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00:00 Our fantasy football analysis continues here at Sports Illustrated as we take a look at
00:05 one of the most consistent receivers in all of football the last three seasons.
00:09 That's Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers.
00:12 Here with me to discuss Mr. Allen is Van Heusler, our fantasy football analyst and also Charger
00:17 Report editor, Jason B. Hirshhorn.
00:19 Jason, I'm going to go to you first because no one knows the Chargers better than you.
00:24 A lot of people are a little bit down on Keenan Allen this year, but if you look at his stats,
00:28 he's been up there with the elites at the receiver position.
00:31 Is it really just a matter of not trusting his quarterback?
00:36 The quarterback is part and parcel with any conversation with Keenan Allen, and obviously
00:40 this will be the first year that he plays without Phillip Rivers.
00:43 That said, we've seen Keenan Allen be productive in a variety of ways within the Chargers offense.
00:47 If you look back to last season, the first three games of the year compiled 404 yards,
00:53 was leading the NFL that time.
00:54 So even if there is a downtick in passing attempts because of the move off of Phillip
00:58 Rivers to either Tyra Taylor or the rookie Justin Herbert, you can still expect him to
01:02 be very productive in that offense.
01:03 I think he's going to be a value in fantasy this year.
01:07 Van, let me go over to you right now.
01:10 Allen is listed as the 19th wide receiver according to the latest ADP data coming off
01:15 the board, 42nd overall player in PPR formats.
01:18 Are you drafting or passing on Keenan Allen in 2020?
01:23 I agree with both of you guys that he's being a bit undervalued this season, but I still
01:29 think there is going to be a downgrade with Tyra Taylor.
01:32 His average depth of target is going to be substantially lower because Phillip Rivers
01:35 was that type of quarterback that would take more downfield chances.
01:38 Tyra is going to incorporate Austin Eckler into the passing game the way that he was
01:42 a season ago.
01:43 And yes, Keenan Allen was the wide receiver six and PPR a season ago, but right now they've
01:47 made more of a focus on the offensive side of the ball.
01:50 Their offensive coordinator, uh, Shane Steichen, uh, had really tried to emphasize more of
01:56 a run pass balance in the offense compared to years past where Phillip was just chucking
02:00 the ball all over the field.
02:01 So I do think you're going to start to see more of that with Tyra running the offense.
02:05 Keenan Allen is a very safe pick going in that early part of the fourth round, but you
02:09 know, talking about guys like DJ Chark and Calvin Ridley, who are going right in that
02:12 same range, I think I'd rather go with the upside there.
02:15 So Keenan Allen is still a great fantasy play, but just more of a high floor guy as opposed
02:19 to a high ceiling guy this year.
02:22 That's a really good way to put it, Ben.
02:23 Jason, we appreciate your time as well.
02:25 Plenty more fantasy football analysis.
02:27 You can find it by going to si.com/fantasy.
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