McConkey (hamstring) says he’s ‘full go’ for camp

Harris, a 2025 second-round pick, largely contributed as a dirty-work player last season, blocking in the run game and playing on special teams. That said, Harris led the wide receiver corps with 4.7 yards after the catch per reception via 46 targets. He fits new OC Mike McDaniel’s run-after-catch scheme. It sounds like Harris is penciled in as the Bolts’ WR3 right now, warranting late-round consideration in best ball formats.

We’ve had blurbs about a bounceback season for McConkey, but given how McConkey was behind Keenan Allen in targets last year and only 18 targets ahead of Quentin Johnston, this quote jumped off the page. McConkey managed 884 yards in the final 10 games of his rookie season, along with 197 more yards in the playoffs — the offense may be too deep to get him that level of production again, but he’s certainly shown he’s capable of great things as the No. 1 option. The offseason hype has already priced him right around WR20, so fantasy managers are already expecting a big year from McConkey despite last year’s dud.

McConkey echoed Jim Harbaugh’s message that he doesn’t view it as a significant concern. It is at least a mild one considering it’s costing McConkey reps in a new offense, and could grow into a bigger one if he’s sidelined longer than the internal estimate. That said, most players recover from hamstring strains in weeks instead of months and there’s no reason to believe McConkey won’t be ready for camp.

Reporters haven’t spotted McConkey at recent practices, though Harbaugh said he will participate in individual drills today. This is likely just a minor injury and Harbaugh has said it “isn’t a big concern.” We’ll keep an eye on this but it probably shouldn’t impact his best ball position much from what we know now.

This is seemingly contingent on Keenan Allen not returning, as Popper notes that Allen and McConkey occupy similar areas of the field and says he believes the Chargers should move on from Allen. However, The Athletic’s Chargers beat reporter notes that “I can see McDaniel maximizing McConkey’s shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability on some of these same concepts.” It’s possible that McConkey resurfaces in the WR2 conversation this year.

McConkey briefly flashed his top-tier route running abilities by selling a Patriots’ defensive back on an in-breaking fake before cutting back outside, en route to a 20-yard gain. His low target total is inexplicable, as is his status as the No. 2 wide receiver behind a 33-year-old Keenan Allen. McConkey caught 66-of-102 targets for 789 yards and six touchdowns this season. His yardage total led the team, but still falls far short of expectations after a promising 2024 rookie campaign. We give him decent odds of bouncing back next year. The talent he flashed last season is difficult to fake. McConkey can be viewed as a fantasy football WR3 for next year.

The Texans’ pass rush disrupted the Chargers’ passing offense for much of the day. On the Chargers’ 12th drive, McConkey got open along the left sideline via a corner route and successfully secured the 31-yard pass. He also returned two punts for 13 yards. The Chargers’ talented, young wide receiver is a WR2/3 against the Broncos in Week 18.

Justin Herbert was able to drop one in the sideline bucket over a preoccupied Trevon Diggs to get McConkey his touchdown. Otherwise, it was more of the same: a fifth straight game under 50 yards. McConkey isn’t a consistent fantasy option as the Chargers spread out their passing game, he’ll be a FLEX play against the Texans in Week 17.

McConkey and the Bolts pass catchers suffered from a lack of volume once again with the team shifting hard toward the run. McConkey led the team in pass routes but saw just three targets. He now has ten receptions over his past four games. Though he remains the team’s nominal WR1, McConkey isn’t startable in ten-team fantasy leagues and might be little more than a flex play in 12-team leagues next week against the Cowboys. The Chargers’ drop in pass volume has destroyed McConkey’s upside.

He was limited in practice all three days this week with a foot injury — he did essentially the same thing in Week 11, but with an ankle listing. McConkey profiles on the WR2/WR3 borderline against the Chiefs.