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San Diego Chargers Week 5 Analysis

October 5, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Scott Lau and Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS

As the San Diego Chargers (2-1) come off a devastating defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) come into San Diego desperate for a win. With the Chargers' conservative play-calling in last Sunday's game ultimately resulting in a loss, will they open up the offense and do what is necessary to win this week?

PASSING MATCH-UP: QUARTERBACKS

Quarterback Philip Rivers had his worst outing of the season last weekend, completing only 59.1 percent of his passes for a meager 145 yards while also notching his first interception on the season. The young quarterback looked solid against the Baltimore defense early in the game; however, after his interception, the Chargers decided to primarily utilize their running game for remainder of the game. On the year Rivers has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 163 yards, one touchdown and 0.33 interceptions per game. Rivers should remain on your fantasy bench this week unless you need an injury or bye week replacement.

With 1.67 interceptions per game on the season, the Steelers have been opportunistic against quarterbacks up to this point. However, they are allowing 238 passing yards and 1.33 passing touchdowns per game as well.

RUSHING MATCH-UP: RUNNING BACKS

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson was dejected after the loss to Baltimore last weekend. However, L.T. still had a pretty good game against the Ravens, rushing for 98 yards on 27 attempts. For the season, Tomlinson has averaged 100 yards rushing, 3.67 catches, 25 yards receiving and one touchdown per game in three games. L.T. has been involved in 31 plays per game, accounting for 47 percent of the teams' offensive plays. He has also been utilized 4.67 times per game in the red zone (40 percent), including 0.67 times per game inside the 5. With that large of a number of opportunities, L.T. is bound to have that monster game that we have all come to expect from him sooner or later. Start L.T. this week as your No. 1 running back, although he is a weak play.

Running back Michael Turner will continue to spell L.T. as he has all season, and fill in during the occasional blowout. This season, Turner has tallied 74 rushing yards, 0.67 receptions, 5.67 receiving yards and 0.33 scores per game. The team has utilized him 11 times per game (16 percent), including 2.67 times per game in the red zone (23 percent) and 0.67 times per game inside the 5. Turner is a weak play for Week 5 and should only serve as an injury or bye week sub.

Fullback Lorenzo Neal largely serves as the team's blocking back. He has averaged 6.33 rushing yards, 0.67 catches and 6.33 receiving yards per game. The team has utilized him 3.67 times per game (5.6 percent), including once per game in the red zone (8.5 percent). He is a weak play and not worth owning.

The Steelers defense has allowed opposing running backs only 73 rushing yards and 0.67 touchdowns per game this season. The position has also averaged 3.67 receptions and 29 receiving yards per game against this team. However, the Steelers have not faced a running back of Tomlinson's caliber yet, and their ranking could slip a spot or two after facing L.T. and company.

RECEIVING MATCH-UP PART I: WIDE RECEIVERS

Wide receiver Keenan McCardell did not register a catch in last week's game versus the Ravens, although he was limited by a hamstring injury a bit. In three games, he has caught two passes per game for 25 yards per game, without a touchdown. The Chargers have targeted him 2.67 times per game (4.1 percent), including 0.33 times per game in the red zone (2.8 percent). The Chargers appear hesitant to let Rivers go out and chuck the ball at will, opting to rely heavily on the run to win games. McCardell is a strong play and could serve you as an injury or bye week replacement this week; otherwise he should remain on your fantasy bench.

Wide receiver Eric Parker is another victim of the Chargers' weak passing offense. Parker notched four catches for 37 yards in the Chargers' loss to Baltimore - hardly fantasy-worthy numbers. He has averaged two catches and 33 yards per game. He also has one rush for 18 yards. The team has targeted him three times per game (4.6 percent), but not at all in the red zone. He is a strong play and makes for a decent injury or bye week replacement, but if you've got a quality starter, leave Parker on the bench.

While wide receiver Vincent Jackson pulled down only one catch for six yards last Sunday, he was notably targeted on two deep routes. As a matter of fact, if Rivers passes had been more on target, there is a good chance that Jackson could have been the talk of San Diego with two long touchdowns. Jackson has averaged one reception and seven yards per game. The team has targeted him twice per game (3.0 percent), including 0.33 times per game in the red zone (2.8 percent). He's a weak play, so leave him on the bench until further notice.

Sunday wide receiver Malcolm Floyd caught a 31-yard touchdown pass that staked the team to a 7-0 lead. He has averaged 0.67 catches, 13 yards and 0.33 touchdowns per game this year. San Diego has targeted him 1.33 times per game (2.0 percent), but not at all in the red zone. Floyd is a weak play and is not worth owning.

The Steelers have given up 15 catches, 191 yards and 1.33 touchdowns per game to wide receivers. Although the Chargers haven't passed much, there is potential to do damage with their outside threats.

RECEIVING MATCH-UP PART II: TIGHT ENDS

Tight end Antonio Gates has only scored one touchdown in three games this season. Yes, we are talking about Antonio Gates here. He has averaged 3.33 catches, 41 yards and 0.33 scores per game. Gates has only been targeted six times per game (9.1 percent), including 1.33 times per game in the red zone (11 percent) and 0.33 times per game inside the 5-yard line. That's opposed to the 9.6 plays per game (14 percent) he was involved with in 2005. Gates is a weak play, but he is an elite player who should still be a solid second-teir No. 1 fantasy tight end this week.

Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna is used primarily as a blocking tight end by the Chargers. He has averaged 1.33 catches and 5.67 yards per game. The team has targeted him 1.67 times per game (2.5 percent), including once per game in the red zone (8.5 percent). He is a weak play and does not merit any fantasy consideration.

The Steelers have allowed opposing tight ends only 1.67 receptions, 19 yards and zero touchdowns per game.

KICKING MATCH-UP

Place kicker Nate Kaeding is averaging 2.67 extra points on 2.67 attempts and 2.67 field goals on three attempts per game this season. He's a weak play against a Pittsburgh defense that might do a good job keeping the rest of the San Diego offense out of the end zone. He can still be used as a low-end No. 1 kicker this week.

The Steelers have only allowed opposing kickers to attempt two extra points per game and 1.33 field goal attempts per game. All kickers that have faced the Steelers have yet to miss an extra point or field goal in their limited attempts.

DEFENSIVE MATCH-UP

It was pretty sad to see the Chargers defense give up that last score in the waning seconds of the game against Baltimore. The Chargers defense is about as solid as it gets, allowing a 205 total yards and seven points per game to opposing offenses. They have recorded 3.67 sacks, 1.33 interceptions and one fumble recovery per game. The Chargers defense is a strong play as your No. 1 fantasy defense for the week.

The Chargers will be looking to take out their frustration this weekend on a struggling Pittsburgh offense, which has only managed to put up 309 offensive yards per game in three games. The Steelers, with an erratic quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, have committed 2.67 turnovers (1.67 interceptions and one fumble recovery) per game while allowing 2.67 sacks per game this season. The Chargers defense might present Pittsburgh with its most difficult foe to date and Pittsburgh is going to need to come out firing and on top of their game.