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McConkey

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.

McConkey seems to have picked up a foot injury from Monday’s Week 14 game against the Eagles and gets a limited listing to start out Week 15. The Chargers held a walkthrough, so this is just an estimation, but McConkey should get at least a limited practice with pads before the end of the week in order to play against the Chiefs. The Chargers passing game has been rough since LT Joe Alt was ruled out for the season, making McConkey a borderline WR2 for Week 15.

McConkey led the team with five targets on a night Justin Herbert attempted only 26 passes, although that hardly helps fantasy managers that were counting on him in the final week before fantasy playoffs. The Chargers managed only 275 yards of total offense, squeaking by with an overtime victory thanks to five Cameron Dicker field goals and five takeaways. McConkey should be busier against the desperate Chiefs in Week 15.