San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had his least-productive game of the season Sunday, throwing for only 198 yards on 19-of-23 passing. He tossed for only a single touchdown as the Chargers fell to the Tennessee Titans, 20-17.
Philip Rivers quiet for fantasy owners, Chargers in Week 3
After fantasy-productive games in the season’s first two weeks, Rivers was much less helpful Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Donald Miralle
Rivers threw for 195 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1, and followed that up with 419 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2. Against the Titans, Rivers connected with Antonio Gates early in the first quarter for a seven-yard touchdown, then went cold after that as the Chargers' only other touchdown came on a Ronnie Brown run.
Fantasy impact: Rivers’ formerly huge fantasy value took a nosedive the last couple of years as his touchdown-to-interception ratio declined, with 53 touchdowns to 35 interceptions over the last two seasons. While he only threw for a single touchdown Sunday, and has fewer than 200 yards passing in two of the team’s three games so far, Rivers does have eight touchdowns to only one interception so far this season.
There’s still improvement necessary for Rivers to again be a viable standard-league start option, but it’s starting to look like he might be usable as a bye-week or injury fill-in, and he’s definitely worth considering in two-quarterback leagues.
• Week 3 fantasy football rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
