COSTA MESA, Calif. — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen can admit a mistake when he makes one.
Just lately, Allen expressed remorse about passing over Los Angeles Chargers operating again Austin Ekeler with the primary general decide in his fantasy soccer draft.
“I’ve usually had some success, this yr not a lot,” Allen mentioned about his fantasy soccer squad. “I tousled by not drafting Austin.”
Sarcastically, Allen advised that to Ekeler on the operating again’s weekly Yahoo! podcast, “Ekeler’s Edge.”
Absolutely, nonetheless, it’s a sentiment shared by numerous different fantasy house owners, and sure a number of NFL normal managers, because the 2017 undrafted free agent from Western Colorado College — a Division II program — continues to show his NFL value each in fantasy and actuality.
“He’s taking part in with toughness,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley mentioned. “Setting the instance.”
The Chargers are 7-6, and a spot outdoors the AFC playoff image, as they put together to host the 7-6 AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans at SoFi Stadium on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). ESPN Analytics at the moment lists them with a 74% likelihood of constructing the playoffs.
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However in an uneven season rife with damage points, Ekeler has been a relentless.
“He’s just like the Energizer bunny,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel mentioned. “He’s in all places.”
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Ekeler can hit the hole between tackles as rapidly as he can bounce outdoors. His arms are certain as a pass-catcher and his legs by no means cease churning.
“He performs a lot larger than what he’s,” mentioned Vrabel, whose protection is tied for first in speeding touchdowns allowed this season. “He’s fast and he’s onerous to deal with.”
Ekeler ranks first within the NFL with 728 yards after the catch, forward of San Francisco 49ers operating again Christian McCaffrey (552) and Kansas City Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce (515).
He ranks second within the league, behind Detroit Lions operating again Jamaal Williams, with 13 touchdowns — regardless of not scoring within the first three video games of the season.
And he has amassed 1,247 scrimmage yards this season, which ranks eighth within the league.
“He’s so robust out of the backfield,” quarterback Justin Herbert mentioned. “And to have the ability to catch passes like that as nicely provides a complete different dimension to our offense.”
Ekeler, who’s within the third season of a four-year, $24.5 million contract extension, has caught 93 passes for 623 yards, probably the most of any operating again this season.
Final Sunday in a 23-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Herbert discovered Ekeler on a brief move earlier than he navigated a couple of holes and was dragged down on the one-yard line. He then scored on the following play and celebrated by strumming an air guitar.
Ekeler completed the sport with eight receptions for 59 yards, to go together with 45 speeding yards on 15 carries, and have become the all-time chief in catches by an undrafted operating again within the frequent draft period (1967) with 375 profession receptions.
“I’m not actually certain how I really feel about it as a result of we’ve had some accidents to receivers, so it’s like, man, I want these balls had been happening the sector to a few of our guys,” Ekeler mentioned. “Additionally, as a person, trying again on my profession, that will probably be a reasonably cool mark in my profession.”
Additionally a reasonably cool mark? The corporate Ekeler is holding in fantasy soccer, a spot that he’s embraced over the previous few seasons — whilst some teammates determine it’s nonetheless not the place for them.
“For me it was like, there’s, so, there’s actually hundreds of thousands of individuals internationally that love fantasy soccer,” Ekeler defined. “And [they] have me on their workforce, so why would I not faucet into individuals which can be supporting me?”
Staley grinned when requested, no — he’s by no means performed fantasy. Neither has Herbert, he mentioned. And broad receiver Mike Williams? It’s a no thanks for him as nicely.
“I solely find out about fantasy when like, I get one catch and I get tweets like, ‘Go house! You weren’t on the market in the present day!’” Williams mentioned, laughing. “I’m like bro, I don’t care about your fantasy.”
However house owners that includes Ekeler — who’s on a roster in each lively ESPN league — won’t be affected by such points.
Ekeler is averaging 22.52 fantasy factors per sport this season (PPR scoring), which is on tempo to be probably the most by a Chargers participant since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2007 (22.97).
He’s additionally one in every of 4 gamers with 10-plus fantasy factors in each sport this season (PPR scoring). The others are all quarterbacks.
“For me at this level, it’s about simply being constant and persevering with to extend my position and what I can do for this season,” Ekeler mentioned of his efficiency on the sector this season. “At this level, that’s sort of my expectation now.”
Ekeler has six fantasy squads, however a supervisor oversees them given Ekeler’s different tasks.
“Aggressive leagues, so yeah, individuals they’re not letting me get myself,” Ekeler chuckled.
In a single league, he even traded as much as snag the No. 3 general decide in an try and get himself on the roster.
However no luck. He went first general.
So maybe his parting fantasy recommendation to Allen holds up, sort of.
“When you could have a possibility you at all times take your self first,” Ekeler advised Allen. “That’s the one factor you’ll be able to guess on, so far as that’s the one factor that you just’re on the market and may management.