Team news: Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (hamstring) had a good practice Friday and looks good to go for Week 1 against Washington.

Ekeler returned to practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday, and reportedly impressed at practice, seeming to allow the Chargers to give the green light to their star running back. Ekeler is currently our No. 21 running back in half-PPR.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler is questionable to play Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, according to the team's official injury report.

It was Ekeler's first practice since injury reports had to be reported Wednesday. If Ekeler were to sit, Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley would manage the running back work.

TE Jared Cook to the Chargers - 1-year, $6mil max, per source.

So much for Donald Parham SZN. Cook can still produce--he averaged 3.0 catches for 49 yards and 0.57 touchdowns in 21 games over the last two seasons with a healthy Drew Brees. He's turning 34 in April, so the bottom will eventually fall out, though he should put up solid TE2 numbers with Justin Herbert in L.A. as long as he stays healthy.

The Saints have officially released TE Jared Cook and TE Josh Hill. The Cook move is procedural, as he was scheduled to be a free agent at the start of the new league year.

Jared Cook will be 34 at the start of the 2021 season and may have some trouble finding a starting gig, but does still have some playmaking abilities. Josh Hill could find work in the blocking department for a team this season, after spending all his eight-year career with the Saints. For now, Adam Trautman assumes the starting role in New Orleans at TE.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has been placed on the reserve/COVID list.

There is no word yet on if Allen was a close contact, or contracted the virus himself, but either way, his season is officially over. Allen finishes the season as the WR13 in total fantasy points, and the WR14 in fantasy points per game. Mike Williams, Tyron Johnson, and Jalen Guyton should all see an increase in snaps with Allen sidelined. Williams is currently our 36th ranked receiver for Week 17, Johnson is our 39th.

The Chargers are expected to hold wide receiver Keenan Allen out of their season finale Sunday against the Chiefs as he recovers from a lingering hamstring issue.

The Chargers have nothing to play for save draft position in Week 17 so it makes sense to hold Allen out and ensure he can fully recover from the hamstring issue that's bothered him for several weeks now. Allen was a bankable WR1 with Justin Herbert under center and should be drafted as such in 2021.