Dolphins vs. Chargers: Week 15 could help determine top pick

Dolphins vs. Chargers: This week 15 battle between AFC opponents could help determine the race for the top overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

It seems like one of the least interesting matchups of the NFL’s slate of games in week 15, but the Dolphins vs. Chargers matchup is one that could have some significant implications at least as it pertains to the 2016 NFL Draft. It could also be a big factor in your fantasy football matchup — if you’re still alive.

Let’s take a closer look at these two teams.

Miami Dolphins

On the whole, the 5-8 Dolphins have been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL this season. After making the loudest noise in free agency with the acquisition of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins have been exactly what their record would tell you — below average, underwhelming, and underachieving.

That’s not to the fault of a guy like Jarvis Landry, who has been one of the most dynamic and interesting players in the NFL this season. Landry literally does everything for the Dolphins, and has been targeted a whopping 133 times this season. That’s more than double the number of targets Rishard Matthews — the team’s 2nd leading receiver — has seen all year long.

Landry takes the ball out of the backfield, he lines up everywhere in the offense as a receiver, and he’s also a phenomenal return specialist. He’s even completed a nine yard pass this season.

There’s perhaps not a ton of intrigue in this game from a player perspective, but since coming out of LSU last year, Landry has been worth the price of admission in every game he’s played in.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers drafted Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in hopes that he would revive a dying running game in San Diego but he has done anything but. Averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, Gordon by far has the most touches in the NFL this season without a touchdown.

I’d make a bold bet that he would get to paydirt for the first time in this game, but it has to happen sometime, right? He’ll eventually get that first touchdown, but if you drafted Gordon in fantasy football, you’re likely either not still playing or you had some serious luck elsewhere in your draft or waiver wire additions.

Despite how rough it’s been for Gordon so far, Philip Rivers has done all he can to…help.

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He’s thrown a whopping 541 passes already this season and could end up with nearly 700 by season’s end if he continues at around 40 passes per game. Tom Brady has thrown 537 passes this season, otherwise, Rivers is about a game’s worth of attempts ahead of the next guy — Matt Ryan — on that list.

Defensively, the Chargers are led by Melvin Ingram, who is one of the most underrated players in the NFL on that side of the ball. He has just six sacks this season but is capable of being a very disruptive player and should give Ryan Tannehill fits on Sunday.

Why You Should Watch

I’ll give you one good reason — Jarvis Landry.

I’ll give you another — are the Chargers going to keep themselves in the running for the top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and what do they do if they actually do get it?

And here’s a couple more — what kind of faces will frustrated Philip Rivers make? How long will it take the announcers to mention that he has 8 (or 9?) kids? Will Melvin Gordon score his first NFL touchdown?

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