The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Broncos vs. Chargers Week 5 matchup.
Find a breakdown of every Week 5 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Denver | Rank | @ | LA Chargers | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3.5 | Spread | 3.5 | ||
| 23.0 | Implied Total | 19.5 | ||
| 18.5 | 27 | Points/Gm | 16.8 | 29 |
| 23.5 | 17 | Points All./Gm | 26.5 | 24 |
| 57.5 | 25 | Plays/Gm | 61.3 | 17 |
| 67.3 | 30 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 63.3 | 19 |
| 4.9 | 24 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.0 | 22 |
| 5.6 | 20 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.3 | 14 |
| 39.1% | 23 | Rush% | 46.1% | 12 |
| 60.9% | 10 | Pass% | 53.9% | 21 |
| 44.6% | 21 | Opp. Rush % | 51.0% | 29 |
| 55.4% | 12 | Opp. Pass % | 49.0% | 4 |
- The Broncos and Chargers are the only teams to run an offensive play when trailing by double digits in all four games this season.
- The Broncos have been outscored 63 to 35 (-28) through three quarters this season, ahead of only the Titans (-43) and Dolphins (-49).
- Denver has scored the fewest points per drive in the first half (0.65).
- 14.3% of Denver's offensive plays have gained 10 or more yards, ahead of only Arizona (13.3%).
- The Broncos rank 25th in success rate on passing plays (37.9%)
- The Chargers rank 26th in success rate on passing plays (37.1%).
- The Chargers are allowing 5.5 sacks plus turnovers per game, 30th in the league.
- The Chargers have allowed 31 points off turnovers, tied for 30th in the league.
Trust = spike production for that player
Broncos vs. Chargers Fantasy Quarterback Preview
Bo Nix
It has been a rough start for Nix and this passing game.
Nix has completed 60% of his passes (23rd) for only 6.1 yards per pass attempt.
Only Daniel Jones (5.7 Y/A) and Jacoby Brissett (5.4 Y/A) are lower among league qualifiers.
He has thrown for more than 5.5 yards per pass attempt in one game this season.
Nix is averaging 5.8 air yards per attempt, ahead of only Jones (5.6).
When Nix has thrown downfield, the results have not been there.
On throws 10 or more yards downfield, he has completed 42.9% (15 of 35), the 26th-best mark among 29 qualifiers.
Nix is throwing at or behind the line of scrimmage at a career-high rate (25.2%) and between the numbers at a career-low rate (35.7%).
Returning from ankle surgery, Nix is also running less.
He has scrambled on 2.1% of his dropbacks, down from 5.4% last season and 7.8% as a rookie in 2024.
For fantasy purposes, he has one week in the top half of weekly scoring.
We are handling Nix as a floor-based QB2.
The Chargers defense has found some footing in recent weeks after a rocky start.
They have allowed a lower completion rate and fewer passing yards than the week prior in every game.
Over the past two weeks, they have kept Josh Allen (4.2 passing points) and Sam Darnold (1.27 passing points) in check and have not allowed a quarterback to finish higher than QB10 through four games.
They now rank 26th in expected points per game allowed to quarterbacks.
Justin Herbert
Herbert has thrown for fewer yards per pass attempt in every game this season.
He has yet to throw multiple touchdown passes in a game, and he has thrown at least 1 interception in all four.
The Chargers have tried to make some changes to the offense.
Herbert was in pistol a season-low 1.5% of his snaps on Sunday.
His shotgun rate has dropped each week, and his 35.5% play-action rate in Week 4 was his season high.
The Chargers have also run a lower rate of pre-snap motion every week this season.
That said, Herbert has yet to finish a week higher than QB22 for gamers.
Things don't look promising for him as more than a back-end QB2 here.
Rashawn Slater will miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury.
Joe Alt and Trevor Penning left last week's game with injuries.
We will track their status for Sunday.
Herbert has already been pressured on 46.5% of his dropbacks, the second-highest rate in the league.
Also, Ladd McConkey may miss time with a foot injury after he was forced out of the lineup again on Sunday.
Denver has allowed a 57.5% completion rate (3rd) and is 10th in passing points allowed per attempt (0.39).
The Broncos will be without Patrick Surtain, which helps the matchup, and Riley Moss could also miss Week 5 with a rib injury.
Broncos vs. Chargers Fantasy Running Back Preview
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LEARN ABOUT FANTASYMore Week 5 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Week 5 NFL Games | Time |
|---|---|
| Bucs @ Cowboys | Thursday Night Football |
| Eagles vs. Jaguars | Sunday -- 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Giants @ Commanders | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Browns @ Jets | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Vikings @ Saints | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bengals @ Dolphins | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Raiders @ Patriots | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Colts @ Steelers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Texans @ Titans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bears @ Packers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Broncos @ Chargers | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Lions @ Cardinals | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| 49ers @ Seahawks | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Ravens @ Falcons | Sunday Night Football |
| Bills @ Rams | Monday Night Football |