Austin Ekeler

Los Angeles Chargers
Running Back #30
Los Angeles Chargers
Running Back #30
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Austin Ekeler News

Finishes '22 with 70 total yards

Ekeler rushed 11 times for 34 yards and secured all four targets for 36 yards in the Chargers' 31-28 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

Analysis: Ekeler put together a largely pedestrian performance to close out the regular season, although of overriding importance was the fact he came out of the contest unscathed. Ekeler finished campaign with three straight four-catch efforts to put the finishing touches on a 107-722-5 line through the air, and he also eclipsed the 900-yard mark on the ground for the second consecutive season. Ekeler is naturally slated to play a pivotal role in the Chargers' playoff fortunes beginning with next weekend's road wild-card road matchup against the Jaguars.

Jan 8, 2023 6:43 PM EST


Runs through Rams

Ekeler rushed the ball 10 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 31-10 win over the Rams. He added four receptions for 39 yards.

Analysis: Ekeler saw his lowest carry total since Week 13, though he did plenty of damage on limited touches. The highlight was a 72-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, which came five minutes of game time after Ekeler had found the end zone from 10 yards away. Though he did plenty of damage as a rusher, Ekeler also bounced back as a receiver, a positive sign given that he had only 24 combined receiving yards across his last two games. With playoff seeding potentially still in the balance, Ekeler could take the field for a Week 18 matchup against the Broncos.

Jan 1, 2023 4:59 PM EST



Cleared for Week 17 action

Ekeler (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Rams after practicing fully Friday.

Analysis: Ekeler logged limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, but the running back's return to a full session Friday paves the way for him to face the Rams on Sunday. Assuming no in-game setbacks, Ekeler -- who has logged a total of 16 TDs in 15 games to date -- should see enough carries and targets in Week 17 to continue to maintain fantasy relevance as the Chargers' clear-cut top backfield option.

Dec 30, 2022 2:09 PM EST


Logs another limited practice

Ekeler (knee) was limited at practice Thursday.

Analysis: Given that Ekeler was also listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate, the Chargers' top running back will presumably need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Rams. So far there's been nothing to suggest that Ekeler's Week 17 status is in danger, but it he's limited at all this weekend, Joshua Kelley would be next up for added backfield touches.

Dec 29, 2022 2:31 PM EST


Limited on practice estimate

Ekeler (knee) was listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate.

Analysis: Ekeler logged a 60 percent snap share in Monday's 20-3 win over the Colts, while carrying 18 times for 67 yards and two TDs and catching all four of his targets for 12 yards in the contest. The running back's listed limitations Wednesday make his status worth monitoring as this weekend's game against the Rams approaches, with added context regarding his Week 17 availability set to arrive after the Chargers' Thursday practice.

Dec 28, 2022 11:58 AM EST



Scores twice against Colts

Ekeler rushed the ball 18 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns in Monday's 20-3 win over the Colts. He added four receptions for 12 yards.

Analysis: Ekeler entered the game with potential concerns about a shoulder injury, though he turned in his second-highest number of carries in a game this season. He didn't find much room to run -- he had only one gain of more than 10 yards -- but managed a pair of scores from one yard away to turn in a productive performance. While he has three touchdowns in his last two games, Ekeler has also been limited to 159 total yards in that span.

Dec 26, 2022 8:22 PM EST


Tests come back negative

Head coach Brandon Staley said Monday that Ekeler had tests done on his shoulder, but they came back negative, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Analysis: Ekeler briefly left the field during the Chargers' first offensive possession of Week 15, but he quickly returned after getting checked on by trainers. He went on to rush 12 times for 58 yards and a score while securing two of three targets for 12 additional yards. Whatever issue Ekeler picked up early in Sunday's win over the Titans doesn't appear to be significant and shouldn't impact his availability moving forward, though the running back's participation at practice during Week 16 prep will likely provide further information on the situation.

Dec 19, 2022 12:18 PM EST


Gets into end zone Sunday

Ekeler carried the ball 12 times for 58 yards and a touchdown and caught two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 17-14 win over the Titans.

