Every week, I’ll be writing a comprehensive primer on every NFL matchup and all of the relevant players, matchups, pace and playcalling notes, and injuries. It covers everything you need to know when setting your lineups. But since that article is massive and requires a full pot of coffee, we’re also going to offer these more focused matchup overviews. If you’re looking for the complete primer, here’s a link to it:

• The Primer: Week 1 Edition

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Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers

• LAC -3.5, O/U 52
• Raiders at Chargers Betting Matchup via BettingPros

Pace and playcalling notes

• This should be the fastest paced game on this week’s slate with the most passing volume. Last year before the Raiders offense cratered (Weeks 1-9) they were seventh and third in neutral pace and passing rate. The Chargers blazed a trail all year sitting at second and fourth in neutral pace and passing rate.
• Los Angeles led the NFL in red zone passing rate in 2021.

Injuries

• Raiders News – Injury Reports
• Chargers News – Injury Reports

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr: Derek Carr was less than stellar against the Bolts last year. During their two clashes he finished the week as the QB24 and QB18 in fantasy scoring. Los Angeles was 14th in yards per attempt and passing touchdowns allowed last year and they have made sizable upgrades this offseason. Even with J.C. Jackson missing this game this secondary is still talented. The Bolts were 12th in pressure rate last year which should increase with Khalil Mack helping Joey Bosa collapse the pocket. Carr should still be able to deliver an accurate ball to his skill players as he was eighth in pressured yards per attempt and sixth in pressured completion rate last year. Carr is a high-end QB2 this week with low-end QB1 upside.

Justin Herbert: Last year against the Raiders zone-heavy pass defense he finished as the QB12 and QB2 in fantasy scoring in their two meetings. This was fueled by three touchdown tosses in each game. His peripherals with a 57.8% completion rate and 5.9 yards per attempt were more ghastly. That doesn’t mean Herbert can’t post solid stats here as he was seventh and 18th last year in completion rate and passer rating against zone. With the Raiders projecting to be zone heavy and the total reflecting a possible shootout, Herbert should carry his usual ceiling in Week 1. Las Vegas 27th in DVOA against short passing last year. The Raiders were also 14th in adjusted completion rate and fantasy points per game allowed to quarterbacks. With losses in the Las Vegas secondary in the offseason Herbert should post better numbers against Raider Nation in 2022.

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs: Yes, it’s a different coaching staff in Las Vegas, but the attack plan could be similar to Week 18 last year. Josh Jacobs toted the rock 26 times in that game for 132 yards on the ground. The Raider offensive line doesn’t project to be much improved (if any) from last year’s, where they ranked 17th or lower in adjusted line yards, second-level yards, and open field yards, but lucky for them, the Bolts’ run defense might still struggle. Sebastian Joseph-Day is the only above-average run defender they added along the defensive line this offseason. This means we could see a similar run defense in 2022 that allowed the third-most rushing yards and second-most rushing touchdowns last season. The Chargers were eighth in yards after contact per attempt and fifth in yards per attempt. Jacobs was 18th in juke rate and seventh in evaded tackles last season.

Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden: White could work in tandem with Jacobs or simply be his early down handcuff. Without knowing which, he’s unstartable this week. Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden are slated to be the pass-catching compliments to Jacobs this season. This isn’t the matchup to run either out there this week. Last year Los Angeles was eighth in DVOA against receiving backs giving up the fourth-fewest receptions and second-fewest receiving yards.

Austin Ekeler: Get off the couch. It’s time to stretch. We’re rocking out with the air guitar this week. Austin Ekeler conjured sweet emotion last year against the Raiders. He averaged 19.5 touches, 122 total yards and two scores. He was the RB3 and RB1 in those weeks. Las Vegas was 22nd in open field yards last year. Running backs in the passing game screamed “we are the champions” against this defense. Las Vegas was 25th in DVOA ranking seventh in receptions and third in receiving touchdowns. Ekeler is a top-five option this week.

