2025 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview
2025 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview Jim Harbaugh’s first season in Los Angeles was a racing success. The Chargers improved from 5-12 in 2023 to 11-7 and a Wild Card playoff appearance in Year One of their rebuild. Harbaugh’s immediate impact saw the club climb from 28th in defense to 11th. The offense regressed slightly, but injuries played a big role in that. With plenty of cap space and key reinforcements via free agency and the draft, the 2025 Chargers are trending up. QB Justin Herbert gutted out leg and foot injuries to start all 18 games. In his first season in Greg Roman’s system, Herbert set career-highs in yards per attempt (7.7), ADOT (9.0), QB rating (101.7), and threw the fewest interceptions (3) in the league. The touchdown numbers dipped, but Herbert also took the most sacks of his career (41). L.A. signed Mekhi Becton and Andre James in free agency to help protect Herbert. Other additions in the backfield and at wideout will also help. Even battling injuries throughout the year, Herbert still ranked 15th in fantasy points per game and rushed for 306 yards and two scores. He’s a sleeper pick to post top-10 fantasy numbers and can be targeted much later in drafts. The Chargers improved from 96.6 rushing yards per game to 110.7 in 2024. J.K. Dobbins averaged 14.8 fantasy points per game but will be replaced by the tandem of Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris. Hampton was selected No. 22 overall and profiles as a downhill runner who will fit well in Roman’s scheme. Hampton has an intriguing blend of size (5-11, 221), speed (4.47 40-yard dash), and power. Harris has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in all four of his NFL seasons, giving Harbaugh one of the top tandems in the NFL. Expect the Chargers to be among the most run-heavy offenses, with plenty of play-action opportunities for Herbert to exploit. Ladd McConkey was sensational as a rookie, snagging 82-of-112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven scores in 16 games. He finished his first season as the WR13 and is now firmly ranked in WR1 territory. The Chargers also re-signed Mike Williams and used a second-rounder on sizable Mississippi wideout Tre Harris. Harris was a yards per route run terror who led the nation in receiving yards per game. The rookie will be an instant upgrade over the inconsistent Josh Palmer. The tight end rotation that Harbaugh employed last season looks to be back, this time, with newly signed Tyler Conklin competing with Will Dissly for snaps. Both options lack upside because of their unpredictable usage. They should only be viewed as reserves to target late in deeper leagues. Fantasy Grade: C+ QB Herbert, Justin, LAC [QB1] On the surface, Justin Herbert had a modest showing in 2024, but Herbert gutted through several injuries and guided the Chargers to an improbable Wild Card appearance. Despite playing in Greg Roman’s run-first scheme that ranked 28th in pace of play, Herbert ranked 15th in fantasy points per game. Accuracy was key, as Herbert threw a league-low three interceptions and shined in deep-ball accuracy (5th in deep-ball completion rate). Play-action was key, and with the Chargers signing Najee Harris and drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round, look for Herbert to continue to game manage and take deep shots. ADVICE: Mid-round value pick with top 10 upside. RB Hampton, Omarion, LAC [RB1] Omarion Hampton joins a crowded Chargers backfield with Najee Harris. However, this staff targeted Hampton in the first round when running back wasn’t LA’s biggest need. Hampton’s powerful running and superior pass-catching ability, akin to Nick Chubb, position him as a mid-tier RB2 in PPR leagues. In 2024, Chargers’ running backs recorded just 43 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets. That should trend up with Hampton replacing J.K. Dobbins. There is a chance that Jim Harbaugh opens the season with a committee, so Hampton could get off to a slow start. ADVICE: Three-down talent on a run-first team that could be limited to committee work. RB Harris, Najee, LAC [RB2] Harris looked like a quality RB2 before the Chargers selected Omarion Hampton with the 22nd overall pick. Hampton (4.46 40) is faster than Harris (4.57), is a better receiver, and has first-round draft capital. Clearly, the staff liked what Hampton did at North Carolina. Harris has been sturdy, playing all 17 games and rushing for 1,000-plus yards in all four of his seasons. But this is likely to be a committee backfield led by Hampton. The Chargers project to be one of the run-heaviest teams in the league, but Harris is unlikely to command enough touches to