The Los Angeles Chargers play the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that DraftKings Sportsbook has with the lowest total of the Week 3 slate (34.5 points). Whenever a fantasy football manager sees a line that low, they must question all the options within the game, including the pass-catching options of a quarterback with an ankle injury like Justin Herbert.
We must be on red alert for Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Joshua Palmer in this football contest. All three could bust and ruin our chances of winning in fantasy football. However, we can tell you who the best-projected play will be in this contest.
Should You Start Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, or Joshua Palmer in Week 3?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Palmer is the player to start as he barely edges McConkey and Johnston. Palmer is projected for 9.7 fantasy points from 3.7 receptions and 45.9 receiving yards. McConkey is projected to score 9.5 fantasy points on 3.1 receptions and 47 yards, while Johnston, who has had a hot start, should cool off with seven fantasy points, 2.8 receptions, and 32.2 receiving yards.
However, my rankings disagree, as I believe Johnston is the player you want in your lineups for Week 3. TruMedia ranks Johnston with the highest first-read target share in the Chargers offense with 38.5%; the next closest is McConkey with only 19.2%.
Johnston has started the season hot, and although he will draw some routes against the challenging Joey Porter Jr., Johnston will continue to be schemed in ways that allow his playmaking ability to shine best.
Do not get our words twisted here. Although I believe Johnston is still the best play from the Chargers, you should look for an option from a higher-scoring game, as this game could eat away at the clock from two run-heavy offenses limiting targets for anyone involved in this contest.
McConkey’s Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
None of the wide receivers run routes at a clip that excites us for a heavy workload in Week 3. McConkey is the least used receiver among the trio as the rookie still finds his bearings in the NFL to start the season. TruMedia ranks his 37 routes as the lowest of the Chargers trio and the 90th-highest total in the NFL.
Combine this with an implied total of 34.5 and we have three players we may want to sit on the bench this week pic.twitter.com/vUxOj26En9
— Joe Pepe (@jpep20)
He does tie the team high for receptions converted into first downs with four, and he ties Johnston with the most targets on the team with 11. The issue with his 11 targets is that he has only gained 65 yards and one touchdown. We will need more from the rookie, but in this low implied total, don’t bank on it from McConkey.
Johnston’s Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
Johnston has shined through 2024, making his doubters question whether they were wrong. Now, we have a player who has seen 11 targets and turned them into eight receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He draws a tough matchup this week with the Steelers, but his case of the drops may have been cured. Johnston has the 18th-highest reception percentage total, 72.7%.
Palmer’s Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
Palmer is a tough case to predict. He has been dealing with injuries and may need a week or two to tune up his game again. It’s hard to imagine he does much this week as he deals with an injured quarterback in Herbert, who has only tossed six targets in his direction. His air yards per target are also down, and Palmer is a fade for me this week.