If you're on the fence on whether or not to select Austin Ekeler for your fantasy football team, the Chargers' running back has offered a pretty significant incentive to do so.
Ekeler recently announced via social media that he will be giving away signed jerseys on a weekly basis for specific fantasy football players. In order to be eligible to receive a signed jersey, players must start Ekeler in their lineup that week, win their matchup and post a screenshot of their victory to Instagram while tagging Ekeler. Winners will be selected each week during the fantasy football season.
If that isn't enough to convince fantasy players to draft him, Ekeler said this week that his previously-injured hamstring feels "strong" after he was forced to miss six games in 2020. And while he said that he understands why some fans may be hesitant to select him, Ekeler believes that he is primed for a big 2021 season.
"Absolutely, I'm picking myself No. 1 overall because I'm betting on myself," Ekeler told TMZ Sports. "I'm feeling great, feeling explosive. Ready for these preseason games over with so we can get on the dang field."
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A former undrafted rookie, Ekeler immediately showcased his versatility during his rookie season in 2017. In 2019, despite sharing a backfield with current Broncos running back Melvin Gordon, Ekeler tallied 1,550 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. The majority of Ekeler's damage that season was done as a receiver, as he caught 92 passes for 993 yards and eight touchdowns.
Last season, Ekeler rushed for nearly as many yards as he did in 2019 despite appearing in just 10 games. He also caught 54 passes while serving as a security blanket for Justin Herbert, who took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after throwing for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns in 15 games.
Ekeler feels that he can be as as productive with Herbert as his quarterback then he was with Philip Rivers under center. He also feels that he will flourish in new offensive coordinator's offense. Ekeler pointed to the success Alvin Kamara has had in New Orleans when alluding to Lombardi, who served on the Saints' coaching staff each of the previous five seasons.
"They were finding all types of ways to give [Kamara] the ball," Ekeler said. "I see the same turnover over here with the Chargers as well. As long as I'm making plays, they're going to keep feeding me, so that's why you should draft me."