post another RB2 campaign. ADVICE: RB3/4 with limited path to being a consistent fantasy starter. WR McConkey, Ladd, LAC [WR1] McConkey exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign, pacing the 2024 class with 2.6 yards per route run and finishing as the WR13 in total fantasy points. From Weeks 8 through the playoffs, he surged to WR10 levels, drawing a 25% target share and averaging 98.7 yards and 16.4 fantasy points per game, trailing only Ja’Marr Chase over that stretch. Although the Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton in Round 1, potentially shifting toward the run, McConkey’s late-season dominance remains impossible to ignore. His connection with Justin Herbert is already elite, and with the coaching staff remaining intact, McConkey is set up for a big leap in year two. ADVICE: High-floor WR2–a mind 2nd round target. WR Harris, Tre, LAC [WR2] Tre Harris had a standout college career at Louisiana Tech and Ole Miss, amassing 220 receptions, 3,532 yards, and 29 touchdowns over four seasons. His receiving yards grew annually (562, 935, 985, 1,030), with explosive play at Ole Miss (18.2, 17.2 yards per catch). Despite a groin injury sidelining him for five games last season, Harris shone in 2023, surpassing 100 yards in five games. Harris has good size (6-2, 205), 2nd-round NFL Draft capital, and landed with a Chargers’ offense that needs a perimeter
Saturday Playoff Preview
Saturday Playoff Preview The 6-game NFL Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with a pair of AFC matchups. FullTime Fantasy‘s Saturday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) Time: 4:00 Eastern Line: Chargers -3 Total: 42.5 Money Line: Los Angeles -156, Houston +136 Chargers Offense Jim Harbaugh coached the Chargers to an impressive one-year turnaround. Harbaugh inherited a team that went 5-12 and instilled a new culture, resulting in a postseason appearance in Year One. However, Harbaugh’s main influence was on the defense, which allowed the fewest points in the league. LA’s offense ranked 20th overall, including 19th in passing and 17th in rushing. The Chargers did rank 11th in scoring, but points will be at a premium against a Houston defense that ranked 14th in points allowed. Although Houston’s pass defense ranked 6th overall, the Texans allowed an AFC-worst 31 touchdown passes to quarterbacks. That makes Justin Herbert a solid start. Our RDA* projections have Herbert in the top half of Week 19 fantasy signal-callers. Additionally, Herbert ran for 306 yards and two scores this season, which is another area Houston struggled against. Houston surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, which makes J.K. Dobbins a lesser option in this slate. Dobbins also won’t catch many passes. That makes him game-script-dependent. However, in a game where the Chargers are favored, Dobbins has a decent shot at seeing 15-plus touches and getting into the end zone. There isn’t a ton of upside behind Dobbins. Gus Edwards has been limited and Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins have split RB3 duties. Additionally, the recent signing of Ezekiel Elliott complicates the complementary roles. Avoid. Thumbs up for WR Ladd McConkey. The rookie wideout was fantasy’s WR10 in the last three weeks, reeling in 19-of-24 targets for 276 yards and a score. Houston allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy receivers, making McConkey a top-10 play in our Week 19 RDA* projections. Quentin Johnston offers some boom potential against a secondary that has been decimated by injuries and is vulnerable to big plays. Josh Palmer is OUT, opening up more snaps for D.J. Chark. At tight end, the Chargers will use Wil Dissly and Stone Smartt. However, Dissly out-snapped Smartt 43-14 last week. Texans Offense While the Chargers took vast strides in 2024, the Houston Texans regressed. Facing a first-place schedule will do that, but DeMeco Ryan’s squad simply wasn’t as good on offense. After ranking seventh in passing in 2023, Houston dipped to 21st. There is no denying that C.J. Stroud‘s play dropped off. His metrics and efficiency declined across the board. Meanwhile, he struggled to make the same throws he made as a rookie and he plummeted to 34th in pressured completion rate (53.1%). The Chargers can be challenged through the air. However, Stroud has only thrown 2-plus TDs in a game three times since Week 7. RB Joe Mixon has also cooled off. Mixon hasn’t scored more than 10.6 PPR points in any of his last four games. Meanwhile, the Chargers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2024, including a league-low four rushing scores. Although the volume should be there, this is not a great week to pay up for Mixon’s salary in DFS. Houston’s offense has