Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-preseason 32-team breakdown before Week 1

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts during the first quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts during the first quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Los Angeles Chargers. 6. team. 13. .

The Los Angeles Chargers take a slight hit in our NFL power rankings, but for two good reasons.

The first is losing All-Pro safety Derwin James to an early foot injury. He’ll be out a few weeks, which hinders the secondary in a big way. While there are still plenty of standouts on the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers’ history of starting slowly in the regular season doesn’t improve with James out

The second, of course, is running back Melvin Gordon’s holdout.

Unlike the Cowboys, who are going through something similar, the Chargers aren’t exactly built around the running game. Quarterback Philip Rivers is more than capable of picking up the offense on his own, which should keep Los Angeles’ offense running at a high level early in the season.

But that earlier mention of the Chargers perennially starting slowly could be a problem here. If L.A. wants another deep postseason run, hopefully getting Rivers to the big game at some point, not having to rely on a late-season surge would be a wise move.

Let’s see how big a factor James’ injury and Gordon’s holdout winds up being in the first few weeks.