San Diego Chargers
Start ‘em
With Keenan Allen and now Danny Woodhead lost to torn ACL injuries, Melvin Gordon has been thrust into a massive role, totaling 41 touches over the first two weeks of the season. With Travis Benjamin also playing a larger role, both deserve starting spots after showcasing their ability to put up big fantasy outputs. Philip Rivers remains a QB1 against the Colts’ porous secondary, despite the loss of his top two weapons.
Sit ‘em
Antonio Gates is also sitting out, leaving Hunter Henry with the start. He and newly acquired Dexter McCluster should garner starting consideration in deeper leagues eventually, but fantasy owners should use Week 3 to see what their roles are. McCluster has not been a Charger for a week, but has familiarity with Ken Whisenhunt’s system from their Tennessee days together, and should eventually be a viable flex option in PPR formats.
Tyrell Williams could find the end zone amid a favorable matchup, but does not have the usage to be considered anything but a desperate flex play.
Indianapolis Colts
Start ‘em
With a shootout potentially taking place, Andrew Luck is once again a top-flight QB1 and should have much smoother sailing than he did against an elite Broncos unit in Week 2. Though he will be without Donte Moncrief, Luck should still find ways of putting up numbers by looking often in T.Y. Hilton’s direction. Hilton’s 23 targets are more than double that of the next-highest total among Colts receivers and he is firmly in WR2 territory.
Though Frank Gore had a touchdown vulture by Robert Turbin in Week 2, the veteran back should be considered an RB2 in standard leagues.
Start ‘em?
Moncrief’s absence leaves room for others to step up, most notably Phillip Dorsett. With Hilton potentially covered by Jason Verrett, Dorsett could be the preferred target. The Colts’ receiving corps is a lot shorter, leaving Dwayne Allen and Jack Doyle potentially bigger roles in the red zone. Allen can be considered a volatile TE1/TE2, while Doyle deserves streaming consideration in deep leagues.
Sit ‘em
Turbin and Josh Ferguson had roles in Week 2, but not to the point where they deserve spots in fantasy lineups.