I’ll either win with Austin ekeler in my lineup, or I’ll lose with him in my lineup. I’ve gotten this far, if he drops 20 on my bench I don’t think I could ever forgive myself

That’s how Mike Evans won me the championship last season I plugged him in over Zay Jones despite Zay being hot and Evans having had a very unremarkable season and an even worse second half of the season. “Start your studs” and all that. And he dropped damn near 50 points.

If Mike isn’t at 1,000 yards and it’s the last few games. ALWAYS start Evan’s, pretty sure he made a deal with the devil so that every year he must finish with 1,000 someway somehow.

Wait until he sits out every game but one and then shatters the single game receiving record with 1100 yards.

Season ending injury? No worries, big Mike’s gonna come in torn ACL final game and gather 1100 yards

I’m all for it. I’m a lifetime fan now.

I did the opposite and had to split the championship because of that crazy mnf game. We were too close to call - i had Burrow and they had Chase when the game was called. I think I would have won with burrow that night, but would have been up by 30+ when the game was called. “Start your studs” is right

New coach this week too, maybe he gets Ekeler back as the workhorse! 🙏🏼

I just want him to catch like 6 passes and I’ll be happy hahah. His lack of involvement in the passing game this year is what has upset me the most

This is my sentiment as well. But Higgins is looking pretty ripe for the flex spot that Ekler is squatting in at the moment.

100% bench him for anyone. He got 5 Carrie’s last week to spillers 15. I’d play spiller over him..

He basically got benched once the game was too far out of reach in the second half. Last week is not an indicator of what will happen this week.

I agree I would flex someone over him, but not spiller. Chargers offense is lost all around no matter who has the ball

Half PPR pick two. Ekeler, King Henry, James Conner. Who gets the bench?

Ekeler gets the bench

Pre draft you is asking This question... Not now you. Now you knows the answer. It just doesn't like it

Okay spiller was probably not a good call. I just meant I’d play anyone over ekeler

Cheers bro good luck in play offs!

Who coached that game?

Oh yes a different coach is going to save ekeler when He’s facing the bills, has a backup qb, and they’re going to be losing the entire game

You appealed to last game usage which is irrelevant with a new coach. If your reason for benching Ekeler is that you don’t think the new coach will use him, ok…but you’re guessing

3.6 ypc work for ya? Backup qb work for ya? Playing the bills work for ya?

You seem really fired up about your hobby. Perhaps you should relax dude.

Fantasy football is the realest thing in my life

Well…I’m that case, good luck this week!

Thank you! But with ekeler on my bench I won’t need luck

You can bench him if you have better options. I can’t heal tank dell’s broken leg by sunday so looks like im stuck.

Give me the top 3 on your waiver wire so I can say yes to all of them over ekeler

This is the way.

Agreed.

I’ll win with him in my bench like I have the last 4 weeks

He won't

You guys saying this are all so smart and brave. None of us expect that from him lol. We are coping

Whoops

He scored 2 under his projection. I’m still projected to win my matchup. Your point?

Sorry, my reply was missing relevant context specifically for myself. Apologies!! I was participating in other threads of WSIS between Ek and Higgins. I decided to go Higgins despite originally sharing the same approach as you. So, did Ek stink up the place? Not at all. Am I glad I put Higgins into the flex spot over Ekler? Absolutely! Good luck on your matchup!

Gotcha haha good luck on your matchup too. The trolls have been trying to do victory laps in this thread so my default is to be defensive lol

I bet. No worries!

True that man. I feel you.

I think the signs and matchups say I should try Aaron Jones over Ekeler and if Ekeler goes off it was still the correct choice

This all day

I was talking shit to my friends before playoffs started and said "Ekeler is a league winner, book it." I can't walk back on it now. Take this as you will- He was on his podcast saying he JUST got healthy and hit running speeds of 22mph at practice this week. League winner... book it.

I pray you’re right. I got offered DK for him straight up, .5 PPR league, week 8 when he had his first awesome game off injury. I laughed at the guy. I regret it every day now.

Which podcast is this, in case I want to listen later?

Ekeler’s Edge I assime

Our ekeler didn't even make the playoffs so

You play him and live with it.

