The Los Angeles Chargers saw their wide receiver corps reduced to unproven talent thanks to the salary cap, so it made sense they would target the position in the draft. They did so in the second round, trading up to take Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey. Here’s a look at how he fits in LA.
Chargers WR Ladd McConkey fantasy football outlook
McConkey will likely be in the slot to start his rookie season, although he can occasionally be moved to the boundary when he runs deeper crossing routes. He’s got great hands in traffic and is used to playing in big games against top talent, so he won’t be phased by bigger corners. He’s likely to be a safety valve for quarterback Justin Herbert, which gives him some fantasy value in PPR formats.
Ladd McConkey’s supporting cast
There’s no more Keenan Allen or Mike Williams to contend with, which means Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer are really the only competition for targets at the moment. Jim Harbaugh likes to run the ball a lot, so there might not be as much passing as in previous seasons in LA. However, McConkey could easily emerge as the top target in this offense if Johnston and Palmer fail to take a big step forward.
Where should Ladd McConkey rank among WRs in fantasy football?
Volume alone might push McConkey into the WR3 realm in PPR formats but it’s probably best to leave him on the waiver wire to start the season to see what this Chargers offense looks like. If McConkey does indeed emerge as the starting slot receiver and sees enough volume, he’s probably a firm WR3.