Thursday October 23, 2014
San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos

This is most definitely the most intriguing Thursday Night Football game of the year to this point. Peyton Manning will try to beat a Chargers team he has historically struggled against, particularly in big games. There are a ton of major fantasy players as well, but that’s pretty much always the case if the Broncos are involved. The Chargers have their fair share of fantasy stars in their own right. Hopefully this game lives up to the billing and doesn’t follow course with the other Thursday night games we’ve suffered through.

San Diego Chargers: Key Players
QB Philip Rivers
Rivers has been tremendous this season. If you drafted him late as your QB1, you are thrilled with how he’s played so far this season. He is a must start at this point and will likely be in a shootout this Thursday. Anybody who believes the Broncos’ defense is actually good apparently hasn’t been watching Peyton Manning-led teams for the past decade and a half.
Verdict: Start Rivers. He should have a huge game against an overrated Broncos’ defense.

RB Branden Oliver
Oliver may be the savior of the fantasy season for many owners. The kid has been an RB1 since getting an opportunity. He is a duel-threat back, and as long as Ryan Mathews is out he is a feature back.
Verdict: Start Oliver. Oliver is a must start every week until Mathews returns.

WR Keenan Allen
Allen has been a major disappointment this season. The sophomore slump has hit him in a major way. He has only topped 60 yards once this season and has yet to catch a TD. Not many people saw this coming, especially not to this extent.
Verdict: Sit Allen. It’s time to leave him on the bench permanently or at least until he can string together a few productive games.

WR Eddie Royal
Royal has not been overly consistent, but he has caught five TDs this season. Royal has been known to put up fantasy points in bunches even going back to his days as a Bronco.
Verdict: Start Royal. He is far from a safe play and this is a bit of a gut feeling.

TE Antonio Gates
The ageless Antonio Gates continues to roll. He continues to put up elite TE1 numbers and after dealing with a foot injury for a few seasons, he has now been healthy for a few seasons now. Gates already has seven TDs.
Verdict: Start Gates. He is a must start every week. He could go down as one of the greatest TEs of all-time.

Denver Broncos: Key Players
QB Peyton Manning
Do we really need to even go through this with him? Obviously start him.

RB Ronnie Hillman
After Montee Ball was such a major disappointment, Hillman has been a major upgrade. Nobody is going to be taking this starting job from him until Ball returns. And even then, Ball may not be able to take his job back either.
Verdict: Start Hillman. He has performed like the RB1 we all expected Ball to be heading in to the season.

WR Demaryius Thomas
After a slow start Thomas has had a fantasy explosion. In the past three games he has totaled 26 receptions, 521 yards and five TDs. That is ridiculous.
Verdict: Start Thomas. This run can’t go on forever, but as long as it goes, ride it out. This could be a historic run.

WR Emmanuel Sanders
As DT has heated up, Sanders has cooled down a bit. We don’t expect this to last for long. Sanders will have a lot more big games in that Broncos’ offense.
Verdict: Start Sanders. There are more than enough fantasy points to go around when Manning is your QB.

TE Julius Thomas
Thomas has emerged as the TE that can challenge Jimmy Graham for the top spot. He has been awesome and may be the most valuable TE in fantasy football right now. If not, he’s a close second.
Verdict: Start Thomas. He is a must start every single week. Manning loves him and so do his fantasy owners.

Predictions

Final Score
San Diego: 27
Denver: 24

Best Play
Chargers: Philip Rivers
Broncos: Peyton Manning

Sleeper
Eddie Royal