CMC’s workload, Najee’s over/under, and Travis Kelce’s favorite fantasy team name | Ekeler’s Edge
Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler joins Yahoo Sports’ fantasy expert Liz Loza to share his insights on Christian McCaffrey’s usage following an injury plagued season. The NFL debut of the most talked about rookie running back ahead of the 2021 season. AE will tell you which old face in a new place will take his game to the next level. Plus, a visit from TE1, the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
TRAVIS KELCE: We might be on a few fantasy football teams together. You never--
AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, for sure. Probably thousands.
TRAVIS KELCE: I respect the heck out of you and how you play the game, dawg.
AUSTIN EKELER: Likewise.
TRAVIS KELCE: You know it.
AUSTIN EKELER: And those dance moves too. I'm a big fan of those.
TRAVIS KELCE: I'm running out. I'm running out [INAUDIBLE].
AUSTIN EKELER: Never, never.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
LIZ LOZA: What is up, everyone? Welcome to "Ekeler's Edge". I'm Liz Loza. And this, of course, is Chargers running back, fantasy football superstar, and former whitewater rafting guide-- oh, I want to hear more about that, Austin Ekeler.
AUSTIN EKELER: What is going on, everyone? Welcome back to episode two. Excited for today and the content we have for you.
LIZ LOZA: Yeah, because we got a great show. We're going to talk about CMC, Najee Harris, some old faces in new places. And we can't wait to share our interview with tightend one yes, Kansas City Chiefs superstar, Travis Kelce.
AUSTIN EKELER: Yes looking forward to it. I got a lot of insight on some of these topics. So let's get into it.
LIZ LOZA: Austin, let's start in an area you know best, the backfield. Now, you've talked about this before. You missed some time last year because of a hamstring issue. So you obviously know what it's like to work your way back onto the field. CMC missed all but three games in 2020 due to multiple injuries, I mean, ankle, shoulder, thigh. But he was still, despite all that, the consensus number one overall pick in fantasy. Does that make any sense to you?
AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, it just goes to show how special he really is as a player and what he's done in his first three years going into last year. It just seemed like he couldn't catch a break last year. He'd get back from something and something new would come up.
So there was nothing serious where he needed surgery. So that's always a plus. I feel like that's a lot harder to come back from is when you have to actually go under the knife. I'm looking forward to seeing him back there. I know we trained together for pro day and been keeping up with each other's careers ever since. And the dude's one of the highest competitors that I've seen. It's just his mentality coming into the season.
LIZ LOZA: Well, that's interesting that you train together because you're both similarly skilled and built players, great pass catchers out of the backfield, obviously. To that end, in the three games that he was on the field for in 2020 he averaged 25 touches per game. Does that sort of workload feel realistic in 2021 coming off of those injuries?
AUSTIN EKELER: I would say, sheesh, for a normal back like that workload just seems like a lot. But for C-Mac I feel like he's earned that respect. He just is the offense of it. I just know his mindset. I remember listening to an interview. I think it was one of his coaches talk about how he didn't want to come off the field if he didn't have to.
So as far as reasonable, it really depends because you look at some of these running backs. Like, for me I would say no. I would say no. My body is not built for that. That's just my situation. And you look at Derrick Henry who's running the ball that many times a game, if not more, and I would say he's an anomaly. That's just the way he can take it. He's shown that he can do that.
And so it comes down to just that individual. C-Mac, I know he wants to be on the field every single play. So I guess it doesn't matter if it's reasonable. It's what he wants. You know? I feel like whatever he wants that's what they're going to give him over there because he's earned the right to ask for that because of his production.
LIZ LOZA: Let's stick with the running back position and go from a vet to a rookie who was the 11th running back selected in most Yahoo drafts, just after you by the way, Austin. I'm talking about the Steelers, Najee Harris. Here's a fun fact, Harris is the first first round running back the Steelers have selected since Rashard Mendenhall back in 2008.
AUSTIN EKELER: Well, it just means they've had some solid running backs there, right? Now they finally had a demand and decided to go get one. They must like this kid.
LIZ LOZA: Fantasy managers obviously like Najee Harris too because of his ADP. Here is what Yahoo! Sports fantasy expert, Dalton Del Don, is fearlessly forecasting for Harris week one at Buffalo.
DALTON DEL DON: Harris is an immediate three down back making him a rarity in today's NFL. Fearless forecast, 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
AUSTIN EKELER: Actually, I did a little research on this guy because I was just like, let's see how the rookie is doing and watch his preseason highlights. Physically, the man is ready to go. He's ready to play in the NFL, absolutely. The only thing, especially with rookies coming in, is just like the mental part. Does he have the mental game down? Does he have protections down? Because sometimes it can allow you to play a little bit slower if you're not ready. In preseason it's a lot of base looks. And so now you're going to see more exotic things, disguises, a little bit more from the vets.
LIZ LOZA: So Austin, are you taking the over or the under on Dalton's forecast here?
AUSTIN EKELER: I'm going to take the under on it.
LIZ LOZA: Oh!
AUSTIN EKELER: I'm going to say it takes him a game or two to get his feels, and getting a rhythm. But I definitely think he's going to have a successful season, absolutely, because like I said, the physicality, watching him run, and watching him move, catch the ball, yeah, he looks really smooth.
