Los Angeles Chargers: Pass Catcher Breakdown

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Los Angeles Chargers: Pass Catcher Breakdown Jim Harbaugh is bringing his winning nature to the Los Angeles Chargers, and it will start with two key areas: building up a great defense and having a great offensive line. Harbaugh has called offensive linemen weapons, and at Michigan, that was the case. They dominated the trenches, leading to only one loss over the previous two seasons and a national championship. Having accomplished all he could in college, what does the transition back to the NFL mean for our fantasy football teams?

Projected Schematic Changes in 2024 NFL teams reveal their intentions through their offseason moves. The Chargers drafting offensive tackle (OT) Joe Alt at pick number 5, ahead of several polarizing wide receivers, trading Keenan Allen, cutting Mike Williams, and adding Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator (OC) speak volumes. Roman has ranked in the bottom 5 for passing attempts in 9 out of 10 years as an OC, yet he’s consistently been top 10 in rushing attempts and yards every year. Harbaugh loves running the ball, and Roman excels in producing a productive run game. I will be shocked if the Chargers throw the ball at high rates this season, but let’s look at who will be getting targets from Justin Herbert when they do throw.

Herbert’s new WR core Let's take a closer look at Herberts' potential favorite targets for the upcoming season, breaking down who might see the most action and why:

Target 1: Ladd McConkey, My Rank: WR42 McConkey is the most fluid route runner and separator on the team. While his appearance might label him as a slot wide receiver, he isn’t limited to that role. In college, McConkey was targeted more often outside than in the slot. He averaged over 2.0 yards per route run from both alignments, showcasing his ability to win in productive ways on either alignment.

His 4.39 40-yard dash speed is his best trait, not for simply running past defenders but for how he can vary his speed on a route to manipulate and separate from defensive backs. This speed helps him excel in every route, averaging over 2.0 yards per route on all but slants, where he had only nine targets. In Mobile, he manipulated cornerback leverage and dominated one-on-one drills. That said, I foresee between 115 to 125 targets for the leading player in this offense, with him hovering around 1,000 yards receiving.

Target 2: Joshua Palmer, My Rank: WR66 Palmer is poised to perform similarly to McConkey in terms of production, thanks to his familiarity with Herbert and his experience in the NFL. Despite being drafted as WR58 on Underdog—approximately 20 spots lower than McConkey—Palmer offers solid value. While he may not emerge as a top-tier fantasy option, he is a reliable, startable asset during bye weeks. Overall, Palmer is a valuable pick, though not essential for fantasy rosters in this offense. I do not see a ton of upside with Palmer, so I ranked him a bit lower then his ADP.

Target 3: Quentin Johnston, My Rank: WR77 This new group did not pick Johnston in the first round of the NFL draft, but Harbaugh witnessed him put up big numbers against Michigan two years ago. I will only be intrigued with Johnston if he moves into a bigger slot role or we start to hear Greg Roman talk about how his physicality in practices will get him on the field. I will put him as the WR3 on this team, but Johnston would have to develop on many different things to become a productive WR.

Summary: The Chargers have a franchise-level QB, but his fantasy outlook is bleak. Greg Roman’s run-heavy schemes and Harbaugh’s clock-control strategy don’t favor a strong passing game. This approach may lead to wins, but it limits fantasy production.

McConkey has the highest ceiling and is the top target. Palmer offers good value, given his lower draft position. Johnston, however, is less appealing unless his role improves. While the Chargers might excel on the field, their fantasy potential is limited by this group.