Fantasy Football Week 1: MNF Fantasy Preview (Chargers at Cardinals)
Did you already catch this week’s fantasy preview regarding the Monday night tilt between the New York Giants and Detroit Lions?
Take your time. We are very patient. We will even assist you on the matter.
Here we will take a look at the second half of the Monday night doubleheader as the Arizona Cardinals host the San Diego Chargers, wrapping up Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season.
Less than two weeks ago in the teams’ preseason finale, the Bolts out-snoozed the Cards, 12-9, in a game that featured seven field goals and 98 yards of total offense by Arizona.
Don’t look for a repeat of that here.
Starting Quarterbacks
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San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers
The 2013 NFL Comeback Player of the Year was extremely accurate a year ago, completing an impressive 69.5 percent of his passes.
More importantly, Rivers cut way back on the mistakes that had plagued his career the previous two seasons. The Chargers turned over the football a combined 54 times in 32 games from 2011-12, and Rivers was guilty of 47 of those miscues.
Last season, in 18 total appearances, the 10-year pro committed just 13 turnovers (11 interceptions, two lost fumbles) and played very well in the postseason.
Fantasy Prediction: 19-of-25, 272 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT; 3 carries, 9 yards, 0 TD
Arizona Cardinals: Carson Palmer
The final figures show that the veteran signal-caller threw 22 interceptions last season, tied for the second-most in the NFL a year ago.
However, a closer look shows that 13 of those picks came during the team’s 3-4 start. During Arizona’s 7-2 finish, Palmer threw 16 touchdown passes and just nine interceptions. With a bolstered receiving corps in 2014, it could be a big year for the experienced quarterback. And Bruce Arians club may need a major assist from the offense in 2014.
Fantasy Prediction: 20-of-29, 301 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 2 carries, 5 yards, 0 TD
Running Backs
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San Diego Chargers Starter: Ryan Mathews
The four-year pro enjoyed his best season to date in 2013, rushing for 1,255 yards and six scores and adding 26 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. He should have success against a defense that finished No. 1 in the league vs. the run last season but is missing several key performers from that unit.
Fantasy Prediction: 18 carries, 89 yards, 0 TD; 2 receptions, 14 yards, 0 TD
San Diego Chargers Backup: Danny Woodhead
Woodhead’s first season with the Bolts saw him finish second on the club with 76 catches, good for six touchdowns. But he also finished second behind Mathews in rushing with 429 yards and two scores. He figures to give the Arizona linebacking corps fits.
Fantasy Prediction: 8 carries, 40 yards, 0 TD; 5 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
Arizona Cardinals Starter: Andre Ellington
Will he or won’t he? Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is expecting big things from the second-year pro in 2014, but his availability for this game is in doubt. At the very least, he figures to be somewhat limited here.
Fantasy Prediction: 8 carries, 21 yards, 0 TD; 3 receptions, 23 yards, 0 TD
Arizona Cardinals Backup: Jonathan Dwyer
Look for him to get more carries than Ellington, at least this week. San Diego’s run defense was iffy during the summer, and Dwyer, who is more than familiar with Arians’ system via their days with the Pittsburgh Steelers, could have his moments.
Fantasy Prediction: 12 carries, 51 yards, 2 TD; 0 receptions
Wide Receivers
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San Diego Chargers: Keenan Allen
You don’t see a lot of rookies reach 1,000 or more yards receiving, but Allen turned the trick in 2013. He totaled 71 catches for 1,046 yards and eight scores a year ago. He figures to find the end zone at least once Monday night, despite the best efforts of Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD
San Diego Chargers: Malcom Floyd
We didn’t see much of Floyd this past season. But that big-play ability remained intact even though he played in only two games, totaling six receptions but for 149 yards. There’s a jump ball or two in his immediate future.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 26 yards, 0 TD
San Diego Chargers: Eddie Royal
After catching just 10 touchdown passes in six seasons with the Denver Broncos and Chargers, Eddie was end-zone royalty in 2013. The six-year pro totaled 47 receptions, eight for touchdowns this past season. But he may find the going a little tougher in this encounter.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 28 yards, 0 TD
San Diego Chargers: Seyi Ajirotutu
The wideout has more letters in both his first and last names than he had catches in 2013. Ajirotutu totaled just three grabs last season, but he did have the game-winning touchdown in the team’s victory at Kansas City last season.
Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 14 yards, 0 TD
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald
How happy was Fitzgerald in 2013? A year after playing with four different starting quarterbacks and catching just four touchdown passes, the prolific receiver scored 10 times last season.
Fitzgerald has totaled 87 touchdown receptions during his career, tied for 12th in NFL history. He’s about to move up the charts a little more.
Fantasy Prediction: 7 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd
While Fitzgerald remains the target of choice, Floyd led the team with 1,041 receiving yards in 2013 and five of his 65 grabs went for scores. He’ll burn the San Diego secondary for a big play or two.
Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 71 yards, 0 TD
Arizona Cardinals: Ted Ginn
The one-time first-round pick quieted a lot of critics last season who said he couldn’t contribute as a wide receiver. Last season, Ginn caught 36 passes for 556 yards and five touchdowns with the Carolina Panthers last season. This week, he’ll be busier on special teams, especially if the Arizona defense struggles.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 34 yards, 0 TD
Arizona Cardinals: John Brown
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the third-round pick from Pittsburg State, who caught 10 passes for 165 yards and a score during the preseason. But Brown will take a bit of backseat here.
Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 25 yards, 0 TD
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Tight Ends
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San Diego Chargers Starter: Antonio Gates
We have the latest information in our injury report regarding Gates, who had some hamstring issues at Saturday’s practice.
Keep in mind that he remains one of Philip Rivers’ favorite options, leading the team with 77 catches in 2013. And it’s also worth noting that the former undrafted free agent has 87 career touchdown receptions, tied with Larry Fitzgerald for 12th in NFL history.
Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 16 yards, 0 TD
San Diego Chargers Backup: Ladarius Green
The talented downfield threat could have the Cardinals defense seeing red on Monday night. Green caught just 17 passes last season but averaged 22.1 yards per grab and scored three touchdowns. His value obviously increases if Gates is a no-go.
Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
Arizona Cardinals Starter: John Carlson
Carlson caught 32 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown with the Minnesota Vikings a year ago. He is an excellent pickup by the Cardinals but may not be the option of choice in this matchup.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 22 yards, 0 TD
Arizona Cardinals Backup: Rob Housler
In three NFL seasons, the former third-round pick from Florida Atlantic has totaled a respectable 96 receptions. But Housler has scored just one touchdown in three years, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll have a major impact here.
Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 7 yards, 0 TD
Defense/Special Teams
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San Diego Chargers Defense/Special Teams
This unit had its problems during the preseason, and the Bolts had their issues stopping the pass a year ago. Only three teams in the league gave up more yards through the air in 2013.
The Chargers will be hard-pressed to slow down the Arizona attack, which is why you can look for the San Diego offense to try and play a little keep away.
Meanwhile, kicker Nick Novak may be worth a pick here. We’re picking him to connect on three field goals and three point-after attemps (PATs).
Fantasy Prediction: 28 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 0 FF
Arizona Cardinals Defense/Special Teams
Only five teams in the NFL allowed fewer yards than Arizona last season. But don’t look for that to be the case in 2014 with the likes of inside linebackers Karlos Dansby and Daryl Washington and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett not available for various reasons.
Still, the cupboard isn’t totally bare. The Cardinals' pass rush will have its moments and don’t be surprised if outside linebacker John Abraham gets to Rivers twice, with one of those sacks resulting in a fumble return for a touchdown.
Fantasy Prediction: 30 points allowed, 3 sacks, 0 INT, 2 FF
Best Sleeper Adds
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A couple of these performers may not be on your team and could be worth adding on Monday. Sometimes a little last-minute shopping can be beneficial.
1. Donald Brown, Running Back, San Diego Chargers (Owned in 80.5 percent of ESPN leagues)
He won’t be an easy get, as evidenced by the numbers. Ryan Mathews is the starter in the San Diego backfield but has had problems in the past staying healthy.
2. John Brown, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals (Owned in 1.5 percent of ESPN leagues)
Given what we saw in the preseason, it’s a bit of a surprise that Brown is not on more rosters. Of course, it’s also understandable since the Cards have the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.
3. Jonathan Dwyer, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals (Owned in 29.4 percent of ESPN leagues)
As far as Monday night’s matchup, Dwyer would be a nice insurance policy in case Andre Ellington can’t go or doesn’t last very long. The Chargers defense had its issues against the run during the preseason.
Injury Report
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Here is a look at the latest injury report regarding the San Diego Chargers and Arizona Cardinals, focusing on key performers.
Player | Status | |
Keenan Allen | WR | Probable |
Jason Verrett | CB | Probable |
Sean Lissemore | NT | Questionable |
Manti Te’o | LB | Questionable |
Antonio Gates | TE | Questionable |
Not listed on the NFL’s injury report on Friday but added on Saturday was Gates. Bleacher Report’s Sean O’Donnell followed the tweets of Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego, who reported Gates “tweaked” his hamstring in Saturday morning’s practice and his availability for this game is in question.
Meanwhile, San Diego’s run defense could be hurting if either Lissemore and/or Te’o are unavailable.
Player | Status | |
Larry Fitzgerald | WR | Probable |
Kevin Minter | LB | Probable |
Frostee Rucker | DT | Probable |
Andre Ellington | RB | Questionable |
Tyrann Mathieu | S | Questionable |
While we expect to see Fitzgerald, the already depleted Arizona defense could certainly use Minter, Rucker and Mathieu. All could be game-time decisions.
We are also awaiting word on Ellington, who according to head coach Bruce Arians (and via Kent Somers of AZCentral.com) could be ready to go on Monday night against that suspect San Diego defense.
Sit or Start
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We know who the stars are when it comes to this contest. But is there a pivotal player or two who may be on your roster whom you can’t decide whether to start or not? Here’s a little help.
TE Ladarius Green (Chargers): With Antonio Gates’ status up in the air, Green is a must-play and may have been even if the veteran tight end was 100 percent healthy.
Verdict: Start
RB Donald Brown (Chargers): Head coach Mike McCoy figures to attack the Arizona defense up the middle with Ryan Mathews as well as Brown, who is a solid option and comes off a dynamite year. He may have a surprisingly big impact in this contest.
Verdict: Start
WR Ted Ginn (Cardinals): The well-traveled speedster will have a bigger role on special teams than on offense in this tilt.
Verdict: Sit
TE John Carlson (Cardinals): Carlson was a nice offseason addition, and he will play a big role in this offseason in 2014 but not on this evening.
Verdict: Sit
Some statistical support provided by Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com. Injury info by NFL.com. Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.
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