also been plagued by injuries. Nico Collins is the last man standing at wideout and will undoubtedly be the focal point in this game. Collins hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 13 but has scored three touchdowns. Our RDA* projections have Collins in for 5.4 grabs, 73 yards, and a 50/50 shot at another score. After Collins, Houston will trot out the uninspiring trio of Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson. However, none of these players are anything more than DFS dart throws in a poor matchup. At tight end, Dalton Schultz is the best bet to see the second-most targets. However, the Chargers allowed a league-low two scores to opposing TEs this season, which severely caps his upside. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Baltimore Ravens (12-5) Time: 8:00 Eastern Line: Baltimore -10 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Pittsburgh +400, Baltimore -550 Steelers Offense The Steelers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five matchups with Baltimore. Additionally, the UNDER has hit in 8-of-11 in this AFC North rivalry. However, that paints an ugly picture for Pittsburgh’s offense- a unit that scored all of two touchdowns against Baltimore this season. QB Russell Wilson averaged 211 passing yards, one TD, and one INT in two games versus Baltimore. That’s precisely where our Week 19 RDA* projections have Wilson, making him an unappealing fantasy option. While the Ravens have struggled against the pass, Baltimore’s league-best offense and excellent run defense make the Ravens a poor matchup for running backs. Pittsburgh will use both of their backs, with Najee Harris leading the way. In those two prior matchups, Harris accumulated an innocuous 105 rushing yards with four receptions. Jaylen Warren was better in those games and offers more appeal as a double-digit underdog. Warren reeled in all nine of his targets against the Ravens, racking up 71 receiving yards and averaging over four yards per carry. Paying up for George Pickens is a hard pill to swallow after last week’s embarrassment. However, this is a good rebound spot for Pickens, who caught 8-of-12 targets for 89 yards back in Week 11 against the Ravens. Pickens has topped 75 yards in three of his five career matchups versus Baltimore, who also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receiver this season. As double-digit dogs, Pickens will see a favorable game script. Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson are the next best bets but offer low floors. However, TE Pat Freiermuth gets a positive matchup. Baltimore surrendered 12.9
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 16
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 16 Last week’s NFC West showdown was a rain-soaked dud with zero touchdowns. On the surface, this week’s AFC West game looks like another low-scoring snoozer. However, with major playoff implications at stake, FullTime Fantasy‘s
Last week’s NFC West showdown was a rain-soaked dud with zero touchdowns. On the surface, this week’s AFC West game looks like another low-scoring snoozer. However, with major playoff implications at stake, FullTime Fantasy‘s Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 16 finds some fantasy appeal for both squads.
One year ago, the Chargers were 5-9 and had just lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending finger injury and fired Brandon Staley. A year later, Jim Harbaugh has turned the franchise’s fortunes around. LA is in an excellent position to secure an AFC Wild Card spot.
Coincidentally, the Denver Broncos are directly competing with the Chargers for that postseason berth. Sean Payton has also done a masterful job quickly turning the Broncos back into contenders.
While neither team sets the world on fire offensively, this game projects to be a hard-fought, competitive contest. Back in October, the Chargers won 23-16 in Denver and the Broncos look to even the score in LA.
The home team is favored by three and the total sits at 42 points.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Denver Broncos | 22 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 11 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 26 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 20 |
Only the Chargers have allowed fewer points than Denver. Additionally, both teams rank outside of the top 20 in overall offense. Points will be at a premium on Thursday.
Jim Harbaugh has resurrected the Los Angeles defense. However, the offense is still a work in progress. The Chargers have topped 30 points once and been held under 20 six times. That includes their last three games. Two of those resulted in losses, culminated by last week’s 40-17 dismantling by the Buccaneers.
