UCLA Football: Why Fantasy Pundit Believes Bruins Alum's Value Will Plummet

It hasn't been a great year for the former Bruin.

One former UCLA Bruins running back could see his fantasy football value tank starting this week. With Austin Ekeler coming back for the Los Angeles Chargers against the Dallas Cowboys, it seems that former UCLA back Joshua Kelley will bee his value fall down. 

Kelley never fully claimed a consistent role within fantasy, and it could cost him down the stretch of the season.

“Kelley flamed out when Ekeler was on the shelf. These struggles figure to cap his touch upside moving forward. It’s hard to see him holding standalone value next to Ekeler, and with the failures in the starting role, Kelley’s fantasy value is hanging on by a thread.”

Per Kyle Soppe of ProFootballNetwork.com

Kelley will still be given touches with Ekeler back, but his role is about to be reduced significantly. It’s a sad reality for the former Bruins player, but he never made his mark in the way he hoped while Ekeler was hurt.

But being in an offense run by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Kelley will still have a role. Moore loves to use a multi-back system to help keep the main running back fresh, so there will be chances for Kelley to get back into the good graces of fantasy owners in his opportunities.

However, even with the reduced chances for Kelley, fantasy owners shouldn’t drop him. Ekeler has shown a history of injuries, so it could happen again. While nobody wants it to happen, Kelley could be in line for something if he were to get reinjured.

“I think he should remain rostered for the next month (Weeks 9-10 are RB-heavy, so you may be in need of depth), but he shouldn’t be remotely close to your lineup against the Cowboys.”

Per Kyle Soppe of ProFootballNetwork.com

Hopefully, Kelley can finish the year strong, and if he does, maybe he will stay on the radar as a fantasy option. The former Bruin has talent and just needs to be consistent in showing it to everyone.

Don't forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Bruins!