The Los Angeles Chargers will face the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Ladd McConkey.
Is Ladd McConkey Playing in Week 8?
McConkey missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a hip injury. He returned for a limited session on Friday and is listed as questionable for Week 8.
Fortunately, the Chargers play against the Saints in this Sunday’s early window. Fantasy managers will know McConkey’s game status
McConkey, whom Los Angeles secluded in the second round of April’s draft, finished as fantasy’s WR19 in Week 1 and WR18 in Week 4. He’s been outside the top 30 fantasy wide receivers in every other game.
Fellow Chargers WR Quentin Johnston is doubtful to play against New Orleans on Sunday. If he sits, McConkey could see more targes than usual.
We’ll continue to monitor the Chargers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Ladd McConkey in Week 8?
McConkey entered Week 7 battling a hip injury, but he suited up to face the Cardinals and did what he does. Rookies typically take time when it comes to developing the intricacies of the NFL game, instead relying on their physical gifts — that hasn’t been the case with Los Angeles’ impressive slot receiver.
McConkey has earned at least seven targets in three straight games, making him the most reliable option in this very grounded offense. The 4.7-yard aDOT he posted last week was a career low, and I’d argue that’s good for his fantasy stock. Of course, we’d love to see McConkey stretch the field, but in a conservative offense, the ability to win on shallow routes holds value.
He’s Wan’Dale Robinson, but on a team that I trust to keep more games close and with a more consistent quarterback. McConkey’s skill set isn’t as sexy as the other rookies in this class, but his odds of returning a viable PPR stat line are strong, which is more than we can say about many wide receivers.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 8 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Ladd McConkey’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 8
McConkey is projected to score 12.9 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 2.5 receptions for 76.5 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Ladd McConkey’s Week 8 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 2:30 PM on Friday, November 8. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 10 WR PPR Rankings
1) Justin Jefferson | MIN (at JAX)
2) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (at BAL)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at HOU)
4) A.J. Brown | PHI (at DAL)
5) Malik Nabers | NYG (at CAR)
6) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at LAR)
7) Drake London | ATL (at NO)
8) Chris Olave | NO (vs. ATL)
9) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. MIA)
10) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at ARI)
11) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (vs. PHI)
12) Davante Adams | NYJ (at ARI)
13) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. MIA)
14) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. PIT)
15) DeVonta Smith | PHI (at DAL)
16) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs. CIN)
17) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (at TB)
18) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at NO)
19) Josh Downs | IND (vs. BUF)
20) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at IND)
21) Ladd McConkey | LAC (vs. TEN)
22) George Pickens | PIT (at WAS)
23) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (vs. DEN)
24) Tank Dell | HOU (vs. DET)
25) Amari Cooper | BUF (at IND)
26) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. NE)
27) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. MIN)
28) Jauan Jennings | SF (at TB)
29) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at KC)
30) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at LAC)
31) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (vs. NYJ)
32) Jameson Williams | DET (at HOU)
33) Keon Coleman | BUF (at IND)
34) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at LAR)
35) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. NE)
36) Jordan Addison | MIN (at JAX)
37) Xavier Legette | CAR (vs. NYG)
38) Xavier Worthy | KC (vs. DEN)
39) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. NE)
40) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (at CAR)
41) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. PHI)
42) Jalen Coker | CAR (vs. NYG)
43) DeMario Douglas | NE (at CHI)
44) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. SF)
45) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs. CIN)
46) Noah Brown | WAS (vs. PIT)
47) Darius Slayton | NYG (at CAR)
48) Quentin Johnston | LAC (vs. TEN)
49) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. MIA)
50) Michael Wilson | ARI (vs. NYJ)
51) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (at NO)
52) Joshua Palmer | LAC (vs. TEN)
53) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (at BAL)
54) Alec Pierce | IND (vs. BUF)
55) Diontae Johnson | BAL (vs. CIN)
56) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. MIN)
57) Sterling Shepard | TB (vs. SF)