Injuries have played a big part in the Chargers’ offensive struggles. And facing a Denver defense that ranks fifth against the run while allowing the second-fewest yards per play won’t be easy.
Denver’s offense has been marginally better. The backfield has been a mess for fantasy managers but QB Bo Nix has exceeded expectations after a slow start. Denver has won four straight to improve to 9-5. The Broncos are a game up on the Chargers for second place in the tough AFC West.
When the Chargers defeated the Broncos in Week 6, Los Angeles dominated the time of possession 37:23 to 22:37. But without J.K. Dobbins and a banged-up Justin Herbert, the rematch favors the visitors.
Denver Offense
Bo Nix finished as QB9 in Week 6 versus this defense, mainly because he ran for 61 yards. In his last seven games, Nix is…
How will Thursday’s Broncos vs. Chargers game go?
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2024 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview
2024 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview After finishing 5-12, changes were evident. Los Angeles fired GM Tom Telesco and head coach Brandon Staley and then went after Jim Harbaugh, the biggest name on the coaching market. If Harbaugh’s previous stints
After finishing 5-12, changes were evident. Los Angeles fired GM Tom Telesco and head coach Brandon Staley and then went after Jim Harbaugh, the biggest name on the coaching market. If Harbaugh’s previous stints at Stanford, San Fransisco, and Michigan have taught us anything, his teams are built to play the trenches and run the ball. Adding Greg Roman as an offensive coordinator ensures that this Chargers offense will emphasize the run game, so the more than 320 vacated targets may not matter here.
With a change in offensive philosophy, the value of long-time Charger wide receivers has shifted in this new offense. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have been replaced in the draft by promising new additions. Second-round selection Ladd McConkey, and a pair of seventh-round picks, Brendan Rice and Cornelius Johnson, bring fresh talent and potential to the team’s offense.
Looking at the Chargers’ current depth chart, Justin Herbert’s top three options are Joshua Palmer, who had 38 receptions and 581 yards last season, second-year wideout Quentin Johnson, who had just 431 receiving yards and 38 receptions after being selected in the first round of the NFL draft last year, and Ladd McConkey. McConkey may overtake Palmer and Johnson as Herbert’s favorite target immediately.
In games where Herbert didn’t have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, he still found success by spreading the ball around. Herbert got all his receivers involved by not having to funnel his targets into his top options. However, don’t expect him to put up top-five fantasy production this season with the offense that Roman likes to run. Herbert completed 297 of his 456 attempts for 3,134 yards in 13 games last year. Suppose you draft Herbert as your first quarterback. In that case, you must give him the Kirk Cousins treatment by adding another solid quarterback option later in the draft and potentially playing the better matchups.
Harbaugh is going to love RB Gus Edwards. His 13 rushing scores last season were tied for the third most by any back, and he averaged 4.1 yards per carry, which was the first time in his career he had averaged less than five yards per carry. LA also brought in J.K. Dobbins, who is recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury. Keep an eye on sixth-round Troy RB Kimani Vidal, who could emerge as a serious dark horse in this backfield.
At tight end, neither Will Dissly nor Hayden Hurst offers much fantasy value, as the duo combined for just 356 receiving yards on 35 receptions. If you have to draft one of the two, Hurst could be a nice tight-end two with some upside.
Quarterbacks
QB JUSTIN HERBERT – SOLID/SAFE PICK
While Justin Herbert remains one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, his fantasy prospects are less certain. With Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman running the offense, the 2024 Chargers will be far less reliant on the pass. In Herbert’s first four years, the team ranked first in plays per game. Harbaugh and Roman’s 49ers (2011-2014) ranked 31st in pace and no higher than 29th in pass attempts. Additionally, a mass exodus of veteran pass catchers is further proof of the potential lack of volume. Herbert did compile a 110.8 QB Rating in play-action in 2023, so he’s capable of being solid if the Chargers can establish the run. But he’s no longer a locked-in QB1. ADVICE: High-end QB2…
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 15
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 15 Easton Stick vs. Aidan O’Connell. This is, uh…., not what we signed up for. After 14 up-and-down Thursday contests, this week’s offering is the NFL version of going through the motions. It is what
Easton Stick vs. Aidan O’Connell. This is, uh…., not what we signed up for. After 14 up-and-down Thursday contests, this week’s offering is the NFL version of going through the motions. It is what it is. Regardless, the FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 15 breaks down this week’s contest from a fantasy and sports betting perspective.
