The Los Angeles Chargers took home a big win on Sunday as they routed the New York Giants to achieve their eighth win of the year. As usual, Austin Ekeler put on a show and came through for fantasy football players alike. However, he did suffer a setback, which could be crucial for the Thursday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to Ian Rapoport, Brandon Staley seems optimistic about Ekeler's status. This is a great sign for the Chargers and fantasy football. Regardless, LA is taking on the Chiefs on a short week, which isn't ideal for Ekeler.

The fantasy football playoffs are nearly among us, and Austin Ekeler has been one of the best fantasy assets this season. Any managers with Ekeler on their roster should be paying close attention to the Chargers' running back. Although there is good news regarding his ankle injury, the short week could become an issue.

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Thursday's game is massive, as the Chargers will have a chance to take down their divisional rival. Considering the magnitude of this matchup, Los Angeles is likely to play Austin Ekeler if his ankle is fine. The coaching staff doesn't seem too worried about it, which is a great sign for Ekeler's playing status in Week 15.

Even so, it's always nice to have a backup plan. Hopefully, you have some depth on your roster to replace Ekeler just in case. If not, now is the time to check the waiver wire. Running backs are hard to come by, but some names to keep an eye on are D'Onta Foreman, Rashaad Penny, or KJ Osborn. Although Osborn is a receiver, he looks to be a strong flex play if Adam Thielen misses another game.

Keep an eye on Austin Ekeler, as the Chargers will be monitoring their star running back throughout the week.