Chargers: Expect a big week out of Melvin Gordon against the Chiefs

Expectations were high for Melvin Gordon following a breakout second season. However, the Chargers third-year back has started off sluggish in 2017.

For Charger fans, the slow start of Melvin Gordon may be the least of your worries. The Los Angeles Chargers are two made field goals away from potentially being 2-0, instead, they sit at the bottom of the AFC West as the only team without a win. While the Chargers’ passing game has come up big late in games, the run game has seemingly been nonexistent.

Following a fantastic sophomore season in which Melvin Gordon rushed for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 13 games, the third-year back has been held to a total of 67 rushing yards in two weeks.

In fact, Gordon has been featured more as a passing back than anything in these first two weeks. Gordon has a combined 90 receiving yards on 12 receptions with one touchdown. Gordon had exactly five times as many receiving yards in week two (65) than rushing yards (13).

This is even more concerning considering that the Broncos and Dolphins both ranked in the top five for the highest rushing yards allowed per game last season. Granted, Denver did hold Ezekiel Elliot to just eight yards in week two, but there should be no reason the Dolphins hold Gordon to just 13 yards.

Things were looking promising before and season up until the second snap of the year. Gordon broke free for a 21-yard run on the first offensive snap for the Los Angeles Chargers, good enough for 40% of Gordon’s yearly total.

However, despite early struggles, Gordon will find his niche in week two and break out for a big game. Los Angeles heads to Kansas City to take on the red-hot Chiefs. Although KC has a solid defense, the team is slightly below average in stopping the run, allowing 115.5 rushing yards per game over two games.

More from Los Angeles Chargers

In week three, we are bound to see Gordon break out for big runs that pad his statistics. Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry is out for the Chiefs, so Philip Rivers will have deep holes to expose in the passing game. We have seen it late in the first two weeks when Rivers goes deep and plays with urgency, the Chargers offense seems unstoppable.

Just like in the first half of week one last season, I would expect the Chargers to come out firing on all cylinders to take an early lead on the Chiefs. Rivers and his core of receivers will likely have a big first half, opening the door for Gordon to produce.

The Chiefs allowed an NFL worst 30.8% of runs to become first downs in the first two weeks. While it does seem small, this is a huge stat for the Chargers. If Los Angeles can put themselves in manageable second and third down situations, history shows that they should have no problem running the ball for a first. With Gordon’s speed and elusiveness, all it takes is one breakout run to flip the script in Kansas City.

Darren Sproles has success against the Chiefs in limited snaps for the Eagles last week, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. With a pass-first offense early, the Chargers are going to do what the Patriots could not – break out for big plays on the ground.

Next: Chargers player sets NFL record

Overall, for you fellow Charger fans and fantasy football owners, Melvin Gordon’s slow start could be frustrating. However, I would bank of the Chargers’ running back to have a great game in week three.

Home/Los Angeles Chargers