As the Los Angeles Chargers enter their bye week in Week 5 of the NFL season, the team has a chance to heal some of its wounds and hopefully get some players closer to full health and return to the field. This also gives analysts the opportunity to question the team on what they have seen so far.
The Chargers are 2-2 and seem to be a strong team in some areas but rather weak in others. The injury bug also hit the team in the first month of the season.
NFL mock drafts are still being developed. Many fans won’t watch them until closer to draft season, but when there are interesting or exciting prospects linked to certain teams, it’s worth talking about.
This is the case for Kyle Crabbs the most recent simulation for the 33rd team. He picked the Chargers 14th overall in the first round and with that selection, they choose Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, a running back who is dominating college football this season.
Jeanty totaled 1,327 rushing yards last season, a tremendous number. But in just four games this season, he has already totaled 845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He averages a ridiculous 10.3 yards per carry. For a run-heavy offense like Jim Harbaugh prefers to run, this would be a perfect fit for the Chargers.
It would be even more perfect thanks to this recent comparison made by NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler…
Who does @BroncoSportsFB running back Ashton Jeanty recalls @dpbrugler of?
LaDainian Tomlinson 👀 pic.twitter.com/Rrr2xKpTZs
– The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 2, 2024
Here is what Crabbs says about Jeanty in his mockery:
“As football fans we deserve this. Los Angeles Chargers entered Week 4 averaging five yards per carry, but struggled against a strong Chiefs defense on Sunday.
We know Jim Harbaugh will want to hit it hard. Nobody carries the rock like Jeanty, an academic or a professional. Jeanty is averaging over 10 yards per carry through four games, posting an outrageous 845 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns during that stretch.
Jeanty can do it all for a Chargers team determined to run the ball. This match was perfect, especially considering the durability issues with JK Dobbins. »
Chargers fans can start keeping an eye on the Boise State running back if they haven’t already, and start imagining what it would look like if he ended up in a Chargers uniform this season next. Who knows, maybe he’ll add the Heisman Trophy to his resume by then.
Ashton Jeanty would look great in Los Angeles
Jeanty, born in Florida, has been on a tear with Boise State this season and some believe he is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. His 845 rushing yards lead the nation and are nearly 200 more than the No. 2 player, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson.
The Chargers haven’t drafted a running back in the first round since 2015, when they selected Melvin Gordon. However, if Jeanty is even close to the player Tomlinson was, every Chargers fan in the world would approve of the pick.
MORE CONTENT ON CHARGERS
Chargers players whose stock is up, stock is down during bye week
Chargers need to resolve these issues during the bye week
Chargers must insert rookie RB in place of disappointing Gus Edwards