Wide Receivers

Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow: Derek Carr doesn’t have to be Aaron Rodgers for Davante Adams to do his thing. Adams might be 29 years old, but he’s shown no signs of falling off. Last year he was the WR2 in fantasy points per game, ranking third in yards per route run. He was top 20 in win rate overall and against man coverage. He’ll see Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. for most of the day. Davis allowed a 55.0% catch rate and 97.4 passer rating last year. Samuel was also beatable with a 67.9% catch rate and a 101.0 passer rating in coverage.

Last season Hunter Renfrow emerged once Darren Waller went down. He finished as the WR16 in fantasy points per game. With Waller on the field, he averaged 7.4 targets, 55.7 receiving yards, and 14.9 PPR points per game. That per-game scoring mark would have placed him as the WR20 last year. He’ll run about 65% of his routes against Bryce Callahan who surrendered a 66.6% catch rate and 102.0 passer rating last season. With Waller and Adams now, Renfrow is best viewed as a WR3 with upside weekly.

Keenan Allen and Mike Williams: Keenan Allen continued his steady top 13 fantasy wide receiver production for the fifth straight season as the WR11 in fantasy points per game. While he was top 20 in targets, target share (15th), and route win rate (16th), Allen looks like a wide receiver that’s starting to show his age. His yards per route run have declined in each of the last five seasons. He also registered the lowest YAC per reception of his career. This week he should have no issues trumping Amik Robertson in the slot on nearly 65% of his routes. Robertson allowed a 76.5% catch rate and 135.5 passer rating last year.

Mike Williams is ready to take the mantle from Allen as the king of the Chargers’ passing attack. Last year we saw this possibly coming to fruition before injury struck. In Weeks 1-5, Williams was 16th in target share and 15th in weighted opportunity as the WR3 in fantasy. Against Patrick Graham’s zone-centric scheme, he should feast in Week 1. Last year Graham had his outside corners operating in zone on 63-65% of their snaps. Williams was 16th in yards per route run (Allen, 39th) against zone last year (minimum 20 targets). He’ll line up against Nate Hobbs and Rock Ya-Sin on nearly 82% of his routes. Hobbs allowed opposing receivers to secure 82.5% of their targets last year with a 94.3 passer rating. Ya-Sin limited the catch rate to 56.5%, but he still gave up a 93.4 passer rating in coverage.

Joshua Palmer: Joshua Palmer assumes a full-time starting role this season. Last year he only logged three games in which he played at least 60% of the snaps. In those weeks, he finished as the WR16, WR21, and WR32. His peripherals aren’t as kind as those fantasy finishes. Palmer was 76th in target per route run rate and outside the top 72 wide receivers in yards per route run and route win rate. With a fully healthy depth chart and numerous players in advantageous situations this week, Palmer is likely the fourth or fifth option in the pecking order. He’ll run most of his routes against Hobbs and Ya-Sin.

Tight Ends

Darren Waller: Darren Waller dealt with injury last year, limiting him to 11 games played. Waller has been injured for much of camp, but he’s expected to play in this game. Last year he was the TE6 in fantasy points per game, still flashing his extreme athleticism. He was third in target share and deep targets while maintaining a big red zone role (tenth in targets). With Adams on the roster, it’s worth questioning what Waller’s volume and red zone volume will look like this year. The Chargers are a great matchup for Waller to exploit in Week 1. They were 23rd in DVOA last season with the most receiving yards and second-most receiving touchdowns conceded to tight ends.

Gerald Everett: Gerald Everett needs to be on your radar if you’re streaming tight ends. Last year Los Angeles was second in red zone scoring attempts per game. Everett was 13th in yards per target and 12th in fantasy points per target in 2021. In Weeks 10-18, he was the TE12 in fantasy points per game. This week he gets a cakewalk scenario against a Raiders team that was eighth in receiving yards, ninth in receptions, and third in receiving touchdowns given up to tight ends.

My DFS Plays