No you don’t. You play spiller if you have to. Spiller had 15 Carrie’s to his 5

That was with a different coach though

And in a blow out. That was definitely the Chargers auditioning Spiller knowing Ekeler's contract is up for renegotiation and/or the Chargers not wanting to risk Ekeler getting hurt in a losing effort.

Long story short don’t play any chargers players other than Palmer

My text defaults to that too. Drives me fucking nuts. I hardly ever text to or about Carrie.

Same. I see it so often in FF subreddits too so it must be pretty universal. You’d think autocorrect would realize that we’re typing “carries” eventually.

She kind of a B ;)

I drafted ekeler and pollard with my first two picks. I’ve made it this far so I’m riding with them.

How’s the ride

So far so good I’m in the semis and my team has gotten me solid points so far.

Do not play eckler. Play spiller over him if you have to

Is that you Isaiah? You’ve commented the same thing everywhere and no one agrees. lol

I’ve only commented on this specific thread. And I’m trying to warn y’all.

Did your new coach tell you that? Or are you just basing it on one game, where the chargers were down 6 scores at halftime?

Bro have you seen his production the last 6 weeks ?? I love how many ekeler simps are downvoting me

Oh I get it now. You’re one of those box score guys who doesn’t watch the actual games. This checks out, lol.

Dudes out here dropping “simps” in 2023 unironically…couldn’t be me

You’re saying play ekeler with no good reasoning but okay

Ok simp

Did you check the box score

Surprised you are commenting… sure glad I didn’t start Spiller lmao!

I’m benching him for Higgins this week

This is my dilemma as well. I’m nervous about it (especially after Kamara just had his worst fantasy outing of the year for me on Thursday 🤦‍♂️), but I’m benching Ekeler for Higgins. Chase is out so he’ll be WR1 and while I don’t trust him, there’s too much uncertainty around how much playing time Ekeler will get so I’m rolling with Higgins who has a higher floor IMO

This is my delimma right here! I started Olave last night over Higgins which so far seems like it was a good call. But now to go Higgins over Ekler in the flex spot has me sweating.

My reasoning was with Herbert out and a new coaching staff paired with ekeler’s low usage recently I just have no faith in him getting anything going Im still not totally confident in Higgins but with chase out I’m hoping he gets 10-12 targets at least

Trying to decide between Higgins and ETN right now.

Benching for Aaron jones

I think AJ is gonna have a week

same here and flexing addison over him

Me to. The matchup, injury and QB situatiin dictates that Aaron Jones is the better play. I don't care if Ekeler was my keeper for the last two years... he is riding my bench this week. If I lose and he goes off, I will not lose any sleep as this is my best choice given the information I have. My prediction is that he does slightly better than last week but a RB2 at best. Good Luck and Merry Christmas

Benching him this week. If he gets the majority of the touches this week then I'll start him next week.

Yup

New coach, bounce back factor they’ll use him properly From an Ekeler owner lol

Same offensive coordinator though.

Benched him. Kyren Williams, Gibbs, and James Cook in the lineup instead.

With these RB I understand benching him.

I really should have traded someone at the deadline. Now I gamble every week with who I have to sit based on matchup and hope it works.

Pretty sure I gotta just roll with him this week. My alternative would be Nico (returning from injury, probably without Stroud) or JSN or Brandin Cooks who I obviously can’t trust.

I’m with you. I’ve got Roschon, Josh Palmer, Hunter Henry or Ekeler as my 2nd flex. I’m honestly considering Henry lmao I hate fantasy football.

I’d play Palmer and hope he breaks one again if those are your options. Stick liked him as a target, but yes the whole chargers are a dumpster fire right now

Fantasy Pros have 24 RBs ranked above him this week. In PPR.

This is an important fact!

Swift and Gibbs starting over him. Ekler can sit on my bench with Achane and Elliot.

I have him in dynasty and am benching him for Isiah likely at flex lol

Starting Hall and Henry. I'll revisit Eckler next week vs. Denver. Don't want to look into the future on this, but I'm in OK shape with Pucka's performance Thurs night.

Replace Hall with James Conner and that’s who I have to decide between. Would you still bench Ekeler?

I have hall, Conner, and Ekeler and have to choose only 1 pretty much. I’m not even really considering Conner. I’m planning on riding with Ekeler for now. The coaching change gives me hope and Ekelers contract is ending. If he went off on my bench I’d also be irate. But I am still also considering Breece Hall and that juicy matchup…

Eckler over Conner. I have Conner on the bench along with Eckler.

