Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler is a fantasy football superstar when he’s on the field. Fantasy managers selected him with a top-five pick in drafts this offseason with the expectation that he was going to help carry them — literally — to a fantasy championship.
Unfortunately, Ekeler missed Week 2 with an ankle injury. What’s the latest news surrounding Ekeler, and is the veteran RB’s availability for Week 3 in jeopardy?
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Latest News Surrounding Austin Ekeler
On Tuesday, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley discussed how there was not a timeline in place for Ekeler’s return to the field. Fantasy managers hoped that he was being a bit dramatic in that statement, but the practice report from Wednesday isn’t giving them much optimism.
Chargers’ RB Austin Ekeler, who missed last week’s game due to an ankle injury, is not practicing today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Ekeler was not seen at practice as he’s working through his ankle injury, which isn’t necessarily a good sign for his availability for the Chargers’ matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
We’ll monitor the practice reports throughout the remainder of the week and keep you updated, so make sure to check back in here frequently for the latest news.
Update: Ekeler has not been spotted at Friday’s practice, which most likely indicates that he will be OUT for this matchup against the Vikings.
Will Ekeler Play This Week?
At the time of writing, it’s too early to discern whether or not Ekeler will make it back in time for the Chargers’ bout against the Vikings.
Fantasy managers desperately need some good injury news, as injuries have demolished the position up to this point, but more information is needed before declaring whether or not Ekeler will be available.
What Does This Mean for Ekeler’s Fantasy Ranking?
Ekeler has taken a slight slide down rest-of-season rankings with this missed time, but he’s still an elite fantasy asset when he’s out there. As for Week 3 specifically, the practice reports will be telling as to whether or not Ekeler can be started with confidence this week.
MORE: Fantasy Football’s Week 3 Burning Start/Sit Questions
If he doesn’t play, Joshua Kelley can be looked at as a solid start in Week 3 against the Vikings’ run defense. He didn’t have a stellar performance in Week 2, but the Titans boast a much more fearsome defensive front that stifled the Chargers’ run game.
Kelley would be viewed as a top-20 option at the RB position, but make sure to stay tuned to the PFN Consensus Rankings for whether or not you should start Kelley.