After losing Justin Herbert for the rest of the season, the Chargers are now riding out the clock. A new regime now seems inevitable for Los Angeles. Additionally, Easton Stick will make his first NFL start on streaming TV against an equally moribund Raiders franchise.
As for Vegas, they hit rock bottom last week, losing their third consecutive game by a paltry 3-0 score. Both teams sit at 5-8 in the mediocre AFC West.
However, on the bright side, there’s no way these two teams will score fewer points than last week. Right?
The Chargers opened as 3-point favorites. However, when news of Herbert’s season-ending injury hit, the line shifted oppositely. Las Vegas now stands as a field-goal favorite. Conversely, the total plummeted 8.5 points from its opening of 42.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 17 | 10 | 26 | 14 | 16 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 29 | 22 | 32 | 26 | 28 |
Both of these teams have faced more than their fair share of adversity.
Brandon Staley faces a lot of scrutiny as the Chargers have been one of the most under-achieving teams in the AFC. The addition of offensive coordinator Keelen Moore from Dallas has not panned out as expected. The Chargers have been an average offense that will surely plummet without Herbert under center.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have a brief resurgence under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. However, after three consecutive defeats with three total touchdowns scored, that success is a distant memory.
Las Vegas has rushed for an NFL-worst 1,048 yards. A struggling offensive line plays a big part in the struggles. But making matters worse, the Raiders will be without star RB Josh Jacobs, who will miss this game with a quad injury.
Las Vegas Offense
Further hampering the offense is QB Aidan O’Connell. The fourth-round rookie has thrown just four touchdowns in seven games…
How will Thursday’s Chargers vs. Raiders game go?
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NFL DFS Monday Night Football: Cowboys vs Chargers Draftkings Fantasy Lineup Advice From High-Stakes Winner
NFL DFS Monday Night Football: Cowboys vs Chargers This article will help you build your NFL Draftkings DFS Monday Night Football lineups for tonight’s Cowboys-Chargers matchup. The 2023 Week 6 NFL schedule comes to a close with Monday Night Football. The 2-2 Los Angeles Chargers host the 3-2 Dallas Cowboys. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium. Today we analyze from a DFS perspective the fantasy player projections from Shawn Childs. WHO IS SHAWN CHILDS? Quite simply, Shawn is the brains behind many of the metrics and projections at FullTime Fantasy. He has an extensive history in the fantasy industry, including being enshrined into the NFBC Baseball Hall of Fame. Shawn was previously the No. 2 most accurate DFS ranker and boasts several big DFS wins including over $200,000 last season at Draftkings. Shawn has the proven history and versatility you won’t find ANYWHERE else. Let’s dive right into the projections typically reserved for Fulltime Fantasy members, by team and by position: Chargers-Cowboys Projections KICKERS & DEFENSE/ST DAL, Brandon Aubrey 9.0 projected points $5,000. LAC, Cameron Dicker 8.0 projected points $4,400. DAL DST 6.8 projected points $3,800. LAC DST 5.3 projected points $3,200. Dak Prescott appears to slightly edge out Justin Herbert tonight. Prescott is cheaper ($10,000 to $10,800) and has a higher projected finish (23.89 to 22.15). At RB, Tony Pollard is the big winner here with a 3-point bonus for 100 yards rushing and 27 projected fantasy points. Ekeler is still in for a solid night but his salary essentially prices him out of play. Pollard is the most valuable RB tonight at $9,600, however for the Captain spot that provides a 1.5X boost, even he takes a back seat to teammate and WR CeeDee Lamb who is also projected for 27 fantasy points but at only a $9,000 price tag. For that reason, Lamb should be your choice at Captain in Showdown slates. Michael Gallup appears to be the top-value play of the night. He’s projected to produce 9 fantasy points at a mere $2,800. That leaves us with $14,100 to spend allowing us to squeeze in the services of Justin Herbert who boasts a 2.05 value score, higher than that of Keenan Allen (1.85). Obviously, feel free to mix and match all of the higher-value players for your own contest selections tonight. For a contrarian build, Pollard or Prescott are acceptable Captains. However, you’ll have to pivot down from Herbert to Keenan Allen to afford the Chargers Defense in the last flex spot. Happy Lineup Building! Finally, are you a Die-Hard Fantasy Football Player? CLICK HERE to Start Your Road to the 2023 Fantasy Football World Championships.
