AustinEkeler

News: 5 days agoEkeler recorded nine carries for 54 yards and also caught all nine of his targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Cowboys.

Spin: It wasn't exactly a healthy workload on the ground, but Ekeler did manage to outcarry Justin Jackson and Larry Rountree by a combined nine to five margin. It was encouraging to see the talented pass catcher get involved through the passing game, picking up a critical 20-yard catch down the left sideline that sent Ekeler to the injury tent before emerging later in the contest. The 26-year-old hasn't exactly been the type of featured back some assumed would occur in the Joe Lombardi system, but he's been a comfortably productive asset in an explosive offense to start the season and should see more opportunities in better matchups to come.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Ekeler missed six games due to injury last season, but he was his usual productive self when healthy. During 10 active weeks, Ekeler racked up 933 yards and was fantasy's No. 8-scoring RB despite finding the end zone only three times. Even including the weeks he was sidelined, Ekeler finished fifth among backs in receptions and receiving yards for the second-consecutive season. Ekeler has still yet to clear 132 carries in a single season, but his heavy volume and elite efficiency as a receiver makes him one of the few backs in the league who could reasonably push for 90 receptions. The 26-year-old is a mid-to-back-end RB1.