5 Fantasy Football Splits That Matter for Week 7
Count the Red Flags for Melvin Gordon
It's not a stretch to think Melvin Gordon has single-handedly carried the Los Angeles Chargers offense in the last two weeks. His averages of 22.5 carries, 10 targets, 7.5 receptions, 156.5 total yards, and 2 scores since Week 5 are proof of that.
Unfortunately, you have to use both hands to count the red flags for Gordon in Week 7. He's seen so many opportunities recently because Branden Oliver was absent with a hamstring injury. Through the first four weeks of the season, though, Oliver notably recorded 25.51% of backfield snaps and 21.1% of touches. Gordon averaged only 13.5 carries and 4.7 targets in that particular span, a bleak outlook for Sunday given that Oliver was a full participant in practice Thursday.
There's also a lingering concern with Gordon's health. As noted by Scott Barrett, the Chargers' lead back has failed to deliver in weeks that he's been listed on the team's injury report (shown below).
Melvin Gordon
Pre-Knee Injury: 1gm, 23 touches, 79 yds
Knee Injury: 3gms, 44 touches, 186 yds
Off Injury Report: 2gms, 60 touches, 313 yds
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) October 19, 2017
Gordon will certainly be useful in fantasy football again soon, but against a Denver Broncos unit that ranks second against the run, this does not seem like the spot to use him.
