The Los Angeles Chargers are starting a new era in 2020, doing so against another team turning the page as well. The Bolts open their season in Cincinnati against the Bengals on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. on CBS.
Don’t let these new faces on the field steer you away, either. There are profitable fantasy options in this one for the Chargers, namely under center.
Starting the post-Phillip Rivers era for the Bolts is Tyrod Taylor. While finding himself in and out of the starter role during his career, Taylor has a chance to produce a cost-efficient season opener for your daily fantasy team with a salary of only $5,600.
The focal point of the Bengals’ offseason centered around quarterback Joe Burrow. Fixing an entire roster isn’t going to happen overnight. Plus, Burrow and other additions made by Cincy won’t do much to help a defense that allowed the fourth-most yards last year, 393.7 per game.
The knee-jerk reaction here might be to use the Chargers’ backfield to attack the NFL’s worst run defense in 2019 with running back Austin Ekeler. However, Ekeler has a DraftKings salary of $7,000 (roster limit: $50,000). Savings can be found in Taylor ($5,600).
Not only does Taylor have strong short-options in Ekeler through the air, don’t forget about receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. In Taylor’s spell as a starter with the Bills, he mixed in his very-profitable mobility with a good deep ball. In 2016, he had a 101.5 passer rating on 129 deep passes. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, who spent 2016 with the Bills offense and Taylor, won’t forget that.
Not to mention, the Bengals did allow the ninth-most fantasy points to QBs a year ago.
