The Chargers’ offense got off to a fast start this season as the team won their first three games and knocked off all three division rivals, including the Chiefs. Over the last two weeks, though, they’ve lost to the Giants and Commanders. When the offense was going smoothly, Quentin Johnston emerged as a go-to option, especially on deep balls. For Week 6, though, Johnston is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.
Let’s take a look at the latest on his status for this week, and see how Ladd McConkey or other receivers could step up in his absence.
We’ll dive in with info on the Chargers’ receivers and break down the upside and risk in the available options for fantasy, both short and long term.
Quentin Johnston injury update
Johnston found the end zone four times in the first four weeks of the season with 70+ yards in every game. He had a down game against the Commanders, though, drawing a season-low four targets and only managing four catches for 40 yards.
It’s not clear exactly when he picked up the hamstring issue or if that could have contributed to his slower game. He also had a costly fumble that helped the Commanders’ get momentum. He was able to participate each day this week, but he was limited each day before being listed as questionable. He’ll likely be a game-time decision, so stay tuned for updates as we approach kickoff.
Ladd McConkey’s potential bounce-back?
McConkey was the Chargers’ top receiver last year as a rookie and was expected to be very involved this year. He got off to a slow start, though, averaging only 42.6 receiving yards per game through the first five games of the season. He is still getting targets but hasn’t been able to break lose for big plays.
He did have his first touchdown of the season early in Week 5.
He almost added an impressive highlight-reel punt return but it was called back for a penalty. It was good to see that McConkey still has big play upside, though, and he could use some extra looks in Johnston’s absence to make big plays this week.
He’ll be in a great matchup against the Dolphins, although most of the damage against Miami has come on the ground this season. The Chargers won’t have Omarion Hampton (ankle), so they’ll be counting on Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal. If they are stopped, the Chargers could look to Ladd to take short passes and turn them into big gains.
If Johnston is out, McConkey would have a very high ceiling as one of the Bolts’ best playmakers in a matchup where big plays should be available..
Other Chargers potential pass-catchers
Keenan Allen has had a very successful reunion tour with the Chargers this season. The veteran has double-digit fantasy points in four of his five games this season, including over 17 fantasy points in three of those contests. He scored a touchdown in each of the first three games of the season but has been kept out of the end zone in the last two games.
In his return, he has already been a target magnet with 44 targets in five weeks and at least nine targets in three games. Allen could get a few more looks without Johnston available, but his consistent PPR-friendly role gives him a high floor along with a high ceiling.
If Johnston is out, rookie Tre Harris could be one of the other big beneficiaries. The second-round pick from Ole Miss has played around 30% of snaps in three of the last four weeks, but has only had two targets and no catches in those three games. He did show some potential early in the season and in preseason, but hasn’t been involved enough to be a fantasy play yet this year. Johnston’s injury could set the stage fr that to change, though.
The bottom line
The Chargers badly need a bounce-back week after two tough losses, but Johnston’s injury could make that more challenging. McConkey would be a WR2 with WR1 upside if QJ is out, while Allen would also have a very safe floor as a WR3 or flex option. I had McConkey at No. 27 and Johnston at No. 29 in my top-30 WR rankings this week before Johnston was questionable. If he’s out McConkey would jump into the top 20 and Allen would also move into the fringes of the top 30.
The Bolts’ game on Sunday is part of the main DFS slate, headlined by this week’s NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st] on DraftKings. Johnston has the highest salary of the receivers at $5,900, while McConkey is just behind him at $5,700. If both of them play, they each bring good upside against Miami. If Johnston is out, McConkey becomes a good value while Keenan Allen would also be a strong play at his salary of $5,600. He doesn’t have quite as high a ceiling as McConkey but he is a safer play due to his target volume.
