TJ Yeldon ran for less than two yards a carry in Week 1, in a game that saw him brutalized nearly every time he was given the ball — a not inconsiderable 21 times, btw. All that work behind the line of scrimmage netted Yeldon just 39 rushing yards, with his longest carry just seven yards for a dismal average of 1.9 yards per carry. But Yeldon was an efficient target out of the backfield for super-talented QB Blake Bortles, catching four passes for 30 yards.
Look for Yeldon to find more offensive line support this week. He averaged more than twice last week’s rushing average last season, carrying the ball for a 4.1 yard average. Chris Ivory is again expected to miss the game for undisclosed reasons after last week’s sudden hospitalization — but the Jags have had more prep time this week to get ready to go without Ivory. So with the Chargers shaken after a late Week 1 collapse that saw their defense manhandled, Yeldon figures to contribute rushing and catching in a game that should be a high scoring affair for the Jags. Yeldon has three factors going for him as a fantasy pick: he’s the only game in town out of the backfield for Jacksonville, he’s facing a defense in disarray, and he’s due to get yardage both ways.
