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| Other Week 1 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF at NE | CHI at GB | DAL at TB | DEN at CIN | DET at NO | JAX at IND | KC at BAL | MIA at ATL |
| MIN at CLE | NYJ at HOU | PHI at CAR | SD at OAK | SF at ARI | STL at SEA | TEN at PIT | WAS at NYG |
Week 1 Game Recap: San Diego Chargers 24, Oakland Raiders 20
San Diego Chargers
| QB Philip Rivers, Pass: 24 - 36 - 252 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
Rivers had a rough night because Oakland's pass rush was relentless, and his offensive line, which didn't seem up to the task, suffered two injuries to two starters. If they had suffered a third, the team would have had to go to an emergency offensive lineman. He did have some short fields in the first half, but Ladainian Tomlinson fumbled away one drive and finished the other with a TD. Rivers came alive in the second half after his interception ended a drive into Oakland territory. He leaned on favorite targets Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson, and emerging weapons Darren Sproles and Legedu Naanee as the Chargers and Raiders traded punches to the very end. The Chargers are turning into a pass first team because that is the strength of their offense, so Rivers is still a top fantasy option at QB despite his middling stat line.
| RB Darren Sproles, Rush: 9 - 23 - 1, Rec: 5 - 43 - 0 (7 targets) |
When the Chargers needed plays down the stretch, Sproles obliged. He was a force in the passing game, turning short outlet passes into key late first rounds, and the team called his number on the game-winning TD. Sproles was also a major factor in the return game, and generally looked as fast, shifty, and tough as ever. He's looking like a great bargain at his ADP, and he should be in your lineup as a flex, or even an RB2 in PPR leagues.
| RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Rush: 13 - 55 - 1, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (3 targets) |
Tomlinson looked ok, but clearly not like 2006-2007 Tomlinson, and especially not after he suffered an ankle injury on his fumbled shovel pass. LT did get enough work to score a TD and get adequate yardage to post a decent fantasy night, but he was limping badly after the game, according to Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee. Tomlinson was going down on first contact, and Darren Sproles looked better than him all night. This is going to be full-blown RBBC regardless of the condition of Tomlinson's ankle. He wasn't worth a first-round pick this year, but he should still have some good weeks just because he plays in an offense that should score well.
| WR Vincent Jackson, Rec: 5 - 56 - 1 (7 targets) |
Jackson didn't bust any long gains on deep passes, his signature from last year, but he was used moving across the formation and getting yards after the catch close to the line of scrimmage. The offensive line didn't really give Philip Rivers the time to find Jackson deep, but Rivers still looked Jackson's way when he needed a TD catch in the fourth quarter, and he is still Rivers #1 WR. He is a very good WR2 who should have some WR1 weeks as the season goes on.
| WR Legedu Naanee, Rec: 5 - 49 - 0 (6 targets) |
Naanee was the most dynamic presence in the Chargers WR corps. He made some very athletic catches and adjustments to the ball in flight, and looked like a very dangerous run after catch threat. He should continue to get multiple targets every game from Rivers, and he is worth picking up right now in deep leagues. Malcom Floyd is the backup to the lagging Chris Chambers, but Naanee was so impressive that the Chargers probably feel like they have to get him more snaps, so he could see time in place of Chambers if he can get comfortable running more downfield routes.
| WR Malcom Floyd, Rec: 1 - 17 - 0 (1 targets) |
Floyd only had one target, that he converted into a downfield catch, but the decreasing role of Chris Chambers promises more opportunities for Floyd because he lines up at Chambers position. Floyd has great chemistry with Rivers dating back his catching Rivers first NFL TD pass, and he might be worth a waiver wire pickup in deep leagues because the pass should be the main way the Chargers move the ball this yaer.
| WR Chris Chambers (1 targets) |
Chambers got a deep target, but otherwise, he was very quiet on Monday night. Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are stealing snaps from him, and Chambers just doesn't seem able to get open anymore. You can drop him in redraft leagues.
| TE Antonio Gates, Rec: 5 - 83 - 0 (9 targets) |
Gates clearly has his burst and explosiveness back after being hampered with a toe injury last year. He was a great downfield target all night, and he took advantage of soft spots in the deep middle of the Raiders defense. With the Chargers looking like a passing team, he should continue to occupy his typical place in the top 3 fantasy TEs. Gates will get plenty of targets, and he looks like he's in great condition to maximize their value.
