After a relatively mild winter, the spring thaw brought hurricanes, tornados, and a torrential flood in the NFL trade and free-agent market. The Los Angeles Chargers, one of the hardest-hit teams, underwent a complete overhaul in the offseason. How will this impact the team and the veteran players’ fantasy value?
Fantasy Fallout- NFL Trade & Free Agency Impact
After trading Keenan Allen and losing Mike Williams, Austin Eckeler and tight end Gerald Everett to free agency, the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense looks completely different this year.
The Los Angeles Chargers House Cleaning
The Chargers cleaned house to alleviate salary cap issues and make room for new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s $80 million contract. How will the team adjust to losing so many of their key veteran players at one time?
Keenan Allen
The biggest loss is undoubtedly Allen. With over 1,400 career fantasy points earned from more than 10,000 career receptions, Keenan Allen has been a fantasy stud. Allen’s fantasy managers earned 170.9 points last year even though he played in only 13 games. He posted 108 receptions for 1,243 yards with seven touchdowns. But in March of 2024, the Chargers let go of their superstar wide receiver, trading Allen to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
Allen will be joining veteran talents, D.J. Moore, tight end Cole Kmet, and rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze and should thrive in this new environment. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is already earning rave reviews for his superior arm strength and passing ability. While he will undoubtedly experience some growing pains, Williams has the league’s best offensive line and this brilliant group of receivers for support.
Newly acquired running back D’Andre Swift will share backfield touches with Khalil Herbert. The wealth of talent surrounding Williams will provide plenty of play-making options. With early projections of 3,000-4,000 yards passing, the expectations are high for Williams to have an outstanding season. The only downside for Allen is that he may see his target share decline with so many other talented players.
Mike Williams
After tearing his ACL in week three last year, Williams was done for the season. Williams caught 19 receptions for 249 yards which translated to 50.2 PPR points. It’s hard to measure his fantasy impact based only on three games. But in 2022 Williams earned 176.2 PPR fantasy points on 895 yards from 63 receptions with four touchdowns in 13 games. In March of 2024, Williams was released by the Chargers. Later that week, he signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets.
The biggest concern for Williams is whether he will fully recover from his ACL surgery in time for week one. Jet’s Head Coach Robert Salah compared Williams’s rehab progression to Breece Hall one year ago and expressed confidence that he would be ready to go. If healthy, Williams will need to develop a rhythm with veteran quarterback Aaron Rogers, still recovering from his week one season-ending injury. Williams is accustomed to sharing equal touches with former teammate Allen, but Garret Wilson is the number-one receiver for the Jets. Expect a slow start to a disappointing season for Williams.
Gerald Everett
Another off-season acquisition for the Bears was former Chargers tight end, Gerald Everett. Everett, the veteran tight end has been with several teams in his career. It’s worth noting that his two best years were in 2022 and 2023 with the Chargers. Everett accounted for 60.1 fantasy PPR points with 51 receptions for 411 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. The previous year, he had 58 carries for 555 yards and four touchdowns. With Cole Kmet dialed in as the number one tight end, Everett’s role is a backup opportunity. He is currently listed on the Bears’ IR non-injury list with no reason given nor any indication of when he will be available.
Austin Ekeler
At first glance, Ekeler’s signing with the Washington Commanders looks like a win-win scenario. The Commanders are poised to have an exciting season with highly-rated rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm. During his career with the Chargers, Ekeler dominated in the backfield and proved to be one of the best running backs in the NFL. But Ekeler had a dreadful 2023 season, putting up only 9.6 PPR points per game. Instead of the top three draft position he was given heading into the 2023 season, Ekeler finished the year ranked 31st at his position, 85th in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Brian Robinson, Jr. has been a consistent performer in his two previous years with Washington with 733 yards on 178 carries and five touchdowns. He is projected to be the starter. Ekeler will need to prove he has regained his former ability before he can be trusted as an RB1.
Los Angeles Chargers
After the Chargers’ dismal 5-12 season last year, changes had to be made. The one bright spot remaining was Justin Herbert, the team’s talented quarterback. Herbert is the foundation of this franchise with over 17,000 career passing yards to his credit. In 2022, he led the team to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth with 4,739 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He set single-season franchise records for 477 completions out of 699 attempts or 68.2 %. In 2021, Herberts’ fantasy managers were rewarded with 380.8 points for 5,014 passing yards with 38 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. This year, Herberts’ PPF pre-season projection is 280.4.
After losing so many talented players, where does this leave the Chargers in 2024? Drafted by the Chargers, Georgia standout wide receiver, Ladd McConkey was selected in the second round. The 6’0″ 185 lb. McConkey was considered one of the best route runners available in the draft. Posting a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash, the agile McConkey was graded a score of 90 (5th overall) for athleticism.
Wide receivers Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston and free agent talent D.J. Chark, Jr. will compete for touches with McConkey. Number three on the depth chart, Palmer’s production was boosted when Allen and Williams were sidelined with injuries. Last year, Palmer had 38 receptions for 581 yards with two touchdowns. Johnston boasted similar numbers in his rookie year with 431 yards on 38 receptions with two touchdowns. Duplicating last year’s stats of 525 yards on 35 receptions with five touchdowns, former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Chark could leapfrog over both on the depth chart.
Despite the excitement over McConkey’s future potential, if either of these veterans steps up with a banner year, they could become the number one receiver. Only time will tell if the Charger’s offseason moves have improved their offense, but it’s safe to say, this will be an interesting first season for the team under their new head coach.
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