Fantasy Football Previews - Week 1 - San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders
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Chargers

Philip Rivers' matchup makes for an ideal way to start the season. Oakland's secondary is suspect, which may be a nice way to put it, and their pass rush has regressed.

With Ryan Mathews (collarbone) sidelined, Ronnie Brown has a great chance to become fantasy relevant, if even for just a week. Slide him into your lineup as a weak RB2 or flex.

Malcom Floyd should be in for a strong day against the Raiders, a team that permitted wideouts copious fantasy points per game in 2011. Robert Meachem may not be on the same page as Rivers just yet, but this is a good week to make it happen.

Antonio Gates has to be in your lineup against a transformed linebacking corps.

Raiders

There has been a lot of fluctuation in Carson Palmer's targets the past few weeks due to injuries. The veteran quarterback is so-so option this week, and that's more of a testament of how shaky San Diego's D can be.

Darren McFadden has to be in your lineup as an RB1 after a strong offseason.

Darrius Heyward-Bey is the safest play among Raiders receivers, primarily because of injuries to Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Juron Criner in recent weeks.

Can you even name the starting tight end for the Raiders? His name is Brandon Myers, and he could be a sly fantasy play in Week 1 against a defense that struggles to stop the position.

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Chargers fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
1	1	Philip Rivers
25	2 or flex	Ronnie Brown
37	Flex or bench	Le'Ron McClain
76	Bench	Curtis Brinkley
--	INJ	Ryan Mathews
12	2	Malcom Floyd
21	2	Robert Meachem
68	Bench	Eddie Royal
--	IR-R	Vincent Brown
6	1	Antonio Gates

Raiders fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
24	Bench	Carson Palmer
4	1	Darren McFadden
57	Bench	Taiwan Jones
58	Bench	Marcel Reece
71	Bench	Mike Goodson
33	3	Darrius Heyward-Bey
42	INJ	Denarius Moore
51	INJ	Juron Criner
63	INJ	Jacoby Ford
15	Flex or bench	Brandon Myers

Access all of this week's fantasy football player rankings and cheat sheets.

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Chargers latest news and notes

Chargers | Chad Rinehart expected to be LG

San Diego Chargers OG Chad Rinehart is expected to be the starting left guard this season.

Chargers | Robert Meachem has some hope to improve

San Diego Chargers WR Robert Meachem is still buried on the depth chart, but this new offense gives him a shot to produce more than he did last year.

Chargers | Ryan Mathews says he's been average, makes changes

San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Mathews said he's "been just an average back." After bulking up last year in an effort to absorb hits more effectively, he has leaned out this year while also incorporating different stretches to stay flexible. Mathews is also studying more, specifically changing and working on understanding his blocking technique.

Chargers | Antonio Gates looks quick and fit

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates, who turns 33 next week, has looked quick and fit in workouts this offseason. He's been using his height advantage against defenders in non-pads work.

Chargers | Confident in Dwight Freeney

San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy is confident in OLB Dwight Freeney. There are concerns that Freeney is out of place if he's not a 4-3 defensive end, but McCoy said the veteran will fit in because San Diego often uses multiple looks on passing downs.

Want more? Access our San Diego Chargers news, injuries and rumors....

Raiders latest news and notes

Raiders | Sio Moore contract update

Updating a previous report, Oakland Raiders DE Sio Moore signed a four-year deal worth $3.054 million. The deal includes a $690,832 signing bonus.

Raiders | Sio Moore signed

The Oakland Raiders have signed third-round draft choice DE Sio Moore. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Raiders | Mike Brisiel, Khalif Barners receiving regular reps

Oakland Raiders OG Mike Brisiel and OT Khalif Barnes have been getting the majority of minicamp reps at their respective positions along the right side of the offensive line.

Raiders | Ugly minicamp performance from QBs

Oakland Raiders QBs Matt Flynn, Tyler Wilson, Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin didn't fare well at their minicamp Tuesday, June 11. Many of their throws were batted down at the line of scrimmage, landed behind and over receivers, and were generally off the mark. No option distinguished himself from the others. Pryor said that since defenders weren't wearing pads, they were more upright, which made it easier to bat down throws.

