Every week, I’ll be writing a comprehensive primer on every NFL matchup and all of the relevant players, matchups, pace and playcalling notes, and injuries. It covers everything you need to know when setting your lineups. But since that article is massive and requires a full pot of coffee, we’re also going to offer these more focused matchup overviews to help you prepare for Thursday Night Football: Chargers vs. Raiders.

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Thursday Night Football Primer & Start/Sit Advice

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders

• LV -3, O/U 34
• Chargers vs. Raiders Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Pace and playcalling notes

• Since Week 9, the Raiders have had the second-slowest neutral pace while ranking 16th in neutral passing rate.
• Last week, in the second half, the Chargers continued to sprint down the field with a pass-happy approach, even with Easton Stick under center. They operated at 19.9 seconds per snap while passing on 69.7% of their plays.

Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen: Allen is the WR3 in fantasy points per game, ranking 12th in red zone targets and first in raw target volume. He has handled a 30.7% target share and a 37.8% air-yard share with 2.56 YPRR. He didn’t blow the Raiders away in their first meeting, securing three of his five targets for 32 yards and a score. He should still have a solid day this week despite the noticeable dropoff in quarterback play with Stick under center. Allen will run about 59% of his routes against Nate Hobbs (78.7% catch rate and 100.4 passer rating). Since Week 9, the Raiders have allowed the fourth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers. Week 15 Positional Value: WR1

Quentin Johnston: Since Week 8, in the six games that Johnston has played at least 70% of the snaps, he has drawn a 13.3% target share, with a 22.1% air-yard share and 1.27 YPRR. He has averaged only 43.7 receiving yards per game. On a positive note, in this late-season sample, he leads the team with three end-zone targets. Johnston is a desperation flex play only who faces a Raiders secondary that, since Week 9, has allowed the 13th-fewest PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers. Week 15 Positional Value: WR4/5

Davante Adams: Since Week 9 with O’Connell chucking it, Adams has had a 29.6% target share, a 50.1% air-yard share, 2.10 YPRR, and a 36.2% first-read share as the WR23 in fantasy. Adams ranks eighth in deep target and second in red zone targets among wide receivers. In Week 4, with O’Connell starting, Adams secured eight of his 13 targets with 75 receiving yards as the WR19 for the week. Since Week 9, the Bolts have been downgraded from a smash matchup for perimeter wide receivers to a neutral one, allowing the 17th-most PPR points per target and receiving yards per game. Week 15 Positional Value: WR2

Tight Ends

Gerald Everett: Since Week 12, Everett has had a 59% route run rate, a 13.8% target share, 1.56 YPRR, and an 11.5% first read share as the Chargers’ main tight end. It only took 11 weeks of the NFL season for the Chargers to commit to featuring one of their best players, but this has been a consistent problem in this offense all season, so I’m not surprised. Everett has four red zone targets over his last three games. The Raiders have allowed the 12th-most receiving yards per game and the second-highest catch rate to tight ends this season. Week 15 Positional Value: Borderline TE1

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*All data utilized in this article is courtesy of Fantasy Points Data, PFF, ESPN analytics, The Edge from the 33rd Team, FTN, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified.*