LIZ LOZA: All right, Austin. There was a lot of player movement around the NFL over the off season. And several big names are on new teams. We asked our Twitter followers, which of these old faces in new places is more likely to exceed their per game numbers from last season? We've got Matt Stafford, Julio Jones, and your new teammate, Jared Cook. So what do you say?
AUSTIN EKELER: It was a tough one. I was looking into this. I had to do a little bit of research when I saw this one. I was like, OK, let's see here. I would like to say Jared Cook because I'm biased. But I'm going to say Matthew Stafford. I think he's going to have some receivers with wood, and Kupp over there, that are going to make him just a little bit more productive in the passing game, which is why I think they brought him into LA in the first place. So I'm going to go with Matthew.
LIZ LOZA: Well, you and our Twitter followers are in agreement because Matthew Stafford also led the charge on this poll. I think we're expecting the McVay-Stafford combination, maybe the volume won't be as much for Stafford because the defense is, obviously, running at a higher level in Los Angeles than it was in Detroit. But the efficiency and the playmakers around him just kind of elevate this whole thing. Is that your thinking process here?
AUSTIN EKELER: Right. Well, I'm thinking of Julio Jones and his situation. He's going into Tennessee. They got Derrick Henry over there who's demanding the ball now at this point, right? For as productive as he's getting over here with us as well. We have so many weapons where the ball is going to be spread around so much with Cook that it's like, shoot. He can hit those numbers. He could be a little better. But I feel like Matthew Stafford just had the most upside as far as that poll.
LIZ LOZA: This week we're going to do things a little different with your extra point segment, Austin. We caught up with the man who is widely considered the best tightend in football. It's obviously Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce, welcome to "Ekeler's Edge". Thanks for joining us.
TRAVIS KELCE: Of course, of course. I appreciate you guys having me.
LIZ LOZA: Austin, what is it like having Travis, like, a little division rivalry going on.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
AUSTIN EKELER: It's our first guest on "Ekeler's Edge". So really looking forward to it. It's a division rivalry. I feel like that's more for the fans, right? We're all competitors regardless of what team we play on.
TRAVIS KELCE: Right on. I appreciate you guys having me on. We might be on a few fantasy football teams together. You never--
AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, for sure. Probably thousands.
TRAVIS KELCE: --in some households. You know what I mean? But we always have fun on the field, man. I respect the heck out of you and how you play the game, dawg.
AUSTIN EKELER: Likewise.
TRAVIS KELCE: You know it.
AUSTIN EKELER: And those dance moves too. I'm a big fan of those.
TRAVIS KELCE: I'm running out. I'm running out all the time.
AUSTIN EKELER: Never, never.
LIZ LOZA: Well, don't run out because you're right. There are a lot of fantasy managers who have both of you on their teams. But Travis, are you into fantasy football at all?
TRAVIS KELCE: I'm cool with it. It's another way for me to have a relationship with a certain fan. Just walking by I'll be walking in the airport. And I'll have somebody randomly tap me on the shoulder and say, hey, man, thanks for what you did in week 15 last year for my fantasy team. And it's like, hey, man, however I could help or get you to jump on board of being all about me playing football or the Kansas City Chiefs playing football I'm all for it.
AUSTIN EKELER: I just love how it's just like an indirect way that we connect with the community. It's something that we don't even have to put time into, something we're already doing that is affecting people's lives. And they are really passionate about fantasy football too.
LIZ LOZA: Well, Travis, you've inspired a lot of fantasy managers to name their teams after you. So we went out and found a few Travis Kelce related fantasy football team names. And we wanted your opinion on which one you thought was best.
TRAVIS KELCE: All righty, let's hear it.
LIZ LOZA: All right. So we've got Kell's Bells.
TRAVIS KELCE: I like it. I got thumbs up for that one. That one's sweet.
LIZ LOZA: OK, how about All The Kells and Whistles
TRAVIS KELCE: It's a solid one. It's creative. It's creative. It's not terrible. You know what I mean?
LIZ LOZA: As Far As the Eye Kelce.
[LAUGHTER]
TRAVIS KELCE: There you go. That's pretty--
AUSTIN EKELER: Great.
TRAVIS KELCE: These are all very solid.
LIZ LOZA: All right, two more, two more. Oh, Say Can You Kelce FOR you literary buffs out there.
TRAVIS KELCE: Yeah, there you go. Hold it down, you know.
LIZ LOZA: Last one, What a Travis-ty.
AUSTIN EKELER: Wow.
TRAVIS KELCE: I don't know. That one sounds a little negative. Very good though, very good. And there's a few other guys named Travis in the league. So I would just say that probably Hell's Kells is the one to go.
AUSTIN EKELER: Hell's Bells.
LIZ LOZA: Kell's Bells is [INAUDIBLE] winner there.
AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, that was my favorite too.
LIZ LOZA: Never a dull moment with number 87.
AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, big shout out to Travis coming on. Looking forward to playing in twice a year trying to take that throne from him. So thanks, Travis. Appreciate you, man.
LIZ LOZA: Oh I love the heat. And that is going to do it for us this week.