Analysis: The running back got checked out for a possible arm injury after the Chargers' first drive of the game but returned quickly, although Ekeler wound up ceding more work than usual to Joshua Kelley the rest of the way. Ekeler's three-yard TD run in the fourth quarter was his ninth rushing touchdown and 14th total score of the season, and he's 173 yards short of his third career campaign with at least 1,500. He'll look to pad those numbers considerably in Week 16 against a Colts defense that's been trampled by Dalvin Cook and the Cowboys duo of Tony Pollards and Ezekiel Elliott over its last two games.

Dec 18, 2022 7:21 PM EST


Scores touchdown yet again

Ekeler carried the ball 15 times for 45 yards and caught all eight of his targets for 59 yards in Sunday's 23-17 win over the Dolphins. He also scored a rushing touchdown.

Analysis: Ekeler's longest run actually came on a Wildcat RPO as the talented running back was otherwise bottled up on the ground. The 27-year-old continues to be a menace near the goal line with Sunday marking the 13th touchdown on the campaign, good for second most in the NFL. The pass-catching maven shows no signs of slowing down in a tantalizing matchup against the Titans in Week 15.

Dec 11, 2022 9:09 PM EST


Tallies 100-plus total yards

Ekeler carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards and also nabbed five of his six targets for 67 yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Raiders.

Analysis: That now marks two straight games in which the Raiders held Ekeler to under 40 yards rushing, but at least in the rematch the talented back was able to gather a bit more receiving production. Ekeler remains one of the most consistent fantasy running backs given his usage as both a runner and receiver, and his ability to finish in the red zone. Even with a handful of difficult matchups to come, the 27-year-old is clearly playing at a superb level.

Dec 4, 2022 8:03 PM EST


Heavy volume as pass catcher

Ekeler recorded five rushes for 20 yards in Sunday's 25-24 win over Arizona. He added 11 receptions on 15 targets for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Analysis: Ekeler was bottled up on the ground, with Justin Herbert serving as the team's leading rusher. However, Ekeler managed to make up for it through volume as a pass catcher by matching his season high in targets while recording his third game with 10 or more receptions. The highlight of his performance came with 15 seconds left in the game when he caught a one-yard touchdown that set up the game-winning two-point conversion. Though it's impossible to complain about Ekeler's production through 11 games this season, he has failed to reach 100 total yards in three of his last four matchups.

Nov 27, 2022 4:56 PM EST


100 total yards in loss

Ekeler carried the ball 19 times for 83 yards and also caught both of his targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Chiefs. He also scored a touchdown on the ground.

Analysis: After tallying nine receptions in the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs, some expected Ekeler to once again act as a pass-catching maven in the Week 11 rematch. Instead the do-it-all back was a force on the ground registering 83 rushing yards, good for his third-best mark since Week 3 of the 2020 season. The veteran's touchdown also put him one behind the current season leader, Jamaal Williams, who has 12 on the campaign -- an amazing stat considering Ekeler didn't score a touchdown until Week 4. The 27-year-old should be primed for another positive outing next week against a struggling Cardinals defense.

Nov 20, 2022 8:48 PM EST


Limited to short catches

Ekeler carried the ball six times for 24 yards and caught seven of his 12 targets for 39 yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: The Chargers tried to limit the 49ers' effective pass rush by checking it down to Ekeler, and while the dual-threat running back did snare a handful of them, there just wasn't much opportunity to make yards after the catch. Sunday also saw the end of Ekeler's five-game touchdown streak as the Chargers curiously opted to throw in the majority of the red-zone plays. It should get a bit easier next week as the Chargers take on the Chiefs in a pivotal divisional battle.

Nov 13, 2022 8:59 PM EST


Scores TDs as rusher and receiver

Ekeler rushed 14 times for 47 yards and a touchdown while catching seven of nine targets for 24 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Falcons. He also lost a fumble.

