Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is once again a dynamic option in fantasy football.
He gets touches as a runner and is also a top target in the passing game.
That means he should fly off the board in drafts with the hope that he can stay healthy in 2021.
But this is not an article about fantasy football advice, as drafting Ekeler is an obvious move.
Rather, this is about Ekeler embracing the reality of fantasy football existing and fans living and dying with their teams.
Some NFL players may tell fans to get lost if they ever hear any word about fantasy leagues.
Ekeler is enjoying the process and is even given fans an incentive to draft and play him on a weekly basis.
‼️ATTENTION FANTASY OWNERS‼️ HUGE weekly giveaway this szn🤙🏽
Rules:
-Draft me to your fantasy team
-Start me in your lineup
-Win your weekly matchup
-Post a screenshot to IG or Twitter showing your victory & TAG MEWinners will be chosen each week&sent a Signed⚡️3️⃣0️⃣⚡️Jersey🤘🏽 pic.twitter.com/lBo437BJkq
— Austin Ekeler (@AustinEkeler) August 26, 2021
Winning a fantasy matchup and getting a signed jersey?
That sounds like quite the amazing week.
Can’t Ignore Fantasy Football
Fans in certain states are just starting to see sports gambling become legal.
Yet America is still far off from venues overseas where betting ads run in stadiums.
Fantasy football was always the legal way to spend big money on a weekly basis and get engaged in every single game being played.
That is even more true today and fans may even go as far as to tweet terrible things at players about fantasy matchups.
We are obviously not condoning that, but it is the reality of the world we live in.
Ekeler could easily ignore fantasy football entirely, like most players do.
Giving this incentive to carry him on one’s team is not only flat-out cool, but also promotes his name going high in fantasy drafts.
Perhaps a better reputation in general will lead to one more big contract before his career comes to an end.
A Dynamic Option
Will Austin Ekeler finish as a top-10 fantasy RB this season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/StoVbhthlp
— NBC Sports EDGE Football (@NBCSEdgeFB) August 26, 2021
Ekeler was going to be drafted in most leagues regardless of this jersey giveaway.
He had 1,550 yards from scrimmage in 2019 and was on pace for another big year in 2020, but only appeared in 10 games.
Being in an offense with Justin Herbert should only mean his play remains elite as the Chargers have legitimate playoff aspirations this season.
Even finishing in that 1,000-1,200 total yard range with 8-10 touchdowns represents immense value to any fantasy owner.
New opportunities for endorsements are always opening up and Ekeler is aligning himself with a major industry in this country and around the world.
Other players may follow suit to one-up him if he has a huge year and this story takes off on a weekly basis.
NEXT: Can Chargers QB Justin Herbert Win NFL MVP In 2021?