How to handle Justin Jackson injury in Week 5 fantasy football

The Los Angeles Chargers welcomed back Melvin Gordon in Week 4, but also saw running back Justin Jackson suffer a calf injury during practice that week. Jackson was a late addition to the injury report and sat out the Chargers win over Miami. It resulted in Gordon being active three days after ending his holdout, but Austin Ekeler got the entire workload.

Jackson sat out all three practices of Week 5, and is listed as doubtful for the team’s matchup with Denver. Jackson could miss a few weeks, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, so don’t expect to see him beat the odds with the doubtful tag.

Fantasy football analysis, Los Angeles Chargers RB Justin Jackson

Injured or not, Jackson is the big loser in Gordon’s return from his holdout. Jackson was looking like solid complement to Ekeler, although he had not yet gained enough consistency to be a regular fantasy option. Through three weeks, Jackson had rushed for 142 yards and caught six passes for 13 yards. When he returns from injury, Jackson will be the odd man out — occasionally getting some work, but nothing to justify rostering him in fantasy football.

In the meantime, Gordon and Ekeler look likely to split work in Week 5 against the Broncos. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said we might see Gordon get the start, but he would not be getting a full workload. That will happen eventually, but given how well Ekeler has played, there’s no need to rush Gordon back.