Monday Showdown Week 9

Disclaimer

These contests are intended to be fun as you’re watching the game. It’s incredibly difficult to get a real edge as there are so few options, and in MME contests, there are often many duplicate lineups. One play or one penalty can change the entire outcome of the game.

Game Strategy

• Over/Under: 40
• Spread: Chargers -3.5
• Chargers Implied Team Total: 21.8
• Jets Implied Team Total: 18.3

The Chargers have scored 48 more points than the Jets this season. The focus with our lineups should begin with the better offense led by Justin Herbert at quarterback.

Injury Roundup

• Joshua Palmer OUT
• Jalen Guyton Questionable
• Allen Lazard Questionable

Captain Consideration:

• Austin Ekeler
• Keenan Allen
• Justin Herbert
• Breece Hall
• Garrett Wilson

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback

Justin Herbert - Captain/Flex

Justin Herbert leads a Chargers offense that ranks fourth in Expected Points Added per Play (EPA/Play) and Dropback EPA, and he ranks sixth in both passing yards per game (270) and pass touchdowns per game (1.9). The matchup is a tough one here, but regardless, Herbert is almost a lock with the struggling Jets offense on the other side.

Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End/Defense/Kicker

Austin Ekeler - Captain/Flex

Austin Ekeler ranks ninth in opportunities per game (20) and 11th in total yards per game (98.8). He's coming off a great performance in Week 8 where he reminded everyone of his dual-threat skillset, catching 7 of 8 targets for 94 yards and 1 touchdown. Despite the tough matchup, he should be utilized in a similar fashion with Josh Palmer out due to injury.

Keenan Allen - Captain/Flex

Keenan Allen ranks sixth in targets per game (10.6), sixth in receptions per game (7.7), and eighth in receiving yards per game (91.9). He should be plenty busy in this one as Justin Herbert pummels him with intermediate targets to help the Chargers offense matriculate the ball down the field against a tough defense.

Gerald Everett - Flex

Gerald Everett is a fun tournament play at projected low ownership. Everett missed last week's game, which allowed Donald Parham to catch 4 of 5 targets for 43 yards and 1 touchdown. But Everett practiced in full on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and does not have an injury designation entering Monday night. Everett is the Chargers' TE1 and could see additional target volume here with Josh Palmer out due to injury.

Quentin Johnston - Flex

Quentin Johnston played a season-high 70% of the offensive snaps last week and turned the additional playing time into the most productive outing of his rookie season to date, catching 5 of 6 targets for 50 yards. Johnston's playing time projects to rise again on Monday night with Josh Palmer out due to injury. Johnston is solely a tournament play but he has enough talent to flash in a one-week sample.

New York Jets

Quarterback

Zach Wilson - Fade

Zach Wilson's NFL struggles continue. He leads a Jets offense that only ranks 31st in EPA/Play and 30th in Dropback EPA and he only ranks 29th in passing yards per game (191) and 32nd in pass touchdowns per game (0.7). Recommendation: fade.

Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End/Defense/Kicker

Breece Hall - Captain/Flex

The dual-threat and mega-talented Breece Hall has scored in three straight games, and here are his opportunity totals over those three contests: 25, 17, and 21. Hall has been unleashed and is a solid play against a Chargers defense that only ranks 27th in EPA/Play Allowed.

Garrett Wilson - Captain/Flex

Garrett Wilson has poor quarterback play, but he's an elite player and the clear-cut number one pass catcher on the Jets. Wilson has seen 68 targets, and his next closest teammate has seen only 29 targets. The matchup is favorable as the Chargers have been better against the run (eighth in Rush EPA Allowed) than the pass (29th in Dropback EPA Allowed).

Tyler Conklin - Flex

With the passing matchup looking favorable since the Chargers defense only ranks 27th in EPA/Play Allowed and 29th in Dropback EPA Allowed, Tyler Conklin makes sense as a sneaky tournament play. Coming off a zero-catch game, Conklin projects to be low-owned. He could pop up for a decent game. He has three games with 50 or more receiving yards so far this season.