Ladd McConkey looked like a future star after a rookie season that put him in historically elite company. His second year went in the opposite direction, and nobody has a clean explanation for it. The situation around him improved this offseason in a couple of meaningful ways. Fantasy managers have to figure out which version of McConkey shows up in 2026.
Should You Draft Ladd McConkey in Fantasy Football?
I think the answer is yes, and I think it’s pretty clear here.
McConkey is going around pick 45 to 50, and for me that is a primo spot. If you’re going running back, running back to start, getting a guy like McConkey in the third, fourth, or fifth round, depending on how many teams are in your league, I think it’s highway robbery.
We’re looking at a guy that was great as a rookie. We all got excited. We all got burned at some level. Quentin Johnston has a huge September; we’re rethinking if McConkey is the No. 1 in town or the No. 2 in town. Do I start him? Do I bench him? I don’t think anything like that’s going to be in the mix in 2026, with Mike McDaniel pulling the strings and Justin Herbert continuing to throw.
We saw McDaniel thrive in 2023 with the Dolphins. Tua, a guy the NFL has told us is not an NFL talent player, led the league in passing. He led the Dolphins to a tremendous season where he had not one but two 1,000-yard receivers. They were making it happen with these short, quick passes.
McConkey: elite speed, great after the catch. He can do a little bit of everything, and I don’t think the target competition on his team can. Quentin Johnston is a very limited player. Omarion Hampton and the running backs are great, but I think it’s McConkey and McConkey with a bullet when it comes to who’s going to lead this team in targets. I want exposure to that. I think we’re looking at a high-volume passing attack, quick hits, high efficiency, just like with Tua, but better, because Justin Herbert’s better.
McConkey isn’t better than Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle, so he doesn’t quite have the weaponry there. But I think you’re looking at a career year. I think this is a lot closer to year one than year two. I think this is going to be better than year one.
Last season, 4 of his 6 touchdowns came on short throws. You’re going to see a lot of that. I think it might be something like 7 of his 10 touchdowns are on short throws. If he’s scoring 10 times or even close to that, if he scores 8 times, I think you’re getting tremendous return on investment with his ADP where it stands.
McConkey, I think, could be a WR1. You don’t have to draft him that way. Load up on shares of the Chargers, specifically McConkey.
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Ladd McConkey’s Week 1 Fantasy Outlook
I understand some of the skepticism around McConkey after his second season didn’t show us the growth we had hoped for after a sparkling rookie campaign.
In 2026, we are smarter than that.
First 22 career games
CeeDee Lamb: 15.2% production over expectation, 1.9 yards/route, 2.9 points/catch
McConkey: 19.4% production over expectation, 2.0 yards/route, 2.8 points/catch
A slow start is going to have you running away from that sort of profile as a key piece in an offense that is on the rise across the board?
Couldn’t be me.
The Cardinals allowed the ninth-most net yards per pass attempt a season ago and spent their premier pick on a running back: wheels up for this Bolts offense, and McConkey could push for top-15 numbers at the position this week.
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Where McConkey Ranks Among 2026 Wide Receivers
- Chris Olave | NO
- Zay Flowers | BAL
- Tee Higgins | CIN
- Jaylen Waddle | DEN
- DeVonta Smith | PHI
- Ladd McConkey | LAC
- Emeka Egbuka | TB
- Terry McLaurin | WAS
- Tetairoa McMillan | CAR
- Garrett Wilson | NYJ
- Luther Burden III | CHI
Check the full position group on PFN’s 2026 PPR Wide Receiver Board.
