Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: SD 31, OAK 13 (Line: SD by 7)

UPDATE: Malcom Floyd is questionable but still expected to play.

The 4-1 Chargers are on a four game winning streak and look like contenders in the AFC. The 0-4 Raiders come off their bye still looking for that elusive first win. This looks like a nice win for the Bolts so long as they do not blow it off and not try. But this is a divisional game and knowing Denver is there contend with will keep them plenty motivated.

These teams traded home wins in 2013. The Raiders won 27-17 in Oakland.

The Chargers are ending up the easier part of their schedule and they look formidable even if they keep spinning through running backs almost weekly. The defense has been underrated and held all opponents to no more than 21 points. And the offense is getting the job done exactly opposite last year. In 2013 it was all about running backs and Keenan Allen. Now it is a spread offense and Antonio Gates. The Chargers have looked great these last two weeks and chances are – the Raiders are not going to change that.

QUARTERBACK : Philip Rivers has passed for a score in every game and has a total of 12 touchdowns on the season already with usually more than 250 passing yards in every game. He has just two interceptions and is playing well beyond expectations as he did last year. Rivers is getting the job done for the Chargers and almost all the credit has to go directly to Rivers.

Rivers passes for 411 yards and two scores in Oakland last season.

RUNNING BACK : Ryan Mathews is out for at least one or two more weeks because of his sprained MCL. But Donald Brown was struggling in his place and then received a concussion last week. In his place undrafted FA Branden Oliver ran for 114 yards on 19 carries with one score on the normally dominant Jets front line and he added four receptions for 68 yards and a second touchdown. He’s earned a start this week.

The reality is that he had a 15 yard touchdown run at the end of the first half and then a 52 yard breakaway in the second half but otherwise he ran 14 times for only 38 yards. The Jets were being humiliated in the game and had largely given up.But in fairness, Braden did look as good as any running in San Diego this year. He’s likely the new Danny Woodhead since he is the exact same size. Shaun Draughn is also available but looked nothing like the speedy Oliver. I will project for Oliver this week and update if something concrete suggests differently.

The Chargers as a team only ran for 36 yards on 19 carries in Oakland last time though Woodhead caught a touchdown on his nine catches for 58 yards.

WIDE RECEIVER : Keenan Allen blew up for 135 yards on ten catches in the Jaguars win but he fell back to only three catches for 40 yards in the win over the Jets and their secondary – nothing special. He still has not scored this year of been more than a marginal fantasy play all besides the Jaguars game. Allen has been nursing a sore groin recently but said that was not an issue. Eddie Royal was on a hot streak with two scores each in the Bills and Jaguars games but then only had 40 yards on three catches last week because he was finally cleaned off all the waiver wires. Malcom Floyd occasionally turns in a touchdown or decent yardage but is still too inconsistent to merit fantasy consideration.

Allen turned in six catches for 115 yards and one score in Oakland, Vincent Brown even had 117 yards on seven catches in that game.

TIGHT END : Antonio Gates comes off another big game when he caught four passes for 60 yards and scored twice on the Jets. The problem is that he only managed four catches for 38 yards total in the two games between the big showings and that both occurred in home games. Not on the road.

Gates ended with seven receptions for 74 yards in Oakland last time.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: Not only does every opponent throw one or two touchdowns on the Raiders, they have faced some of the weakest passing attacks in the process. The problem is that they give up the run so willingly that most teams do not bother to pass as much and no one has needed to throw to catch up to the Raiders score. That makes breaking this down a bit tougher since the Raiders lost and have not faced much in the way of a good offense. Rivers, Gates, Oliver and Allen all deserve a start from their sheer upside here. Anyone could turn in a really big game.

It could have gone better. The Raiders remain in disarray with an offense that cannot pass 14 points in a game and a defense that crumbles when the opponent sports an above average anything. There will be a trap game eventually for that first win and the Chargers could get caught looking past them. But this is such an ineffective team in all facets it would not be a good bet that they will win any time soon.

QUARTERBACK : Derek Carr injured his ankle and knee but has been recuperating over their bye week. But he has a sprained MCL and a high ankle sprain so he may not play again. That would press Matt McGloin back into duty and no one wants to see that. I will assume that Carr can play and then update if needed as if you were waiting to spring McGloin on your league this week. These are consistently the weakest passing stats in the league each week.

RUNNING BACK : Maurice Jones-Drew contemplated retirement in the off-season and it appears he may have actually started it while allowing the Raiders to fund his first year away from productive football. Jones-Drew has a total of 11 carries for 12 yards on the season. Darren McFadden is better in comparison to MJD but not compared to an actual NFL-quality back. He’s averaging just over 40 yards per game and scored just once in the Houston meeting in week two. This has been a bottom three unit the entire season.

WIDE RECEIVER : Rod Streater is on injured reserve/designated to return after surgery to his foot. The Raiders claimed Kenbrell Thompkins off waivers from the Patriots and he’s going to be surprised just how different the Raiders are from the Patriots. James Jones is the only fantasy play here and he has scored twice and even broke 100 yards in a game. His best two efforts by far were in the two home stands this year so that speaks to some minor upside this week. Overall – there is no fantasy value here outside of Jones. With the quarterbacking and absence of any rushing effort, this mediocre crew never had a chance anyway.

This is Vincent Brown’s chance to get back at his old team. Yeah, made me chuckle too.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: There simply is no reasonable start here. McFadden faces a defense that has yet to allow any runner to gain more than 44 yards. The passing game here is marginal at best and needs trash time in order to get some undeserved production. Until the Raiders show any real productivity, they all remain hands off.

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