DENVER (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Arguably the most disappointing team of 2022, the Broncos look oddly decent here. They've come on some recently, with 11 touchdowns in the last four weeks (after scoring only 14 in their first 12 games). And here they're at home against an opponent that could be resting ...
... players for the postseason. Given the dynamics at play here, it's surprising that the Chargers are favored by 3 -- looks like a game Denver could win. ... Russell Wilson has been a disaster, but he's shown signs of life recently, putting up 3 TDs in each of the recent Kansas City games. Here he's facing a defense that's come on recently, holding four straight opponents under 190 passing yards, with only 1 TD pass in those 16 quarters of play. Wilson wasn't effective in the Week 6 loss at Los Angeles, passing for only 188 yards and a touchdown in a 19-16 overtime loss. But the Chargers should or could hold some key players out of this game, resting up for their playoff opener. Looks like a spot where Wilson probably will put up above-average numbers. Some may argue ...
This report is taken from today's Week 18 edition of Fantasy Index Weekly. The newsletter includes our player rankings and 22 pages of matchup previews, plus stat projections and custom rankings for the games being played this weekend.
Haven't ordered yet? BUY IT NOW! Already a subscriber? LOG IN!
... that the game is meaningless to the Broncos, but different players have different agendas. Many are looking to show they belong on the roster or in the starting lineup. In the case of Wilson, he's looking to show he can be a better, more effective quarterback in the future. ... We're ranking Latavius Murray higher than usual. He's been running hard, averaging 63 rushing and 11 receiving yards in his last seven games, with 2 TDs, and he's facing what might be a bottom-5 run defense. The Chargers have struggled against the run for most of the season. They've improved some recently, but Cam Akers ran for 123 yards against them on Sunday. And with the Chargers locked in as a wild-card team, they could take their foot off the gas in this one, with that lesser run defense on display. The Chargers have allowed an average of 152 rushing yards in their last 10 games, with 11 rushing touchdowns. Denver ran for only 98 yards in the earlier meeting, but that was a long time ago (Murray wasn't even on the team). This is not, however, a lone wolf backfield. Chase Edmonds also was on the field for over half of the team's plays last week. He carried 7 times for 34 yards and picked up another 39 yards on 3 receptions (finishing with 1 more total yards than Murray). Marlon Mack left that game with a hamstring injury, or he probably would have been part of the rotation as well. Mack is now on IR, so it looks like a Murray-Edmonds combo, and we're putting them both higher than usual. ... We're also putting the wide receivers a little higher than usual. The Chargers defense is better against the pass, but a lot of that defense might not even be active on Sunday -- or could be playing with its thoughts on the postseason. Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton look like serviceable enough options. Jeudy has averaged 75 yards in his last seven healthy games, with 4 TDs -- he had that 3-TD game against Kansas City a few weeks ago. Sutton has caught only one touchdown all year; no getting around that. But he's averaged 66 yards in his last five healthy games. That looks pretty solid, given the wild uncertainties in a lot of games in Week 18. ... If you're in need of a Week 18 tight end, Albert Okwuegbunam looks like a decent possibility. He's been inactive for most of the season, but he's back in the lineup now, with Greg Dulcich on IR. Okwuegbunam caught 3 passes for 45 yards last week, and he no doubt would like to show that he should be a starting tight end in 2023, whether it be in Denver or elsewhere. ... Brandon McManus has averaged only 5.5 points in his last 10 games, but he looks like a serviceable kicker this week, with the Chargers potentially mailing it in. ... The Broncos Defense looks like a mid-level option. For the season, it's sitting at 35 sacks and 21 takeaways. The Chargers have allowed 38 sacks, with 10 interceptions and 7 fumbles. Some chance that they hand the reins to a backup quarterback at some point. Chase Daniel in his six career starts has taken 19 sacks, with 4 interceptions and 4 fumbles (none lost).