Overall ADP: 175
Positional ADP: RB61
An undrafted rookie out of Western State, Austin Ekeler was an unknown entering last season. But midway through the year, he emerged as a strong complement to Melvin Gordon, at times nearly demanding as many touches per game as Gordon.
But Ekeler faded during the stretch of the season, in part due to fumbles and a broken hand he suffered in Week 15. But as a complimentary back to Gordon, Ekeler finished the season with 47 carries for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns. He added 27 receptions, 279 yards, and 3 touchdowns through the air. Those numbers may not be eye-popping, but Ekeler had some very productive weeks from a fantasy perspective. He was a top-20 fantasy back in 3 weeks last season, and he also added an RB21 finish in Week 4.
From a performance standpoint, Ekeler was the most efficient Chargers running back by far.
| Player | Carries | Rushing Yards | Touchdowns | NEP per Carry | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melvin Gordon | 284 | 1,105 | 8 | -0.03 | 36.97% |
| Austin Ekeler | 47 | 260 | 2 | 0.09 | 51.06% |
| Branden Oliver | 35 | 83 | 0 | -0.23 | 34.29% |
More than half of Ekeler's carries resulted in positive NEP, and he had one of the best Success Rates across the league. Of the 97 running backs with at least 20 carries last season, Ekeler's Success Rate was fourth best.
The Chargers did draft Northwestern running back Justin Jackson in the seventh round of the draft. But should Ekeler hold off Jackson in training camp for playing time, he will once again be a strong complement to Gordon, contributing big fantasy weeks along the way.