The Los Angeles Chargers star running back with Yahoo Sports’ Matt Harmon about his backfield mate — who ran for a career-high 91 yards in the team’s season opener — and why having depth at any position is crucial as injuries occur throughout the season. Hear the full conversation on “Ekeler’s Edge” - part of the “Yahoo Fantasy Football Show” podcast - and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen.

View more

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MATT HARMON: We do have to give a shout out to Josh Kelley, too. I mean, Josh Kelley-- 16 carries, 91 yards, and a touchdown. You know, this is a guy I remember talking about last year, right? He kind of suffered this unfortunate injury, and went on IR and missed a few games.

But we were starting to say that, hey, you've wanted this like second fiddle in the ground game for a while, somebody to take the load off. And, look, I'm telling you for sure, people in fantasy right now-- because you're on the injury report with this ankle-- a long way to go until game day. But people are definitely keeping an eye on Josh Kelley from a waiver wire perspective right now.

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah. You know, I've been vocal about this, you know, for the past few years, like being able to have someone where it's, like, they can carry the load as well and there's not much of a drop off, right? And it's like hey, we trust this guy in the game. It's so crucial to just the health of both of us.

And we play the long game. You know, anyone-- as we saw with, you know, Aaron, this is football. Everyone, you know, is going to be in the same boat as far as injuries. Everyone can get hurt. It doesn't matter who you are or what position you play, like it's football. So, you know, it's unfortunate. It's the worst part of the game.

But yeah, Josh has been solid all preseason. Josh is rip and runs. And so, yeah, that's exactly what you want to see. But, I mean, I'm just in general, I'm like, man, if we can rip runs like this, you might just want to pick him up in just-- in general, even if he's not the so-called starter, right?

Like, if we're gonna able to get this attack-- or run game going, then it could be like-- almost like a-- where you had Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Where it was like both of these guys are very viable to be on the field and actually go out there and make plays. So, yeah, I'm excited for us going forward.

MATT HARMON: Obviously, again, the contingent value. If Austin misses games, everybody-- like you ain't got to be a genius to-- you don't need-- shoot, you don't need me to come on this podcast and tell you, yeah, you should probably play Josh Kelley because he'd be the starting running back.

But if what Austin is alluding to-- and again, I remember having this conversation early last year that, hey, Josh might be carving out a role to the point that during the bye week hell, right, when it's gonna be tough finding guys. Maybe you throw him out there. Maybe he has that standalone value. Someone that has contingent value in the backup running back spot, but also, you know, potential like what-the-heck flex, throw this guy out there. That's standalone value.

Those are probably the most valuable players to have in fantasy. So I'll tell you what, I'm looking at like rest of season rankings right now, Austin. And, you know, I'm keeping notes on this conversation, thinking like, yeah, I need to be having an-- Josh Kelley maybe in an area where, yeah, he should be on rosters at this point.

Close