LA Chargers: Justin Jackson is a fantasy must-start in Week 7

The LA Chargers have a must-start fantasy football running back not named Austin Ekeler.

Austin Ekeler is still out of action for the LA Chargers and is going to be out of action for the foreseeable future, as head coach Anthony Lynn confirmed that he will be coming back later rather than sooner.

That means that the LA Chargers are still deploying the running back tandem of Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson — the same tandem that we got a first glimpse of on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints.

As we predicted, Jackson got a higher workload than Kelley and proved to be the better waiver-wire pickup, at least for Week 5. Will that continue? The answer is quite simple. Not only will Jackson continue to be a better fantasy option than Kelley, but he is a must-start in your leagues in Week 7.

Why Justin Jackson is a must-start fantasy football running back in Week 7:

First off, let me say this: if your team is loaded with running backs and flex options then Jackson won’t be a starting option for you. But this article isn’t for the 6-0 first-place team that has Derrick Henry, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Mike Davis as his running backs.

This is for the people like myself, who have both Dalvin Cook and Austin Ekeler on their fantasy teams. The people that wisely picked up Jackson prior to Week 5. The people that have legitimate roster decisions to make.

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If you have Justin Jackson on your roster and you are debating it: start him. If he is still available in your league and you are iffy about your production this week: start him.

Jackson is going to feast in Week 7.

He already had a solid game in Week 5 that was definitely worthy of a flex spot in your starting lineup. He carried the ball 15 times for 71 yards, adding five receptions for 23 yards. Good enough for 14.4 points in a PPR league. Not bad.

Jackson and the LA Chargers are coming up against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who allow the fifth-most rushing yards per game this season. The Jaguars have also allowed 36 receptions to running backs this season for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Joe Mixon’s fantasy boom came against the Jaguars, DeAndre Swift and Adrian Peterson combined for a lot of points last week, David Johnson had his best game of the season. This Jaguars team really struggles against running backs.

Jackson got far more shares of the offense than Kelley did against New Orleans and I expect that to continue in Week 7. Kelley averages the fewest yards per attempt among any running back with at least 60 attempts this season. He is a good short-yardage back, he does not have the dynacism that Jackson has.

Plus, the Chargers should rout the Jaguars. Yes, they are 1-4, but they have a legitimate offense with Justin Herbert under center. The team is going to get out to a big lead and Jackson is going to start to eat.

I see Jackson carrying the ball 20 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. He will also add five receptions for 40 yards.

That is 23 points in a PPR league, 18 in a non-PPR league. Justin Jackson is a must-start fantasy option in Week 7.