Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and his pass catchers face a lucrative opportunity against the Titans on Sunday. In this piece, we're going to break down some matchups and trends that'll help you prepare your Week 15 fantasy lineups.
Take a look at the laundry list of injuries for Tennessee. There are certainly some key names to monitor once we project the week out for LAC.
Chargers-Titans Week 15 fantasy football preview:
1. Titans Defense: Herbert prepare for takeoff
TEN gives up the second-most fantasy points (21.4), passing yards (300.5), and passing touchdowns (1.9) per game to QBs. Further, opposing QBs average 40.2 pass attempts, the highest against any defense (Pro Football Reference). All these factor into wideouts scoring an NFL-best 27.6 fantasy PPG against the Titans this season.
If we want to break things down even further, let's take a look at slot coverage.
According to PFF data, TEN allows 0.75 yards/coverage snap through the slot, the lowest in the NFL. Comprehending that with the sheer amount of volume WRs have put this year is informative. Players that see targets out wide and downfield (air yards) could be in line for some volume.
2. Keenan Allen
The veteran has played in four straight games since returning from injury in Week 11. In that time, he's scored 73.3 PPR points (top-five among all receivers), and leads his position with 6 end zone targets (PFF).
It's important to note his team-high 40 targets over the last month of the season. Although Allen's usage nowadays primarily exists through the slot, even a tough matchup like the Titans shouldn't trump pure opportunities when it comes to fantasy.
3. Mike Williams
Williams has just five games with >40 pass-play snaps this year. The most recent occurred on SNF against the Dolphins.
In that game, he caught half of all the Bolts' receptions targeted 10+ yards downfield (PFF). When healthy, Williams is *the* deep/contested-catch threat in this offense.
Took some inspiration from @Marcus_Mosher and recreated his most Big Plays table but for defenses to see which defenses have allowed the most big plays this year. The table's not as pretty as his but it gets the job done. pic.twitter.com/2Ibn5GYIYb
— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) December 14, 2022
The Titans are a top-pass funnel defense, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he and Allen both put up their own monster weeks.
4. Joshua Palmer
According to nfelo, Josh Palmer and Keenan Allen account for over half of the team's 3rd down target share. Palmer provided his best fantasy use while the heavy hitters were sidelined, but now that Allen/Williams are fully participating, Palmer is the clear WR3.
5. Gerald Everett
TE is an incredibly top-heavy position in fantasy football. When it comes to the idea of "streaming" on a weekly basis, Gerald Everett is no exception to the rule. Fortunately for him, this matchup provides some green flags.
The Titans allow 8.2 targets per game to TEs, which is the highest in the league according to Pro Football Reference. They also give up 68.3 YPG to the position, second amongst all defenses.
But wait there's more: Jags TE Evan Engram notched 162 yards and 2 TDs on 14 targets against this unit in Week 14, which amounted to 39.2 PPR points. I'm not saying you should expect Everett to match that production, but it's a glimmer of hope if you're streaming the position this late in the year.
MUST-READ: Predicting the final four games of the Chargers' season
Best of luck this week and Go Bolts!