Should You Start Chargers WRs Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen in Fantasy Football Week 4?

The Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver room has created fascinating decisions for fantasy football managers. All three of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen have shown weekly starter potential through three weeks. Can managers trust all three in Week 4 lineups?

Ladd McConkey Fantasy Outlook

McConkey was the highest-drafted of the three Chargers receivers, and it wasn’t close. Yet, through three weeks, he’s lagging behind his teammates in fantasy points per game production. After averaging 15.1 fantasy points per game as a rookie, McConkey has posted just 10.4 points per game to start this season.

It’s easy to explain the disappointing early returns. McConkey’s target share is a disappointing 19.6% target share and 18.1% targets per route run rate is even worse.

There’s no denying that Allen and Johnston are eating into McConkey’s expected usage, creating a more balanced target distribution than few anticipated during the preseason. The Georgia product’s role hasn’t diminished significantly, but the competition for targets has intensified considerably.

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However, McConkey’s talent level remains too high to stay down for extended periods. His ability to create separation from both slot and outside alignments provides Justin Herbert with a reliable option across multiple route concepts, suggesting better performances lie ahead.

The season stretches over 17 games, providing ample opportunity for variance to even out and talent to shine through. McConkey’s skill set and established chemistry with Herbert should eventually translate to more consistent fantasy production as the offense continues developing.

Quentin Johnston Fantasy Outlook

Johnston has been a revelation through the first three weeks, perhaps finally putting together all the pieces in his third professional season. His 18.6 fantasy points per game average ranks him as the overall WR8 to start the season, representing a dramatic improvement over his previous struggles.

Most encouraging for Johnston’s sustainability is that he’s running a route on 96.6% of Herbert’s dropbacks, suggesting this spike in production reflects genuine opportunity rather than unsustainable efficiency. His snap share and route participation indicate the coaching staff views him as a core component of their offensive system.

Johnston has benefited from touchdown variance working in his favor, scoring three times in three games. While this pace appears unsustainable, his red zone involvement suggests continued scoring opportunities.

The former TCU product has finally demonstrated the contested-catch ability and downfield threat potential that made him a first-round selection. His size and athleticism create matchup advantages that Herbert has learned to exploit consistently.

At this point, Johnston has accumulated enough evidence to warrant weekly lineup consideration for fantasy managers. His combination of opportunity and production creates a compelling case for continued involvement in starting lineups.

Keenan Allen Fantasy Outlook

Allen may be advancing in age, but he’s clearly not a busted option for fantasy purposes this season. His 18.8 fantasy points per game average sits right behind Johnston while demonstrating his continued relevance in modern NFL offenses.

The veteran has been treated like a true alpha receiver with a commanding 26.2% target share and an impressive 28.6% targets per route run rate. These usage metrics reflect Herbert’s comfort level and trust in Allen’s ability to consistently move the chains and create separation.

Allen’s touchdown production has been remarkable through three games, scoring in each contest to provide the consistent red zone production that separates good fantasy receivers from great ones. His veteran savvy and route-running expertise continue generating scoring opportunities.

His advanced age becomes less concerning when his on-field performance remains at such a high level. Allen’s football intelligence and understanding of defensive concepts allow him to remain effective despite potentially diminished athleticism. Although, to be fair, Allen never relied much on athletic ability to begin with. He’s just a really smart football player.

Without question, Allen qualifies as a weekly starter for fantasy purposes based on his target volume and touchdown consistency. His floor remains high due to his target share, while his ceiling stays elevated through red zone involvement.

Should You Start McConkey, Johnston, or Allen This Week?

The matchup against the Giants presents an exceptional opportunity for all three Chargers receivers to post significant fantasy numbers. New York is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, creating an environment where multiple pass catchers can find success simultaneously.

Herbert has looked like an elite quarterback through three weeks, demonstrating the arm talent and decision-making ability to support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers. His willingness to spread targets among his top options creates weekly upside for all three players.

The main difference separating McConkey from his teammates has been touchdown luck, as he’s the only one among the trio who hasn’t found the end zone yet. This variance should eventually correct itself, particularly against a vulnerable Giants secondary.

While this appears to be a game the Chargers could control through their ground attack if desired, they’ve been surprisingly pass-heavy this season. Los Angeles has thrown the ball 64% of the time in neutral game script situations, indicating their preference for aerial attack regardless of game flow.

This pass-heavy approach could create the perfect get-right spot for McConkey to break through with his first touchdown of the season. The volume and opportunity remain consistent, suggesting positive regression should occur sooner rather than later.

The reality facing fantasy managers is that all three Chargers wide receivers belong in starting lineups for Week 4. The combination of favorable matchup, elite quarterback play, and established target distribution creates an environment where multiple receivers can deliver WR2 or better performances.

Fantasy managers fortunate enough to roster multiple Chargers receivers should feel confident deploying them simultaneously, as the Giants’ defensive vulnerabilities create ample opportunity for explosive offensive performance from Los Angeles’ passing attack.