Getty Gallery: 3/5
Start: RB Austin Ekeler at Steelers
Sit: RB Mark Ingram at Cowboys
Melvin Gordon suffered an MCL injury which opens up the door for both Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson to potentially be fantasy relevant. Gordon is going to miss at least a couple weeks as he recovers.
Ekeler is the slight preference in the Chargers backfield, especially in PPR leagues since he has already been involved in the passing game. Ekeler had five carries for 35 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. Ekeler was even better in the passing game with 10 receptions for 68 yards.
After the Chargers win over the Cardinals, Philip Rivers expressed his confidence in Ekeler.
"We're all going to have to pick up the load a little bit," Rivers told ESPN. "Thank God we have a guy like Ekeler behind him that we have a lot of confidence in, both in the run and the pass."
As for Ekeler, it sounds like he is up for the challenge.
"I prepare every week like I'm going to be starting," Ekeler explained to ESPN. "If I'm getting more reps, then that's what it is. I have to pick up the slack for Melvin. Those are big shoes to fill. Melvin and I are different running backs. He's a beast, so I have to step up my game."
Ekeler gets a difficult matchup this week against the Steelers, who are top 10 defense against both the run and pass. Ekeler's versatility still makes him a start this week despite facing a less than ideal fantasy matchup.
Mark Ingram Faces a Difficult Cowboys Defense in Week 13
After rushing for more than 100 yards in two straight games, Mark Ingram came back down to reality with 52 rushing yards. The difficult thing with Ingram is fantasy owners do not know when the Saints are going to utilize him. This week, the Saints face a Cowboys defense that gives up the third-fewest amount of rushing yards at 93.6 per game.
This indicates Alvin Kamara could get more of a workload thanks to his versatility in the passing game. Saints head coach Sean Payton discussed why the Cowboys defense has been so difficult to have success against this season.
“They’re playing extremely well," Payton said per the Saints website. "They run extremely well. Their front gets after the quarterback. I think that their back end is really good relative to their scheme and what they’re doing. I think they’re well-coached and I think that they’re playing with real good passion. It’s one of the better defenses we’ve seen on film.”
Look for Kamara to stay on the field more than he has the last few weeks as the Saints try to compete against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
"It all starts with the offensive line, but for them to open up a hole like that on the first play of the game, it sparks the whole team," Kamara told The Advocate. "I'm just trying to do what the play is designed to do. Still, I'm glad I could pop that one out, and it gave me some confidence."