Rap: McConkey (ribs) to undergo testing

McConkey managed a limited session Friday and eventually drew the questionable tag as he attempts to play through a rib injury suffered in Week 1. Considering his value to this team, we would expect him to do what he can to play. That said, fantasy managers find themselves in a pickle with the Chargers not playing until the afternoon portion of games, meaning alternate plans should be in the works over the weekend. McConkey is a locked-in WR2 with WR1 upside, if active.

In other words: He’s not actually practicing. It’s generally good news that McConkey has been spotted near the team, but we’re going to need to see a major turnaround on Friday to do better than a questionable tag for the 2024 second-round pick.

Sitting out on a Wednesday is not the end of the world for established starters. However, this does push McConkey further into the questionable column. The Chargers signed WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling yesterday. Although Valdes-Scantling is unlikely to meaningfully contribute, the fact that the team felt they needed to bring in an extra wide receiver is slightly concerning. McConkey still has two days to get right. If he returns tomorrow, that would be great news.

Harbaugh also declined to say whether he expected McConkey to play in Week 2 against the Raiders, instead saying the team wants to see how he feels over the course of the week. The Chargers will release their first injury report of the week on Wednesday, but if McConkey can log a few limited practices before the weekend, he should have a shot to suit up on game day.

McConkey collided with an Arizona defender on an over-the-middle target in the third quarter and stayed down for a while before limping to the blue medical tent. A few minutes later he was being helped to the Chargers locker room. It would seem his day is over after catching five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in his first regular season game under OC Mike McDaniel. Hopefully the oft-injured McConkey doesn’t miss extended time.

It looks like Ladd McConkey could avoid the late-summer Keenan Allen rug pull. It’s good news for McConkey as new Chargers OC Mike McDaniel plans to get the wideout more short-area looks in 2026 — targets Allen might have soaked up if he had returned to LA. As recently as late May, Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said he had not “closed the door” on bringing Allen back for the 2026 season. McConkey, who by many measures was unlucky in 2025, has WR1 upside in McDaniel’s offense.

Popper believes McConkey’s “versatile skill set” will allow him to function as new OC Mike McDaniel’s passing game “focal point.” McDaniel antagonized defensive coordinators during his time as the Dolphins’ head coach by moving WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle around via pre-snap motion. Popper believes McConkey’s 4.39-second 40 speed, shiftiness, hands, route running and post-catch abilities qualify him to serve as McDaniel’s “move piece.” McConkey’s Year 2 flop lurks in the background, but if his mid-tier WR2 best ball ADP carries over to re-draft leagues later this month — or even drops — that could end up looking like quite a bargain at the end of the year.

McConkey suffered a hamstring sprain in offseason team activities but the expectation all along was the he’d be ready for camp. Elevating near the WR2/WR3 borderline in ADP, fantasy managers are anticipating a breakthrough year three after last season’s disappointment. A full camp with Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert should help.

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.