2023 Los Angeles Chargers Outlook
2023 Los Angeles Chargers Outlook The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player
2023 Los Angeles Chargers Outlook
The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview of all 32 teams from football legend Shawn Childs.
Also, check out Jody Smith’s NFL offensive line rankings and exclusive 2023 Strength of Schedule analysis.
Up next in our extensive NFL and fantasy football preview series is Shawn’s deep dive into the 2023 Los Angeles Chargers Outlook.
— Quarterback —
Justin Herbert
In 2021, Herbert finished with an impressive 5,316 combined yards with 41 touchdowns. His floor was high in scoring in his first two years in the run game (55/234/5 and 63/302/3). Herbert averaged 39.5 pass attempts while gaining over 300 yards in nine matchups (337/1, 338/1, 398/4, 356/2, 382/3, 303/2, 317/3, 336/1, and 383/3). He ranked second in fantasy scoring (447.00) in four-point passing touchdown leagues with four impact games (33.65, 46.80, 35.20, 39.10, and 32.25 fantasy points).
Last season, Herbert threw the ball well over his first two starts (279/3 and 334/3), but a hit late in Week 2 led to a rib injury that appeared to effort his play over the next few weeks. His running value (54/147) sharply declined from his two previous seasons, especially in scoring (no rushing touchdowns). On the positive side, Herbert set a career-high in completions (477), pass attempts (699), and completion rate (68.2). He threw two touchdowns or fewer in 15 of his final 16 starts, with only one game (Week 12 – 312/3). Herbert passed for more than 300 yards five times on the year.
Fantasy Outlook: Despite a down season, Herbert played through an injury, and his top two wideouts missed about 14 games (including two quick exits). He finished the season ranked eighth in fantasy points (343.25) in four-point passing touchdown leagues. The Chargers upgraded his receiving depth in this year’s draft, and his passing window should be much longer in 2023. Herbert now has six live receiving options to work with, inviting a return to the greatness he showed in 2022. Trending toward 5,500 combined yards with a push over 40 touchdowns. But Los Angeles must stay healthy on the offensive side of the ball.
Max Duggan
Duggan had a quiet start to his college career over 32 games at TCU (7,353 combined yards with 60 touchdowns and 20 interceptions). He gained only 7.3 yards per pass attempt, with weakness in his completion rate (58.9). His floor was helped by his ability to move the ball on the ground (351/1,433/19).
Last year, Duggan helped his team play for a National Championship by starting the season with 12 consecutive wins. His inspired play vs. Michigan (282 combined yards and four scores) led to TCU facing Georgia on January 9th, where he was overmatched by the Bulldogs’ defense. On the year, Duggan gained 4,101 yards with 41 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Defenses did catch up to him late in the year in pass coverage (212 yards per game with eight passing touchdowns and six interceptions over seven starts).
Fantasy Outlook: Duggan must improve his accuracy and arm strength to earn a starting job in the NFL. He’ll compete for the backup quarterback job for the Chargers this season.
Other Options: Easton Stick
— Running Backs —
The Chargers’ running backs led the league in catches (140) and targets (179), but they finished with a minimal game in receiving yards (911). A downgrade in LA’s offensive line was highlighted by their backs yards per catch (6.5). They ended the year with a drop off in rushing yards (1,373) for the second consecutive season and weakness in yards per rush (3.9) despite only nine fewer rushing attempts (349). The Chargers’ running backs combined for 2,284 yards with 22 touchdowns and 140 catches (29.44 FPPG).
