Oronde

Gadsden II

Gadsden’s four targets actually ranked second on the team behind the five of Ladd McConkey, highlighting the defensive deadlock the Chargers found themselves in against the defending Super Bowl Champions. It has now been more than a month since Gadsden has caught more than three balls, although his emergence in the offense gives offensive coordinator Greg Roman yet another chess piece to attack opposing defenses. Gadsden could be busier in Week 15 when the Chargers take on the Chiefs on the road.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert missed a portion of the team’s second drive after injuring his left ring finger late in the first drive. He returned partway through the second drive. On 1st-and-10, from the Raiders’ 29-yard line, Herbert found Gadsden wide open on a seam route and let it rip. The agile tight end went up, secured the pass and was immediately brought down at the Raiders’ two-yard line. So close. Herbert went back to him on the Chargers’ fourth drive, 10 yards down the field on 2nd-and-16. Gadsden had the pass in his hands, but Raiders LB Devin White laid a hard hit, leaving Gadsden unable to secure the catch. If Herbert plays, Gadsden is once again on the TE1 line in an admittedly difficult matchup against the Eagles in Week 14.

If you throw out his injury-shortened Week 10 against the Steelers, this was Gadsden’s first quiet box score since Oct. 5. Of course, he was second on the Chargers in both targets and receiving yards. It just didn’t mean much in a game where a beleaguered Justin Herbert was limited to 81 yards on 18 attempts. The good news is Gadsden’s quad injury already appeared to be a thing of the past. With the Bolts headed on bye for Week 12, Gadsden can be trusted as a TE1 for their Week 13 return against the Raiders.

He’ll be a dialed-in TE1 against the Jaguars in Week 11. Gadsden left Week 10’s game with the injury and had an MRI, but was practicing in full by Thursday. It looks like the Chargers have avoided anything serious happening to their 22-year-old breakout tight end.

Gadsden is firmly on track to play in his normal role this weekend against the Jaguars. The breakout rookie tight end was forced from play in Week 10 after taking a linebacker’s knee to his lower quad, but Gadsden appears to be good to go. At a position bereft of playmakers, the Chargers have found one in Gadsden, who can be safely started as a TE1.

Gadsden gets the best possible start to the week as the Chargers list him as a full participant for Wednesday’s practice. Despite not returning in Week 10 against the Steelers, Gadsden’s MRI did not show any major issues and is now participating fully in practice. He is now on track to play Week 11 against the Jaguars, where he should be in the low-end TE1 range for fantasy purposes.

Steelers LB Payton Wilson accidentally planted his left knee in the lower section of Gadsden’s left quad in Week 10, resulting in a game-ending bruise for the rookie tight end. Gadsden’s early-week participation puts him on track to play in Week 11 against the Jaguars, but it would be great to see him practicing in full by week’s end. We expect pain tolerance to be the biggest issue for him. Hopefully, it will not limit his mobility.

It’s good news for the Chargers and Gadsden, who underwent an MRI on Monday after being knocked from Week 10’s game following a knee-to-knee collision. The day-to-day prognosis suggests the rookie could suit up in Week 11 against the Jaguars, but we’ll have to see how things look when the injury report is released later in the week. If he’s unable to go this week, the duo of Tucker Fisk and Tyler Conklin will be in line to replace him. Neither should be considered as viable fantasy options.

A knee-to-knee collision knocked Gadsden out in the third quarter of the Chargers’ Week 10 win over the Steelers. Gadsden has totaled 35 receptions for 466 yards and two touchdowns this season and officially broke out in Week 7 against the Colts when he went for 7-164-1 on nine targets. His absence will make for a big hole in a Chargers offense that has been surprisingly pass heavy in their second year in Greg Roman.

Gadsden suffered a knee-to-knee collision in the third quarter and was taken to the locker room for x-rays following a quick visit to the medical tent. The breakout rookie had been on a torrid stretch the previous three games prior to the injury. Fantasy managers will want to monitor his situation in the coming days. Gadsden managed 13 yards on three receptions but committed two drops prior to departing.