Heading into the 2013 fantasy football season, San Diego Chargers QB
Philip Rivers was universally being left out as a starting options in a
standard 12-team league. My how the mighty had fallen indeed. Once
considered a rock solid top 5-7 fantasy football and real life QB,
Rivers was lauded for his gunslinging ability which resulted in 4
straight 4,000 yard seasons with his TD totals from 2008-2011 reading
34, 28, 30, and 27. However free agency began to take a toll on the
Chargers, with big time weapons Vincent Jackson and Darren Sproles
leaving town, along with age taking a big chunk out of star tight end
Antonio Gates' effectiveness. Thus the 2012 season became a trainwreck
for Rivers who threw for only 3,606 yards. Sure the 26 touchdown tosses
were nice but they were more than offset by 15 interceptions. Rivers
began to look shaky in the pocket as his pass protection was among the
worst in the NFL and with a wideout corps that lost the emerging Danario
Alexander for the season before camp was through, it surely was not
looking promising for Rivers to re-emerge as a big time fantasy football
asset.
However an ignored transaction that didn't
involve a player during the offseason should have been looked at with
more intrigue however when it came to Rivers and his prospects. The
Chargers went out and hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken
Whisenhunt to be their offensive coordinator and his pass loving ways
were well documented. Thus when Week 1 came around versus Houston, it
was no surprise to see Rivers come out firing and in the end never
taking his foot off the passing pedal in throwing for four touchdowns in
a late last-second loss.
Week 2 brought more of the
same with in fact even better results for Rivers as the Chargers went
into Philadelphia and upset the Eagles with the QB throwing for an
insane 419 yards and 3 more touchdowns. Rivers wound up completing 36
of 47 passes and was in complete control throughout the game. Thus that
makes two weeks out of two that the Chargers threw first and asked
questions later. Rivers stands here heading into Week 3 with 7
touchdowns and only 1 interception and a whole bunch of his former great
name reclaimed.
Obviously Rivers should be picked up
in all formats, even if he sits as very good insurance for your
starter. In a league where QB's are always under injury threat, having a
rock solid guy like Rivers as your backup is fantasy football genius.
Beyond that, Rivers absolutely is worthy of being used as an every week
starter again as he has made a nice rapport with Eddie Royal, Vincent
Brown, Malcolm Floyd, and the still effective Gates. There is more than
enough talent there for Rivers to continue his very solid play and in
the end his place as a fantasy football-worthy starting option is back
in play. Go get him and plug him in right away while he is hot.
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