• Los Angeles’ WR1 wasted no time acclimating to the NFL: Through Week 11, he leads the Chargers in targets (66), receptions (46), yards (638), yards after the catch (230), yards per route run (2.21) and PFF receiving grade (81.9).
• The Chargers have been criticized for drafting an offensive deal with first: Despite being panned for choosing Joe Alt as an alternative of a receiver with the fifth decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chargers appear to have identified what they have been doing in spite of everything.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
The Los Angeles Chargers entered the 2024 offseason trying like a workforce headed right into a tailspin. After ending the 2023 season 5-12 and firing head coach Brandon Staley and normal supervisor Tom Telesco midseason whereas having little cash to spend in free company, some upheaval was underway. The workforce changed Staley with Jim Harbaugh and Telesco with Joe Hortiz, however roster modifications have been crucial, as properly.
Salary cap woes cut up up the vast receiver room tougher than any unit within the league, because the Chargers’ prime two receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, turned casualties. Los Angeles traded Allen to the Chicago Bears and outright launched Williams.
A loaded 2024 NFL Draft of receiver expertise quickly turned the goal — even after the Chargers chosen offensive deal with Joe Alt at No. 5. The transfer was questioned by followers and analysts alike; how would the workforce push the ball downfield and not using a prime receiving risk?
It seems, the Chargers had a plan.
Los Angeles traded up just a few spots within the second spherical to draft Georgia vast receiver Ladd McConkey. A two-time nationwide champion at Georgia, McConkey didn’t have the dazzling stats of the receivers taken forward of him, however he showcased high-caliber route operating capacity each on the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine whereas possessing breakaway velocity (4.39-second 40-yard sprint). That ability set is now thriving within the NFL.
McConkey instantly turned quarterback Justin Herbert’s favourite goal. Through Week 11, he leads the Chargers in targets (66), receptions (46), yards (638), yards after the catch (230), yards per route run (2.21) and PFF receiving grade (81.9). Ahead of Week 12, McConkey’s receiving grade is tied with George Pickens for 14th within the NFL amongst receivers with no less than 100 receiving snaps and trails solely Malik Nabers by 0.1 factors amongst rookies.
Perhaps McConkey’s most spectacular efficiency got here on Sunday Night Football in Week 11 in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. He caught six of 10 targets, all of which resulted in first downs, for 123 yards. While he didn’t rating any touchdowns, he was instrumental within the Chargers’ ultimate drive to carry off a vigorous Bengals comeback try, as he hauled in two clutch passes for giant beneficial properties. The first got here on an out and up the place he leaped over Mike Hilton for a 28-yard acquire that introduced the Chargers out of the shadow of their very own endzone. On the opposite, McConkey beat Geno Stone on a nook route and received out of bounds for an additional 27 yards, which arrange the game-winning J.Ok. Dobbins landing run the following play.
In all, McConkey has earned an 80.0-plus PFF receiving grade in three video games and gone underneath 70.0 solely twice whereas catching a number of passes and changing a number of first downs in each recreation he’s performed.
Despite the Chargers being panned for choosing a deal with as an alternative of a receiver with the fifth decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, it appears they knew what they have been doing in spite of everything. The workforce is 7-3 with a rookie second-rounder as their main target-getter, with issues solely trying up from right here. What was as soon as considered a franchise heading for darkish occasions is all of a sudden set as much as compete for the postseason for years to return.