Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Kimani Vidal
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Austin Ekeler News
Thursday, April 30, 9:22 AM
Veteran free-agent running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) is 100% fully medically cleared for all football activities after suffering a torn right Achilles last September against the Green Bay Packers, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Ekeler intends to play in 2026 and is expected to draw plenty of interest. The 30-year-old was one of the premier pass-catching backs in the NFL in his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers before he signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season. He appeared in 12 games (six starts) for Washington in 2024, carrying the ball 77 times for 367 yards and four touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 366 receiving yards. Ekeler missed some time due to a concussion that year before playing in just two games in 2025 before tearing his Achilles. Ekeler might not be the same shifty back in space after his season-ending injury, but he could still give a team some solid pass-catching depth out of the backfield as he nears the end of his career.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Kimani Vidal News
Sunday, June 14, 5:12 AM
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has become one of the more unheralded insurance backs in dynasty. With the Chargers' signing of former Raven Keaton Mitchell in free agency, the fourth-year undrafted runner out of East Carolina was quick to earn sleeper status in Mike McDaniel's speed and spacing-based offense, but in a true emergency situation, it is Vidal who is more likely to take on something closer to an every-down role should presumed starter Omarion Hampton miss extended time with injury. As a rookie in 2025, Hampton missed eight games with a fractured ankle, and with veteran Najee Harris already lost for the year by that point with a torn Achilles, it was the 2024 sixth-round pick Vidal who led the Chargers in rushing attempts and yards, turning in four top-10 fantasy finishes in his 10 starts. In what appears to be a vastly improved offense heading into 2026, the 24-year-old Vidal remains a must-roster handcuff with legitimate week-winning potential as an injury fill-in.
Austin Ekeler vs. Kimani Vidal
Still trying to decide between Ekeler and Vidal? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Austin Ekeler is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Kimani Vidal is projected to score 0.0 points.
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