Raiders | Latavius Murray not practicing

Oakland Raiders RB Latavius Murray (foot) is not participating in practice Wednesday, June 12, because of a foot injury.

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Chargers - Week 1 injury report

QUESTIONABLE	DL Antonio Garay (ankle)
OUT	OT Jared Gaither (back), RB Ryan Mathews (clavicle)
INJURED RESERVE	SS Sean Cattouse (undisclosed), WR Vincent Brown (ankle)

Raiders - Week 1 injury report

PROBABLE	TE David Ausberry (shoulder), PK Sebastian Janikowski (groin), C Stefen Wisniewski (calf), TE Brandon Myers (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE	WR Denarius Moore (hamstring), DL Richard Seymour (knee), WR Juron Criner (ankle)
OUT	WR Jacoby Ford (foot)
PUP	LB Aaron Curry (knee)
INJURED RESERVE	CB Brandon Underwood (hip/groin), P Marquette King (toe), RB Rashawn Jackson (hip), WR Duke Calhoun (knee), LB Mario Kurn (knee), OG Zach Hurd (head), OT Ed Wang (shoulder), TE Tory Humphrey (hamstring), DL Jamie Cumbie (undisclosed)

Chargers fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Rivers, Philip	QB	250.00	3606	26	27	40	0	0	0	0
Floyd, Malcom	WR	105.00	0	0	0	0	0	56	814	5
Alexander, Danario	WR	104.00	0	0	0	0	0	37	658	7
Mathews, Ryan	RB	91.00	0	0	184	707	1	39	252	0
Gates, Antonio	TE	89.00	0	0	0	0	0	49	538	7
Battle, Jackie	RB	59.00	0	0	95	311	3	15	108	1
Brown, Ronnie	RB	45.00	0	0	46	220	0	49	371	0
Meachem, Robert	WR	30.00	0	0	1	-6	0	14	207	2
Royal, Eddie	WR	27.00	0	0	3	22	0	23	234	1
Rosario, Dante	TE	25.00	0	0	0	0	0	10	95	3
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Raiders fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Palmer, Carson	QB	264.00	4018	22	18	36	1	0	0	0
Moore, Denarius	WR	110.00	0	0	1	-5	0	51	741	7
McFadden, Darren	RB	101.00	0	0	216	707	2	42	258	1
Myers, Brandon	TE	97.00	0	0	0	0	0	79	806	4
Heyward-Bey, Darrius	WR	89.00	0	0	2	16	0	41	606	5
Streater, Rod	WR	72.00	0	0	0	0	0	39	584	3
Goodson, Mike	RB	42.00	0	0	35	221	0	16	195	1
Reece, Marcel	RB	42.00	0	0	54	261	0	20	195	0
Pryor, Terrelle	QB	25.00	155	2	10	51	1	1	22	0
Hagan, Derek	WR	21.00	0	0	0	0	0	20	259	0
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Chargers depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Philip Rivers	Ryan Mathews	Le'Ron McClain	Malcom Floyd	Danario Alexander	Antonio Gates	Nick Novak
Charlie Whitehurst	Danny Woodhead	Chris Gronkowski	Vincent Brown	Keenan Allen	John Phillips
Brad Sorensen	Ronnie Brown		Eddie Royal	Robert Meachem	Ladarius Green
Mike Hermann	Edwin Baker		Mike Willie	Deon Butler	Dallas Walker

Raiders depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Matt Flynn	Darren McFadden	Marcel Reece	Denarius Moore	Jacoby Ford	Richard Gordon	Sebastian Janikowski
Terrelle Pryor	Rashad Jennings	Jamize Olawale	Rod Streater	Juron Criner	David Ausberry	Eddy Carmona
Tyler Wilson	Latavius Murray	Jon Hoese	Andre Holmes	Brice Butler	Nick Kasa
Kyle Padron	Jeremy Stewart			Isaiah Williams	Mychal Rivera