The Los Angeles Chargers added playmaking ability to their offense when they selected Ladd McConkey at No. 34 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With the Chargers bringing in a new regime that skews the running game, we must ask ourselves if this rookie wide receiver can break out and help our fantasy football team this season.
Let’s break down McConkey’s fantasy outlook this season.
Ladd McConkey’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 Season
In half-PPR leagues, McConkey has an average draft position (ADP) of No. 104 overall. This ADP makes him the highest-drafted Chargers wide receiver.
Don’t expect McConkey to become the Chargers’ X wideout who wins jump balls, as he only stands 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. However, he possesses a skill set that will help him succeed in the NFL.
McConkey makes his money by using his quickness and acceleration to beat his defenders. Although he’s portrayed as a slot receiver, he possesses enough long speed to push outside on plays to help his team.
My favorite part of McConkey’s game is the ability to create yards after catch (YAC). He’s a strong prospect ready to help an NFL offense on Day 1.
Is McConkey a Good Fantasy Pick?
Although McConkey will be a good fantasy player, you should fade him in 2024. That said, the WR1 role is open for the taking.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers will follow new offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s past formulas and become run-heavy this season. This change in the scheme will force Los Angeles to limit its pass catchers this year, making it difficult for McConkey to see WR1 production regarding targets for the fantasy season.
We also head into the season with Herbert on the shelf due to a foot injury, a setback that will force the duo to work on its chemistry during games instead of training camp.
Due to McConkey’s limited catch radius, we realize that most of his game will involve a low air-yard share and a low yards per route run, two statistics that usually indicate a good draft pick at the wide receiver position.
Thankfully, if you do back your way into McConkey on your team, at least his bye week can’t hurt you. The Chargers take a week to relax in Week 5 of the NFL season. Even with the early bye, we see more risk than reward this season for the rookie WR in fantasy football.
McConkey is a talented player, but his ADP of 104 doesn’t offer enough upside to help elevate your fantasy team to win it all. Our draft strategy should always lean towards players who help us elevate our roster and give us a higher ceiling than players who solidify a floor for our fantasy football team.
At his ADP, you can draft players such as Keon Coleman, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and even Jameson Williams, who all play on better offenses and possess average draft positions later than McConkey.