Week 9 - Rivers vs. Miami
Philip Rivers threw for 252 yards and three TDs last week as the Bolts ended up getting in a shootout and playing from behind against the Broncos. His 41 attempts last week was a season high.
This week, Rivers comes in ranked eighth on our QB list with a matchup against the Dolphins. Miami ranks fifth in allowing fantasy points to QBs so this isn't a great matchup on paper. The Chargers are also making the cross-country trip and have a bye in Week 10 so this has all the making of a possible clunker. The good news is the Bolts have lost two in a row now and should be hungry to go into the bye with a win. Rivers has thrown for three TDs five times this season, and with the run game struggling a bit, it may be up to him to continue that.
Week 8 - Rivers vs. Denver
Last week was the first somewhat disappointing fantasy week for Philip Rivers' owners as he only put up 205 yards passing to go with two TDs and his third INT of the year.
It was the first time since Week 3 Rivers didn't throw for three TDs in a game. This week, it's the Broncos who rank 16th in allowing fantasy points to QBs. Rivers is ranked as a low-end QB1 on our list this week and at first thought one may think this will be a high scoring game. But the Chargers have played the Broncos pretty well, at least at times, using a run game to keep Peyton Manning and his offense off the field and the scoring down.
This is likely the strategy again this week and if it's successful Rivers may not put up the fantasy numbers you want him to. Denver is tough against the run so it may not go as the Bolts have planned. Either way, it's hard to sit Rivers because any game with Denver can turn into a shootout.
Week 7 - Rivers vs. Kansas City
Last week Philip Rivers threw for 313 yards and three more TDs while adding 13 rushing yards. It was just the second 300-yard performance of the year, but the fourth three-TD performance and third-straight three-TD performance.
This week Rivers gets his toughest matchup on paper since Week 2 against Seattle, which by the way he threw for three TDs that game. The Chiefs rank eighth in allowing fantasy points to QBs and the last four weeks have been pretty friendly matchups. Rivers is ranked fourth this week because it's hard to ignore what he's done this season in any matchup. He continues to be a very good option.
Week 6 - Rivers vs. Oakland
Philip Rivers and the Bolts found a running game last week with Branden Oliver but Rivers still threw for 288 yards and three TDs against the Jets.
Rivers now has 12 TD passes to two interceptions this season and has six TDs in his last two games thanks to some very favorable matchups. This week's matchup is just as juicy as the team travels to Oakland. The Raiders rank 26th in allowing fantasy points to QBs and Rivers again cracks our top-10 coming in sixth on the list. Rivers isn't always putting up the yards, but the team seems to look to him in the red zone to put up TDs and the run game has been decimated by injuries, relegated to signing Ronnie Brown this week.
Week 5 - Rivers vs. NY Jets
Philip Rivers had his first 300-plus yard day this season throwing for 377 yards and three TDs last week against the Jags. So far this season he's up to 9 TDs to just one interception.
This week it's another nice matchup for Rivers and the Bolts. The Jets rank 29th in allowing fantasy points to QBs but are extremely tough against the run, something SD has struggled to do since losing Ryan Mathews and even Danny Woodhead. This could very well shape up as a game the team has to throw a lot. As a result, Rivers again gets a nice ranking from us coming in at QB5.
Week 4 - Rivers vs. Jacksonville
Following Andrew Luck's monster game last week against the Jags, Philip Rivers now gets his shot. Last week Rivers threw for 256 yards and two TDs before the Bills got a long look at RB Donald Brown who had over 30 carries.
Rivers is ranked second on our list against the Jags but at some point, if this gets ugly, you have to figure the Chargers ease off the gas. Still, Rivers is second among QBs on our list as the Jags rank 24th in allowing fantasy points to the position. Rivers has great matchups four of the next five weeks on paper but will be hurt a little by the loss of RB Danny Woodhead.
Week 3 - Rivers vs. Buffalo
Philip Rivers had a real nice game last week for going up against the Seahawks talented defense. He threw for 284 yards and three TDs and even added 17 rushing yards.
Things ease up in terms of on-paper matchups for the Bolts and Rivers. This week, it's Buffalo which ranks 26th in allowing fantasy points to QBs and Rivers makes the trip east to play this game. Rivers comes in ranked 13th on our QB list, so he's a very solid QB2 play if your league uses that format. Without RB Ryan Mathews for a few weeks, Rivers may take to the air a bit more, especially for short, safe passes.
Rivers has some very friendly QB matchups through Week 6 with the Bills, Jaguars, Jets and Raiders all coming up.
Week 2 vs. Seattle
Last week, Philip Rivers threw for 238 yards and added 10 rushing yards. It wasn't a great matchup against the Cards and Rivers' numbers were pretty average as a result.
This week, Rivers is buried down on list because of a home matchup with the Seahawks and their stud defense. Seattle is tops in the league at not allowing fantasy points to QBs, so Rivers becomes someone you probably want to leave on your bench. The good news for owners in Weeks 3-6 he has some very favorable matchups against defenses ranked 24th or worse.
Week 1 vs Arizona
After a huge start to 2013, Philip Rivers threw for over 300 yards just once after Week 9. That was thanks to the emergence of RB Ryan Mathews who caught fire before getting banged up late in the year. The plan for the Chargers all along was to run the ball, but early on Rivers had three 400-plus yard passing games in the first five weeks.
The Bolts are again primed to run the ball with Mathews, Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead but Rivers does have some passing weapons to work with. However, coming in to Week 1, Rivers is a middle of the road QB2 ranked 15th against the Cards defense that was 19th allowing points to QBs.
Outside of Week 2 at home vs. Seattle, Rivers' schedule is very favorable Weeks 3-6 but using him as a QB2 is probably the best bet.
Fantasy Upside
The Associated Press voted Rivers the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year for his 2013 performance. Fantasy owners who waited very late to draft their quarterback and wound up with Rivers, would absolutely co-sign on that award. The 32-year-old Rivers threw for 4,478 yards with 32 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions and completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in 2013. He was sharp down the stretch as San Diego won four straight to make the postseason, throwing for nine TDs against two picks. Indeed, it was one of the best seasons of Rivers' career, after two years that had people wondering if he had anything left. He was not only accurate, but he ran the offense on the field as coach Mike McCoy trusted him to make the calls in checking into better options.
Fantasy Downside
The biggest concern? Quality depth at receiver. Plenty of play-making talent at the top with Keenan Allen and Ladarius Green as well as proven veterans in Antonio Gates, Danny Woodhead, Malcom Floyd and Eddie Royal; but should injuries among those top weapons arise, guys like Vincent Brown will have something to prove.
Bottom Line
One change coming, QBs coach Frank Reich was promoted to offensive coordinator after Ken Whisenhunt left to become the Titans' head coach. Reich will be a coordinator for the first time, but this former 14-year NFL quarterback often called the plays when running the Bills' K-Gun offense. Reich will bring both continuity and innovation. That, along with a solid O-line and the above-mentioned front-line weaponry will keep Rivers on the radar as a reasonably-priced QB2.