Austin Ekeler
In 2021, Ekeler gained 1,558 combined yards with 20 touchdowns and 70 catches. The Chargers had him on the field for only 61.1% of their plays. He produced better stats at home (955 combined yards with 14 scores and 41 catches – 24.50 FPPG in PPR leagues). Ekeler posted two impact games (33.90 and 41.50 fantasy points) while having a floor of 20.00 fantasy points in nine matchups. He finished second in fantasy scoring (346.80) with one missed game with Covid-19.
Los Angeles gave him almost the same opportunity in the run game (204/915/13), with nearly the identical role in snaps (61.8%). Ekeler set a new top in catches (107) and targets (127), but he gained only 6.7 yards per catch, well below his 2021 (9.2) and his career average (9.7).
Over the past two seasons. Ekeler has 25 rushing and 13 receiving touchdowns. He gained more than 100 rushing yards in two matchups (16/173/1 and 10/122/2) and five other outcomes with 100 combined yards or more.
Fantasy Outlook: Over the past four seasons, Ekeler has been an exceptional player for the Chargers. He works hard and grinds out yards when there is minimal space. Unfortunately, his window for a payday is closing, and Ekeler has one year left on his contract. Los Angeles bumped up some incentives in 2023, but he’ll never get paid what he is worth or should have earned over the past two seasons (3,195 combined yards with 38 touchdowns and 177 catches). Ekeler is the second running back drafted this year after ranking 2nd and 1st in fantasy points in 2021 and 2022. His pass-catching sets a high floor while his growth in scoring leads to more impactful days (Ekeler scored over 30.00 fantasy points four times last season – 34.90, 35.90, 36.70, and 32.10), three of which came over the first seven games.
Joshua Kelley
Kelley had two productive seasons at UCLA (225/1243/12 and 229/1060/12), with his best value coming in the passing game (27/193) in 2018. His path in college started at the University of California at Davis.
His career at UCLA began as a walk-on player with minimal value in his first two games (6/20 and 5/7). Kelley rushed for over 100 yards over his next four contests while ending the year with a touchdown in each of his final eight games, highlighted by a monster showing vs. rival USC (40/289/2). In 2019, he had four games with over 100 yards rushing (27/127/1, 18/176/1, 34/164/4, and 23/126/2), but Kelley also had multiple games (6) with fewer than 80 yards on the ground.
Kelley looks good inside the five-yard line and in short-yardage situations where he is willing to drop and drive to create yards in tight quarters. He runs with power with the ability to break tackles against trash when seeing minimal daylight. Kelley projects as a north/south runner, but I see more dimensions to his game. He offers some head and shoulder fakes when breaking into space while not losing all of his momentum. His hands grade well, and I expect him to make plays in the passing game.
In his rookie season, Kelley gained 502 combined yards with two touchdowns and 23 catches. His best opportunity came over the first two weeks (173 combined yards with one score and two catches). On the year, he gained only 3.2 yards per rush and 6.4 yards per catch.
Despite an empty 2021 (33/102/0 with five catches for 38 yards over 10 games), Kelley had the second-most running back snaps (286) for Los Angeles last season. He held his own in the run game (69/297/2) while picking up 14 catches for 101 yards. Kelley missed five weeks midseason with a knee injury.
Fantasy Outlook: Kelley remains the favorite to win
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THE CHARGERS IN 2023?
To finish reading Shawn’s in-depth 2023 team outlook, with in-depth offseason reports, projections, and fantasy outlooks for all players
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2020 Fantasy Football: Los Angeles Chargers Team Outlook
In this 2020 Los Angeles Chargers Team Outlook, Senior Expert Shawn Childs provides an in-depth Fantasy Football breakdown of the entire franchise.
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Fantasy Football Impact for Chargers with Tyrod Taylor
The most baffling question of the NFL offseason: Are the Los Angeles Chargers really set on using Tyrod Taylor as their starting QB?
Fantasy Football: Week 10 Thursday Night Preview (Chargers vs. Raiders)
In this Week 10 Thursday Night Football Preview, senior fantasy football expert Dr. Roto runs down the viability of the game’s fantasy stars.