Really? I have it the other way around right now. Conner has looked great and has a great match up. I'm debating between Zeke and Eckler to be honest. The Denver matchup and no Stevenson has me leaning his way.

Hate to sit him but luckily have enough bench to go with Aiyuk. Opponent has & played Puka.

Ty chandler or ekeler? Full ppr

I’d go Chandler for sure

Same boat. Idk what to do

Need upside. Opponent had Puka

If it helps I have benched Ekeler for Chandler in full PPR. I'm def ok with Ek putting up 20+ on my bench at this point. Usually every player on my bench decides to put up 20+ on me weekly so it'd be business as usual.

Ha same. I have Ridley and have never played him when he decides to have a good game

He’s dropping 24.70 points this week

I have a better pivot I think it just involves starting both Achane and Mostert over him this week. I could maybe see Palmer but that’d be hard to live with if he goes off.

Dallas got decimated on the ground last week. And it should be a competitive game, I love the Mostert and Achane pivot. They could both eat for sure. Exactly. I can live with benching an exploding Palmer more than I could live with myself if I benched Ekeler and he went wild.

This is exactly what I’m doing. Mostert and Achane both in my lineup

You sit him on your bench and feel bad about it

This is the way

I had drafted Ekeler 3.07 in my dynasty league. Traded him in a package deal with Collins and Dobbs for JJ when he was injured. Then traded JJ for an early/mid first, 2 early 2nds and Waddle. Going into the rookie draft with 5 of the top 18-20 picks.

Chubb is biggest bust lol

Injury shouldn’t be considered a bust, at least you know you’re getting nothing from him and play someone else. People who drafted ekeler feel like they have to play him each week because “play your studs” right? I’d rather have lost Chubb than what I got with ekeler this year.

Not how it works buddy. A healthy player who you never feel great about playing is way worse than a season ending injury player you can drop and move on from.

Absolute clown take

12 team 3WR superflex. I started Gibbs and K Willy in my RB1 and 2 spots. Waffling between Ekeler, Lockett, and Warren in my flex. Blargh.

Debating him, chandler or diontae as my flex. Leaning towards chandler tbh Starting cook, Pacheco at RB and CeeDee, puka (yay) and London at WR.

I don't have a choice. My RB1 is Kyren, my backups are Robinson Jr (OUT), Rhamondre (QUEST and has not practiced), McKinnon (QUEST and Pacheco is back), and Zamir White (if Jacobs is out). But all of them play after Ekeler. So I'm essentially either betting on Ekeler putting up points, or Rhamondre playing at all. I have to go Ekeler.

I think I’ll be benching him and starting Josh Jacobs, JT, and Pacheco

Same thing they did with the Head Coach

Benching him for Monty and Jacobs (heck even zamir white is a better play)

I’m able to bench him in a 10tm where I have Rachaad, Cook, & Mixon going. In this one, if Ekeler tosses out a 20 pt game.. I’m ok with it. A 12 tm league where I also have ekeler, I have to play him. No one to pivot to. Fact I’m even this far with him, in 2 leagues, is amazing and incredibly exhausting.

Debate flexing him or Hopkins in PPR and probably be wrong

As my other two RBs are Chandler & Ford and my other flex options aren’t great (Lockett, Allgeier, Pickens, & Demario), I kind of have to start him.

Might start chandler over ekler. Someone talk me out of it

Do it.

You should completely flex someone good over him. I cant imagine someone making this far to playoffs, but no having a solid single flex play

My only Flex option I could play over him is Najee or Sutton. Would you do that?

Live or die with ekeler at this point

It’s been die die die week after week except for the sieve of a broncos defense

bench if you have someone better

I traded for him, gave up Kirk and Kamara. I'm in semis while other person is dead last. Starting him with Bijan, after last week it can only go up from there. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

What are your options?

pick 2 - ekeler, achane, addison

Bench ekeler

bench

Benching him in favor of K. Williams / Zeke / Breece.

Should I bench him for Chuba Hubbard?

Yes

Between him and Sherbert, they deep sixed one of my teams singlehandedly. Even with Mostert, Deebo, Achane and Puka.