Analysis: Ekeler got the Chargers on the board with a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, then gave his team a 14-10 lead with a one-yard touchdown catch in the final minute of the first half. With the Chargers driving for a winning field goal down the stretch, Ekeler fumbled at Atlanta's 20-yard line, but he was bailed out as the Falcons fumbled later on the same play, resulting in the Chargers getting the ball back and making the game-winning kick three plays later. Ekeler has found the end zone 10 times in his last five games heading into a Week 10 matchup with the 49ers.

Nov 6, 2022 2:35 PM EST


Cleared for Week 9 action

Ekeler (abdomen) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Falcons after practicingfully Friday.

Analysis: Ekeler was added to the Chargers' Week 9 injury report after logging a limited practice Thursday, but he's good to go for Sunday's contest after returning to a full session Friday. With top WRs Keenan Allen (hamstring) and Mike Williams (ankle) both having been ruled out, Ekeler once again figures to remain a focal point in his team's offense this weekend. In his last outing, the running back ended up carrying the ball nine times for 31 yards and a TD, while catching all 12 of his targets for 96 yards and a receiving score in a Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

Nov 4, 2022 1:29 PM EST


Added to injury report

Ekeler (abdomen) was limited at practice Thursday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Ekeler practiced fully Wednesday, so his addition to the Chargers' Week 9 injury report Thursday is notable. Friday's final report will clarify whether the team's top running back approaches Sunday's game against the Falcons with an injury designation or fully cleared to play.

Nov 3, 2022 3:54 PM EST


Scores two TDs in Sunday's loss

Ekeler carried the ball nine times for 31 yards and a touchdown and caught all 12 of his targets for 96 yards and a second TD in Sunday's 37-23 loss to the Seahawks.

Analysis: The running back did his best to keep the Chargers in the game after they faced a 17-0 deficit coming out of the first quarter, and Ekeler wound up leading the team in receptions, targets and receiving yards due to multiple injuries among the wideouts. He's topped 100 scrimmage yards in three of the last four games, piling up 300 rushing yards, 218 receiving yards and an incredible eight TDs (five rushing, three receiving) over that stretch, but Ekeler will be able to take a breather during Los Angeles' Week 8 bye.

Oct 23, 2022 6:40 PM EST


Stands out as receiver

Ekeler carried the ball 14 times for 36 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 19-16 win over the Broncos. He added 10 receptions on 16 targets for 47 yards.

Analysis: Ekeler continued to serve as the most significant part of the Chargers' offense, as he led the team in targets, receptions and carries. Despite the opportunity, he was largely held in check from an efficiency perspective, as he posted only one gain of double-digit yards across his 24 total touches. However, volume alone was enough for Ekeler to end up with a productive stat line, and his six-yard touchdown rush also helped. Ekeler now has at least one touchdown in three consecutive games, though this marked only the second time on the season that he topped 20 total touches.

Oct 17, 2022 9:46 PM EST


Sets career high in rushing yards

Ekeler carried the ball 16 times for 173 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-28 win over the Browns. He also caught all four of his targets for 26 yards and an additional score.

Analysis: The Chargers gashed the Browns run defense to the tune of 238 total yards with Ekeler once again putting together a monster performance, setting a career high in rushing yards in the win. After starting the season off slow Ekeler now has 223 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards to go along with five touchdowns over the past two weeks. Expect a bit more difficult running lanes in a pivotal AFC West battle against the Broncos next week.

Oct 9, 2022 1:39 PM EST


Explodes for three total touchdowns

Ekeler carried the ball 13 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 34-24 win over the Texans. He added six receptions on seven targets for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Analysis: Ekeler had largely been bottled up on the ground through the first three games of the season, but he exploded for a big performance both on the ground and as a receiver. He tallied both of his rushing scores prior to halftime, punching the ball in from 10 and 20 yards, respectively. Sony Michel got expanded work on the ground in the second half as the Chargers tried to run out the clock, but Ekeler did clinch the victory with a 14-yard receiving score toward the end of the fourth quarter. While he has been inconsistent as a rusher, Ekeler has at least six receptions and 48 yards in each of his last three games.

Oct 2, 2022 2:11 PM EST


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