Fantasy Football: 5 Bold Predictions for Week 10
The Chargers Will Shut Out the Raiders
Shutouts aren't very common in the NFL. There were 11 in 2017 and just 26 between the 2011 and 2016 seasons (last year was a rough one for football fans). So far in 2018 there have been three.
And somehow, the Oakland Raiders have been involved in none of them. They've only just narrowly avoided that fate, though -- they scored three points in two of their last three games, including last week's incredible loss at home to Nick Mullens and the San Francisco 49ers. But this week the Los Angeles Chargers are going to shut the Raiders out.
The Raiders offense has struggled this season, and despite high-scoring games against the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts, they still rank as a bottom ten unit according to our Power Rankings. They scored just ten points in their first matchup with the Chargers this year, and have only gotten worse since.
The Chargers defense hasn't been particularly electric in 2018, but they've been doing better recently. They're allowing just 15 points per game over the last four weeks. However, it's the offense that I want to highlight here. The Chargers have been amazing on offense this year, averaging the second-most yards per play in the league (7.0) while committing the second-fewest turnovers (6). They're cruising and they aren't letting other teams slip them up.
The Raiders defense may well be the worst unit in the league -- according to numberFire's metrics they are by a pretty wide margin. They won't be able to stop Philip Rivers at all, which will force Derek Carr to have to throw. Carr's offensive line is playing very poorly and have allowed 14 sacks through their last three games. Even the Chargers' middling, Joey Bosa-less defense will be able to apply pressure on Carr, which should lead to turnovers -- not to points.
The Bolts are one of the truly great teams in 2018 (they've just been a little overshadowed by division rivals the Kansas City Chiefs). The Raiders are one of the very worst. It shouldn't surprise you when the Chargers shut the Raiders out in Week 10.