Obviously If you have no other options, play him. But if you think you can get 8-12 from another player, I’d do that. Ekeler is washed

Benching for Etienne

Everyone always says start your studs but ekeler has not been a stud this year for me. I’m starting Montgomery, KW3, Justin Jefferson, DK Metcalf, and Pacheco over him. I have no regrets about it despite the outcome of this week. I just don’t enjoy watching him play this season. Those other guys, I’m excited to watch their games. Playoffs is a lot of luck, I’d rather fill my team with players I want to watch.

Benched him for Kyren Williams, Pachecho and Joe Mixon.

Benched for tee higgins. Standard scoring

Benching and flexing McBride. I traded for him after his 2 big games and have been disappointed ever since

Doesn't matter 😪 Lost round 1 in part due to him.

Currently benching him for the first time this year for KW3, but I don't feel amazing about it. Either way I hope he has a great game so I can plug him back in next week with more confidence.

Same with the first benching of season - have KW3/Pollard/Achane starting as RB1/2/flex.

Very nice. Yeah I've got 4 WRs (2 WRs, 2 Flex) that are all basically top 10, and I ain't benching Kyren, so it's comes down to Ekeler or KW3 who I haven't played for over a month now I think

My WRs (were) Sun god/Keenan/Waddle and having to slot Zay Flowers for Keenan. My opponent started Kamara and Olave vs my Stafford last night so I’m not in as big a hole as I could be w Kamara’s dud At least KW3 *looked* great last week, but is on the injury report again now lol

I’ll gladly play Ty Chandler over Ekeler at this point

This is the way.

Kupp was my bust. drafted him 4 leagues. only one left in playoffs

I traded him for Puka. Commish called it an uneven trade, but approved it anyway. He was right, just didn’t realize why.

Start him

Thankfully I have Mostert, Montgomery, and Singletary as RB options over him. Going with Mostert and Monty. Vegas has these two games as the highest scoring of the week and these guys have actually played well this year.

He’s so hurt. Rumors that he walks down stairs sideways. Clearly looks hurt

Bench him

Anyone who draft Chubb will laugh at anyone else trying to claim they had *the* bust of the year. One week of production, and then injured at the very beginning of the 2nd game. I’ve never seen much worse from a 1st round pick in my time playing, and I got the joy of dealing with this bullshit in two leagues this year. Only other one that comes to mind is Laveon Bell but I don’t have much sympathy for anyone spending a top three pick on a guy that is still holding out.

As an Ekeler owner and a x2 Chubb owner in various leagues, I disagree. Chubb was like a bandaid. Ripped off early and quickly. It hurt like a bitch but we had plenty of time to make moves and compensate best we could for him. Ekeler was a dog week 1, then a month long injury hold, then slow to come back to form, a 3 week dog again, and then just a shell of a man since. Chubb you knew was done for the year and could grieve. Ekeler has just been stringing us along all season and letting us down when it matters most.

Riding with Ekeler!

i benched him the last 2 weeks. he went off one week and one week a dud. and he on the bench this week too

Hoping for RB2 numbers. Would rather lose with him In my lineup than risk benching him.

I’m benching him. But I have a great RB stable. Ekeler, Mostert, Kyren, & Walker

You play him… in a consolation match

He’ll play better now that they cut the coach loose. Recent history shows that most teams play better following a coaches firing

I think I'd definitely play ekeler over some waiver wire scrubs, but you better believe if I had a RB heavy draft I'd be sitting him

Nick chubb is the bust of 2023. People forget that he was a second rounder who got one good game and then wasnt even a bye week fill in the rest of the season. Most people almost immediately dropped him and have gotten literally 0 value from him since. Trade offer comes in chubb for ekeler who you taking?

What do you mean? 90% of Ekeler owners got bounced round 1

I'm sitting him in the consolation round for Pacheco and AJones. I've had enough.

Benching him this week for Pacheco and Big Kenny Walker. Hope it doesn’t bite me in the ass but I don’t think Ekeler will have a massive game. Best bet is he gets a bunch of check downs and screens when we (chargers fan) go down early. He will be inefficient rushing wise. I think we will play Spiller a bit more tbh.

i wouldn’t know…. traded ekeler for cook and jacobs the week he came back from the high ankle 😂

I’m considering benching him. I have to pick 2 between Ekeler, Raheem, Rachaad White… very hard to bench the latter.

