Austin Ekeler Fantasy Football Week 0 Scouting Report

Austin Ekeler
RB
, Washington Commanders

Age: 29
Weight: 200 lbs
Height: 5' 10"

ADP: 4
Depth Chart Ranking: 2

Pts	RuYds	RuTD	Rec	RecYds
134	628	5	51	436

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Scouting report

by Bob Harris

· Jul 14, 2023 · 9:54 PM EDT

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside
Austin Ekeler wanted to be paid like one of the best running backs in the league. At $6.125 million per year, he wasn't close to the top 10. Ekeler requested a trade in March, but come May he agreed to a revised contract that added $1.75 million in incentives for 2023, the final season of his current deal. With his contract status settled for the short term, Ekeler brings the Chargers (and fantasy managers) high-end value as a dual-threat back that few players not named McCaffrey can touch. He's a PPR godsend; his career-high 107 receptions tied CeeDee Lamb for fifth among all players in 2022. Even if you don't expect him to crack 100 ever again, he's averaged a little more than 80 catches per year in his four seasons as the Chargers' featured back (2019-22). Ekeler accounted for more than a quarter of the team's yards from scrimmage last year, so Los Angeles would have a terrible time trying to replace that production, now or later. There's no need to worry about Joshua Kelley or Isaiah Spiller taking away too many of Ekeler's carries.

Fantasy Downside
Ekeler has more touchdowns than any other player in the NFL over the last two seasons. Regression is coming. Of course, it should have come last year. Still, he scored 18 total TDs after finding the end zone 20 times in 2021.

2023 Bottom Line
As 4for4's John Paulsen reminds readers, Ekeler was the fantasy RB1 last year after finishing as the RB2 in 2021, gaining a total of 3,195 yards with the aforementioned 38 touchdowns in the process. We should see more of the same from Ekeler in 2023. It not hard to make the argument for him being our top running back this year.

by Neil Dutton

· Dec 30, 2022 · 12:37 AM EST

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - Week 17 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 17 vs Los Angeles Rams

If there's been a Y in the day this season, then the chances are Austin Ekeler has delivered the goods for his fantasy managers. Week 16 was no exception. Ekeler carried the ball 18 times for 67 yards and two rushing touchdowns, giving him four scores in his last three games and 11 on the ground for the year. Ekeler caught all four of his targets, but these only earned him 12 yards. Ekeler's 99 receptions in 2020 have earned him the same number of yards (647) as 70 grabs got him last year. Still, he put up RB4 overall numbers with 21.9 Half PPR points.

It would take either a fool or a hero, or both, to project Ekeler to not be among fantasy football's highest scorers on a given week, and Week 17 is no exception. The Rams rank 22nd in aFPA to running backs and have allowed the 10th most receiving yards to tailbacks in 2022. Ekeler should be able to post RB1 numbers for the fantasy managers he has helped propel into Fantasy Championship week.

by Neil Dutton

· Dec 21, 2022 · 5:19 PM EST

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - Week 16 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 16 at Indianapolis Colts

Austin Ekeler had an eventful game against the Titans in Week 15. He carried the ball 12 times for 58 yards, only the second time he's eclipsed the half-century mark since Week 5. Ekeler also tied a season-low with two receptions for 12 yards, the fewest yards he's gained through the air in any game this season. Ekeler did seem to suffer an injury during the game, but he was able to return and gut it out. Ekeler notched up 14.0 Half PPR points and finished the week as the RB17.

Ekeler had a scan that revealed no issues early this week, so we can assume he will see his full workload against the Colts. His volume has masked a slight dip in efficiency this season, with Ekeler averaging a career-low 5.1 yards per touch. The Colts rank 27th in aFPA to running backs this season and have allowed the sixth most receptions to tailbacks in the entire league. Ekeler projects as a high-end RB1 this week.

by Neil Dutton

· Dec 15, 2022 · 12:10 PM EST

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - Week 15 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 15 vs. Tennessee Titans

Austin Ekeler did Austin Ekeler things against the Dolphins in Week 14. He rushed 15 times for 45 yards and his eighth rushing score of the season, while also catching all eight of his targets for 59 yards. Ekeler amassed 20.4 Half PPR points and finished last week as the RB4. With four games to go, Ekeler is on pace to break the single-season record for running back receptions, with a career-high 93 already in the bank.

On paper, the Titans are a tough matchup for Ekeler, ranking as they do fourth in aFPA to running backs. However, only the Chiefs have allowed more running back receptions than the Titans this season, and with Ekeler always a threat to catch the ball there is little fear in projecting him to be an RB1 this week.

by Neil Dutton

· Dec 07, 2022 · 12:23 PM EST

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - Week 14 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 14 vs Miami Dolphins

Austin Ekeler endured a pretty rough game against the Raiders in Week 13. He carried the ball ten times for 35 yards, the ninth time this season he's been held under 50 yards, and caught five passes for 67 yards. Ekeler was held without a touchdown for just the second time since Week 4. He managed 10.7 Half PPR points on his way to RB24 for the week.

Ekeler will look to bounce back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 14. The Dolphins have allowed the 11th most receptions to running backs this season while giving up four receiving touchdowns to boot, ranking 18th in aFPA to running backs thanks to only surrendering the fourth-fewest rushing yards. It'll be tough, but only a hero would project Ekeler to finish outside of the top 12 at his position two weeks in a row.

by Neil Dutton

· Dec 01, 2022 · 3:30 PM EST

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - Week 13 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 13 at Las Vegas Raiders

It's getting almost ridiculous now when it comes to Austin Ekeler's passing game role. The Chargers RUNNING BACK rushed just four times for 20 yards against the Cardinals, but he saw a whopping 15 targets. He caught 11 for 60 yards and a touchdown, giving him 12 total scores this season. Ekeler posted 19.5 Half PPR points on his way to the overall RB4 last week.

It's hard to imagine Ekeler not producing for his fantasy managers again in Week 13. The Raiders rank 29th in aFPA to running backs, with no team allowing more receiving yards to backs all season than the Raiders. Ekeler is a set-and-forget RB1. No need to overthink things.

by Neil Dutton

· Nov 23, 2022 · 1:16 PM EST

LAC RB Austin Ekeler - Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 12 at Arizona Cardinals

Austin Ekeler had a somewhat mixed game against the Chiefs in Week 11. He rushed a season-high 19 times for 83 yards, scoring his seventh rushing touchdown of the season. But Ekeler drew just two targets, his lowest total of the season, catching both for 17 yards. It may be too soon to say that Ekeler's reception ceiling will come crashing down now Keenan Allen is back, but it is something to monitor moving forward Ekeler still managed 17 Half PPR points last week, finishing as the RB8.

Ekeler should be able to put up another strong performance against the Cardinals in Week 12. The Cardinals rank 23rd in aFPA to running backs this season and have allowed eight rushing scores along with three receiving touchdowns to backs in 2022. Ekeler is a set-and-forget RB1 this week, and most weeks he is active.