While the Los Angeles Chargers got a win in Jim Harbaugh’s debut as their head coach, the offense was hardly overwhelming with just 316 total yards, including 140 passing yards.
The good news is that the Chargers get to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Does this mean that fantasy managers should give a little more attention to L.A.’s wide receivers and place any in their respective fantasy football lineups?
Should You Start Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer or Quentin Johnston This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Ladd McConkey is the player to start.
His projected 10.6 points include a projection of four receptions and 52 receiving yards. That outperforms the consensus projections for Joshua Palmer (9.4 points, four receptions, 45 receiving yards) and Quentin Johnston (6.0 points, two receptions, 28 receiving yards)
My ranking for these three Chargers wide receivers aligns with the consensus. The health status of Palmer and the lack of consistent production from Johnston make McConkey the easy choice among these three for Week 2.
McConkey’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
McConkey had a terrific NFL debut, catching a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey ended Week 1 leading the Chargers in targets (seven), receptions (five) and receiving yards (39), to go along with his touchdown.
Ladd McConkey was explosive as he led the team in targets (7) in his first game.
He was consistent with his release and breaks. He was my WR5.
pic.twitter.com/6vJqUKeyHM— • Colton Edwards • (@cedwardsNFL) September 11, 2024
McConkey finished with 14.9 fantasy points in Week 1, which was more than the rest of the Chargers’ wide receivers combined (11.2 fantasy points). And, say what you want about the Chargers’ receiving corps, but McConkey finished Week 1 with more fantasy points than the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb (13.6).
By the way, with another touchdown Sunday, McConkey can become only the third Chargers wide receiver with two or more touchdown receptions in the first two games of his NFL career.
Palmer’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Along with a disappointing Week 1 performance, Palmer suddenly has a knee injury that could very well sideline him for Week 2.
On the field, Palmer was targeted just four times, catching two passes for 15 yards and finishing with just 3.5 fantasy points, his lowest fantasy scoring output since Week 1 last season (1.4 fantasy points).
On top of his playing struggles, Palmer’s status for Sunday’s game is suddenly in doubt, after the Chargers’ final injury report Friday listed him as questionable with a knee injury. A limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Palmer did not practice at all Friday.
Not being able to get on the practice field after two days of limited participation certainly doesn’t seem like a good sign for Palmer’s chances of playing Sunday.
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Johnston’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Johnston’s 6.8 fantasy points in Week 1 were at least above his rookie-season fantasy-points-per-game average in 2023 (5.5).
Other than that, there wasn’t much to speak about when it comes to Johnston’s performance against the Raiders. He caught three passes (on five targets) for 38 yards. The 6.8 points were the sixth most for Johnston in his career, which just entered its second season.
Still, having your sixth-highest fantasy scoring game still be fewer than seven points is hardly reassuring for fantasy managers.
Kyle Soppe’s Fantasy Outlook for Palmer and McConkey
Joshua Palmer: Davante Adams can work in Vegas because of an elite target share while three Texans carry lineup value due to the quality of targets we project them to see. There are different ways to cash points at the fantasy window, but mixing the negatives of those mentioned situations isn’t going to cut it.
Routes + targets in Week 1:
- Palmer: 31
- Ladd McConkey: 29
- Quentin Johnston: 28
- Hayden Hurst: 25
I like Palmer’s 6’1” frame, and with just his 25th birthday approaching, his best football is pretty clearly ahead of him.
I don’t doubt that Palmer he will have some productive days at the office (he’s a talented player in an offense with a franchise QB), but you’re overconfident in your ability to forecast if you think you can nail the right week to invest.
I expect the Chargers to be playing with a lead this weekend, and that’s not the game script that has me interested in any capacity in these receivers.
Ladd McConkey: This second-round pick has something to him. He’s got juice, and the touchdown was impressive, but asking McConkey to get you double-digit points on a consistent basis in this environment is asking too much.
McConkey is my pick to lead this receiver room in a total of usable weeks (targeted on 31.8% of his routes and a 5.3 aDOT, lowest among Chargers receivers), though I have concerns about what his realistic ceiling looks like. That makes plugging him into starting lineups very difficult right now.