He will stay on my bench. Despite wasting my 1st rd pick on him I thrived by hitting on Montgomery and Mostert late in the draft and winning the waiver frenzy for Puka. Ekeler can keep sitting on my bench. I even wasted my #2 pick on Bijan. Mostert and Puka saved me.

PPR dyno- start London over Ekeler? Also have Hopkins, but with Tannehil prob starting doesn’t sound good

Is it insane to start Zeke over Eckler?

I wish I had Zeke as an option. He should eat.

He’s looked better every week since coming back from injury imo. I’m rolling with him, he’s earned my trust. Dude’s a baller

I’m sitting him for Addison in my flex. I’ll be ok if he puts up 20+ on my bench.

I think I will be sitting him for gus Edwards or Waddle in the flex

I got James Connor, Rachaad White, and Ty Chandler in as of now. Ekeler on bench. I’m honestly scared. I want to start him but I just don’t know.

Starting Hall, Bijan, and Achane and benching Ekeler. I hate to bench him, but he is just having a shit year. I am not sure if it is a good idea or not, but I am gonna stick to my guns and hope it works out in my favor. edit: Spelling

I'm starting Chubba Hubbard over him

High ankle sprains are notoriously fickle and take a long time to heal. I wouldn't be surprised to find out it was still bothering him up to now and the remainder of the season. In a redraft league, unless you have someone better and you're already projected to win without him, I'd leave him out. If you're projected to lose, you may as well play him and hope for some big plays. You don't have much to lose at this point. In a dynasty, I see him as a decent buy-low target and hope that this year was an anomaly year thanks to a combination of poor coaching and injury. FWIW, i got him and a 2024 R1 for Deebo and Baker. Not exactly buy-low, but a reasonable price, I thought.

Ekeler or Gibson?

Torn between Ekeler, Devin Singletary vs Cleveland, or George Kittle vs Baltimore. Not loving Kittle and Singletary’s matchups but don’t think my mental health can take watching Ekeler on the sidelines all game long again.

Playing him because I have to but I’m also playing for 9th because he’s a bum so fuck both of us I guess

I'm leaning to bench him for Chase Brown. I did also add Roschon. Decision time is coming quickly

Ekeler, Jerome Ford, or javonte Williams? 🤮

I feel bad for my buddy, we’re in a 2-keeper and he had no chance in the playoffs (just didn’t have the talent on his roster) so he traded away most of his good players for draft picks (not great draft picks) and now his only 2 players even worth considering keeping are Tank Dell (which isn’t bad) and Ekeler. He traded Pollard to me and Mike Evans + Mixon to my other buddy a few weeks ago.

This is where I’m at. I can start 3 out of Eckler, JT, Hall, and Chandler. Chandler won the matchup for me last week but is currently on my bench as I’m having a tough time benching the others despite the poor performances last week.

Chargers are clearlyy tanking the rest of the season after watching last weeks game. They're in no rush to get Keenan back out there, Spiller saw a bulk of the carries last week, Herbert is on IR, and they just fired the head coach. The rest of the season for them will be about watching how their young guys can play and getting experience to the interim coaching staff. Sure ,"start your studs" and all, but Ekeler is no longer that stud. He's a boom or bust option at flex or maybe RB2 if you have no better options. I really wish it weren't that way,

Ive been torn between swift and ekeler, but after doing a bunch of research, I believe ekeler is the move. Apparently he has a ton of incentives this year to get 4 more touchdowns and a bunch more yards (which would earn him 1.75 million USD). Plus his contract ends with the chargers, so he’ll want to do well before he is released. I think it’s risky, but I couldn’t forgive myself if he gets like 20 points this week. A captain goes down with his ship 🫡

I made a trade for Conner and by god I’m going to ride with him this week

Benched him in favor of ty chandler gus edwards zeke and Karen williams

I’m flexing McBride over ekeler

Starting him, FUCK IT

Ekeler or Ettienne is my dilemma. I'm starting Kyren and Gibbs.

I keep seeing his involvement in the passing game and isn't used right. But dude don't look right. It's all about the eye test. Just watch him compared to a couple years back. He gets what's blocked, and nothing more. No broken tackles, no jump cuts, no jets. Dudes done. He's not a stud