#TBT - Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers, Age 33
-Hoover26 October 22
For #TBT this week, we are going to talk about one of the NFL’s most talented “old guys”. Philip Rivers has been the Chargers starter for ten years now, and has always been a very strong player. However, his fantasy value hasn’t been super high in years past. Rivers tends to have those years where he plays well, wins games, and is a pro bowl candidate, yet still finds himself a low end fantasy starter. Well, Rivers is primed to change that in his age 33 season (not the pro bowl part, but the low end part). Rivers is the fourth ranked QB (per nfl.com scoring), and is on pace for over 5,500 yards passing and 32 touchdowns this season. Even though fifty-five hundred might not become a reality, I think Rivers should come close to topping his career high of 4,710.
Footballoutsiders.com ranks Rivers’ Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement at fourth in the league, and his Completion Percentage is higher than ever. Once again, Rivers is having a great season for the Chargers. However, what sets this year apart is he is also putting up monster numbers from a fantasy standpoint. He threw for FIVE HUNDRED yards versus the Packers defense. He leads the league in passing yards. The only quarterback to score more fantasy points than RIvers in the past two weeks is Blake Bortles (if you haven’t already, check out our player spotlight article on Bortles). Keep in mind, Rivers has done this with pretty much zero running game. Melvin Gordon needs more time to progress in the NFL, and Danny Woodhead is basically a pure receiver out of the backfield. There are two sides to this coin, however. If there is no running game to respect, then the defense can sell out on stopping Rivers. But, if the backs aren’t getting as many carries, Rivers gets more opportunity to throw. There are two ways to look at it, but I feel that Rivers would be better off if he didn’t have to throw sixty-five times in a game. If Melvin Gordon finds a way to pick up the pace this year, and the Chargers become a multi-dimensional team, Rivers’ value goes way up. Then, Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd can get open more, and Rivers finishes the year as a top five fantasy quarterback. Rivers’ race to the top five is aided by the fact that their future schedule is one of the lightest in the league (footballoutsiders.com).
Rivers has plenty of targets with Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Stevie Johnson, and the emergence of Dontrelle Inman at the wide receiver position. Not to mention Antonio Gates and LaDarius Green at tight end. Look for the throwback performance from Philip Rivers this season to continue!
Footballoutsiders.com ranks Rivers’ Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement at fourth in the league, and his Completion Percentage is higher than ever. Once again, Rivers is having a great season for the Chargers. However, what sets this year apart is he is also putting up monster numbers from a fantasy standpoint. He threw for FIVE HUNDRED yards versus the Packers defense. He leads the league in passing yards. The only quarterback to score more fantasy points than RIvers in the past two weeks is Blake Bortles (if you haven’t already, check out our player spotlight article on Bortles). Keep in mind, Rivers has done this with pretty much zero running game. Melvin Gordon needs more time to progress in the NFL, and Danny Woodhead is basically a pure receiver out of the backfield. There are two sides to this coin, however. If there is no running game to respect, then the defense can sell out on stopping Rivers. But, if the backs aren’t getting as many carries, Rivers gets more opportunity to throw. There are two ways to look at it, but I feel that Rivers would be better off if he didn’t have to throw sixty-five times in a game. If Melvin Gordon finds a way to pick up the pace this year, and the Chargers become a multi-dimensional team, Rivers’ value goes way up. Then, Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd can get open more, and Rivers finishes the year as a top five fantasy quarterback. Rivers’ race to the top five is aided by the fact that their future schedule is one of the lightest in the league (footballoutsiders.com).
Rivers has plenty of targets with Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Stevie Johnson, and the emergence of Dontrelle Inman at the wide receiver position. Not to mention Antonio Gates and LaDarius Green at tight end. Look for the throwback performance from Philip Rivers this season to continue!