Week 6 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
In Week 5, Benjamin was questionable to play but played 57% of the snaps and finished with one reception on two targets for 13 yards, 4% of the team targets, and 13% of the team air yards. Benjamin should continue to be used as the Charger's third wide receiver because Dontrelle Inman is on injured reserve with a quad injury.
The Steelers are twentieth best against wide receivers, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Benjamin ranked as the Half PPR WR83 and should not be in your starting lineup.
Week 5 vs. Denver Broncos
Travis Benjamin missed Week 4 against the Dolphins with a hip injury.
Benjamin’s playing time should increase because Dontrelle Inman was placed on injured reserve with a quad injury. However, fantasy owners should look for other wide receiver options because 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, ranked Benjamin as the half PPR WR72 against a tough Broncos secondary.
Week 4 at Miami Dolphins
UPDATE:
Travis Benjamin is DOUBTFUL to play against the Dolphins with a hip injury.
Through 3 Weeks, the Chargers passing attack is concentrated around Keenan Allen (37%), Austin Ekeler (17%), and Mike Williams (13%). Travis Benjamin should not be in starting lineups because he only has a 9% team target share. One of the keys to fantasy football is opportunity, and Benjamin does not have a lot of it from Philip Rivers.
Miami’s secondary is t13th worst against wide receivers, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4 rankings expert John Paulsen has Benjamin ranked as the Half PPR WR90 and should not be in your starting lineup.
Week 3 vs. Houston Texans
In Week 2, Travis Benjamin had two targets and zero receptions against the Lions. Houston’s secondary was third-worst against wide receivers last season, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4 rankings expert John Paulsen has Benjamin ranked as the Half PPR WR91 and should not be in your starting lineup.
Week 2 at Detroit Lions
Travis Benjamin finished Week 1 with two receptions for 12 yards, 9% of the team targets, and 15% of the team air yards. However, his playing time could increase if Mike Williams is not able to play on Sunday. Williams missed several practices this week due to a knee injury and is questionable against the Lions. 4for4 rankings expert John Paulsen has Benjamin ranked as the Half PPR WR57. Monitor Williams’ health closely before considering Benjamin in deep leagues.
Week 1 vs. Indianapolis Colts
4for4’s rankings expert John Paulsen has Benjamin as the WR86 in Week 1 with a median projection of 5.9 fantasy points. Benjamin is available on the majority of waiver wires but he is not worth picking up or starting in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Week 19 at New England Patriots
The Chargers go west to east for the second consecutive week to take on the Patriots in New England with a trip to the AFC Championship game on the line. The Bolts have the second-lowest implied team total of the eight remaining teams, however, at just 21.5 points. New England ranks 19th in aFPA to WRs. However, only Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are reliable plays among Chargers pass catchers.
Week 17 at Denver Broncos
The Chargers offense will be at full strength in Week 17 with a chance to go from wild-card playoff team to home field advantage and playing against a potential lame duck coach in Denver's Vance Joseph. This is an offense to trust in the final week of the regular season, with an implied team total of 24 after being installed in Vegas as 6-point favorites. The Broncos are ranked third in aFPA to RBs, which could funnel more passes to Chargers receivers, with Denver ranked just 15th in aFPA to WRs. However, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen are the primary pass catchers in this offense, and the rest of the Chargers pass catchers have been an afterthought when those two have been healthy this season.
Week 11 vs. Denver Broncos
Fantasy owners should expect a run-heavy attack this week for the Chargers. Denver is eighth in aFPA to QBs and 12th in aFPA to WRs this season but just 18th in aFPA to RBs. With a large implied team total of 26.75, Tyrell Williams could make another splash play, even if Philip Rivers has five consecutive weeks of fewer than 30 pass attempts. However, Keenan Allen's large 35 percent target share in LA's two games since its bye and Tyrell Williams dominating WR2 snaps, keeps Travis Benjamin out of starting lineup consideration.
Week 1 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chargers have the sixth-highest implied team total in Vegas this week at 25.75 points. The Chiefs were dead last a season ago in aFPA to WRs. With Hunter Henry out for the season and Antonio Gates not listed as the starter for Week 1 at tight end, there are plenty of vacant targets last season for somebody to pick up behind Keenan Allen. However, the uncertainty in the target pecking order renders Benjamin a non-starter in redraft leagues until this WR depth chart sorts itself.