58) Ricky Pearsall | SF (at TB)
59) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at LAC)
60) Kalif Raymond | DET (at HOU)
61) Troy Franklin | DEN (at KC)
62) Jalen Nailor | MIN (at JAX)
63) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at LAC)
64) Kayshon Boutte | NE (at CHI)
65) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. SF)
66) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. DET)
67) Adonai Mitchell | IND (vs. BUF)
68) Tim Patrick | DET (at HOU)
69) Mason Tipton | NO (vs. ATL)
70) Gabe Davis | JAX (vs. MIN)
71) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (vs. DET)
72) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (vs. PHI)
73) Devaughn Vele | DEN (at KC)
74) Mike Williams | PIT (at WAS)
75) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. MIA)
76) Greg Dortch | ARI (vs. NYJ)
77) Lil'Jordan Humphrey | DEN (at KC)
78) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. DET)
79) Justin Watson | KC (vs. DEN)
80) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (vs. PIT)
81) David Moore | CAR (vs. NYG)
82) Kendrick Bourne | NE (at CHI)
83) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (vs. PIT)
84) Mecole Hardman Jr. | KC (vs. DEN)
85) Jonathan Mingo | DAL (vs. PHI)
86) Odell Beckham Jr. | MIA (at LAR)
87) Nelson Agholor | BAL (vs. CIN)
88) Mack Hollins | BUF (at IND)
89) Jalen Brooks | DAL (vs. PHI)
90) Ja'Lynn Polk | NE (at CHI)
91) Tim Jones | JAX (vs. MIN)
92) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. PIT)
93) Simi Fehoko | LAC (vs. TEN)
94) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at KC)
95) Jahan Dotson | PHI (at DAL)
96) Rakim Jarrett | TB (vs. SF)
97) Trenton Irwin | CIN (at BAL)
98) Zay Jones | ARI (vs. NYJ)
99) Allen Robinson II | DET (at HOU)
100) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (vs. ATL)
101) Curtis Samuel | BUF (at IND)
102) Ryan Miller | TB (vs. SF)
103) Jordan Whittington | LAR (vs. MIA)
104) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (vs. DEN)
105) Calvin Austin III | PIT (at WAS)
106) Tyler Johnson | LAR (vs. MIA)
107) KhaDarel Hodge | ATL (at NO)
108) Ashton Dulin | IND (vs. BUF)
109) Parris Campbell | PHI (at DAL)
110) Van Jefferson | PIT (at WAS)
111) DeAndre Carter | CHI (vs. NE)
112) K.J. Osborn | NE (at CHI)
113) Trent Sherfield | MIN (at JAX)
114) Brandon Powell | MIN (at JAX)
115) Jermaine Burton | CIN (at BAL)
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers Insights
New Orleans Saints
Team: The Saints have lost five straight since starting 2-0. They’re the first team since the 2015 Dallas Cowboys to lose at least five in a row after starting 2-0 (that Cowboys team fell to 2-7 after starting QB Tony Romo was injured in Week 2).
Team: The Saints have won the past 11 games played in Week 8, out-scoring opponents 361-227 (+12.2 PPG) during that run.
QB: In the first two weeks of this season, Derek Carr completed 61.5% of his deep passes with a 113.0 passer rating on such passes. His numbers since (45.4 passer rating and 35% complete) look more like Spencer Rattler than an MVP candidate.
Offense: All the passing game injuries have also killed the running game. Since Week 3, the Saints are averaging 3.1 yards per carry on running back carries, second-worst in the NFL. That includes the third-fewest yards before contact per carry (2.2).
Defense: The Saints have allowed 502 rush yards in the last two games, their most in a two-game span since 1980. For the first time since 2012, New Orleans has given up 200+ rush yards in consecutive games; the last team to allow 200+ rush yards in three straight games was the 2019 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Fantasy: Alvin Kamara has not had a 10-plus-yard carry in three straight games, and over his past four, despite having a pair of rushing touchdowns, the majority (56.9%) of his fantasy points have come as a receiver.
Betting: The Saints have seen 13 of their past 14 games played on extended rest go under the projected total (most recently, Week 5 at Chiefs, a 26-13 loss with a 43.5-point closing total).
Los Angeles Chargers
Team: The average NFL game this season has seen 44.8 points scored – not a single Chargers game has reached 40 points yet.
QB: On Monday night, Justin Herbert became the first QB since Ryan Tannehill (Week 2, 2021) to throw for 345 yards without a touchdown or interception.
Offense: JK Dobbins was the story of the first two weeks this season (27 carries for 266 yards, 9.9 yards per carry), but he has failed to average even 4.0 yards per carry in the four games since, checking in under 3.0 in three of those games.
Defense: Los Angeles allows a score on just 25% of drives this season, the lowest rate in the league and 13 percentage points better than the league average.
Fantasy: The Chargers are amongst the most run-centric offenses, and on Monday night, when they took to the air, the early passes weren’t exactly going to the players on fantasy rosters – Will Dissly and Simi Fehoko saw eight of Justin Herbert’s first 10 targets.
Betting: Seven of Justin Herbert’s last eight home starts have finished under the total, including each of the past four.