end zone in recent weeks. It may be a relatively safe bet that one of them is able to find pay dirt on Sunday, though. The fantasy note to watch is the changing of the kickers, with fan-favorite Badgley finally returning from injury for his first start in 2019.