Hey, remember during the preseason when myself and countless other fantasy football writers predicted that San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon would be the best fantasy rookie? Yeah...our bad on that one. Through six games, Gordon has carried the ball 78 times for 299 yards (3.8 YPC) with zero touchdowns and an alarming four fumbles (three lost).
While I still believe in Gordon's overall talent and think he will eventually get going, I'm part of the herd that has migrated into Danny Woodhead's camp. If you were debating between the two this week in fantasy football, I'll save you the trouble. Go with Woodhead.
If you don't want to take my word for it, just listen to ESPN Senior Fantasy analyst Matthew Berry.
"With Melvin Gordon continuing to struggle and fumble and not score and get benched - and I may be a bitter Gordon owner - Danny Woodhead continues to get it done," Berry wrote in his weekly Love/Hate column. "The Raiders actually play decent run defense, but Woodhead keeps getting work and, as our player card notes, faces a Raiders team that has allowed the 10th-most receptions per game to backs. It should be a passing game and Woodhead will be a nice part of it."
While San Diego's patch work offensive line has made it difficult for any back to gain traction on the ground (Woodhead is averaging just 3.7 YPC, though he does have two rushing touchdowns), Philip Rivers has made it a point to target Woodhead in the passing game. The eight year vet has already hauled in 26 passes on 34 targets for 332 yards. That averages out to 5.6 targets, 4.3 receptions and 55 receiving yards per game, making Woodhead a solid PPR play so far this season.
That trend should continue against the Raiders this week.
