Ranking the 2021 AFC West RBs: Where do the Las Vegas Raiders rank

Ranking the 2021 AFC West RBs: Where do the Las Vegas Raiders rank

3. Los Angeles Chargers

Next up on the list are the Los Angeles Chargers, who also feature a potential star as the starter but not much else besides him. Austin Ekeler is their number one running back and he has shown he can be an incredibly dangerous receiving weapon but has never been a full-time starter for an entire season.

Ekeler got his shot to be the every-down back for LA in 2020, but injuries limited him to just ten games, and his production suffered greatly as a result. The former undrafted free agent has grinded his way to his place atop the depth chart, and while he is a formidable running back, the other options don’t inspire much confidence.

After Ekeler, the Chargers currently Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, and Larry Rountree rounding out the top-4. Jackson and Kelley both featured heavily for the Chargers last season in relief of Ekeler, but neither played all that well, though Jackson did post a 4.6 yards per attempt average in a small sample size.

They were both outplayed by journeyman Kalen Ballage, who is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and will back up Najee Harris there.

The Chargers will be hoping that Ekeler can hold up for the full 17 games as the lead back, otherwise they will be back to leaning on the decidedly average Jackson and Kelley. Both of them are decent running backs but they won’t attract any defensive attention from Justin Herbert and the LA passing game.