Oakland Raiders
| QB JaMarcus Russell, Pass: 12 - 30 - 208 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 6 - 0 |
Russell's night was one that reminded us of his strengths and weaknesses. He struggled mightily to put touch on passes and drop the ball into spots downfield, missing wide open receivers more than once. Still, he owned the middle of the field, finding Zach Miller for multiple big gains, and he threw the bomb on 4th and 15 to Louis Murphy to give the Raiders the lead late in the game. Russell had a TD pass to Murphy late in the first half taken away when Murphy couldn't control the ball after he hit the ground, or he could have had a more respectable stat line. He will still be a weak fantasy play because the Raiders area a run first team, but the team rallied behind Russell, and he should improve as the season goes on.
| QB Bruce Gradkowski, Pass: 2 - 2 - 17 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Gradkowski actually ran the passing offense pretty crisply for having to come off the bench, and looked vastly superior to Russell in short and intermediate passing accuracy.
| RB Darren McFadden, Rush: 17 - 68 - 0, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (4 targets) |
McFadden ran very hard and fast, and just missed bigger gains on a few runs. His fumble problem did pop up again in the first half, and he wasn't used as a receiver until late in the game, but McFadden showed why the Raiders are so excited about him. The line blocked very well for him, and his success as a passcatcher in the fourth quarter should get him more targets in the upcoming games. He looks like the solid RB2 he was drafted to be in PPR leagues.
| RB Michael Bush, Rush: 12 - 55 - 1, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Bush had to frustrate Darren McFadden owners, vulturing the only rush TD on the night and cutting into McFadden's snaps even more after McFadden fumbled in the first half. Bush looked strong and physical on his touches, and he may remain the first option at the goal line. He got all three carries when the Raiders had a goal to go situation, and didn't disappoint. He was also used as a receiver out of the backfield and had two catches called back by offensive penalties. He is going be a massive value for a double digit round pick this year.
| WR Louis Murphy, Rec: 4 - 87 - 1 (8 targets) |
Murphy had a breakout game in his debut. He had one TD pass that overturned by replay late in the first half when he couldn't hold the ball after he hit the ground, but he atoned with a long TD late in the fourth quarter that gave the Raiders the lead. Murphy showed good speed, hands, and separation on his targets, and he should remain a starting WR for the Raiders.
| WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Rush: 1 - 19 - 0 (5 targets) |
Higgins had one good gain on a carry that put his speed and elusiveness in play, but he couldn't convert any of his targets in the passing game into catches. He'll be #4 target in the pecking order at best when Chaz Schilens returns.
| WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (4 targets) |
DHB got numerous targets, but couldn't do anything with them. He looked a little overwhelmed out there, and Heyward-Bey will likely go to the bench when Chaz Schilens returns. Louis Murphy is the WR the Raiders hoped DHB would be, but it's still very early. You can drop him in leagues that you drafted him as a late flyer.
| TE Zach Miller, Rec: 6 - 96 - 0 (6 targets) |
Here's JaMarcus Russell favorite receiver. Russell is erratic throwing to the outside, but he is on target when Miller rips the seams in the middle of the field. Miller had a great feel for dead spots in the zone defense, and he was sure-handed on all of his targets. Miller also ran hard after the catch, and had two catches over 25 yards to underscore his value as a target in the downfield passing game. Miller should pick up right where he left off last year, possibly even threatened 1,000 yards receiving this season.