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McConkey

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.

McConkey delivers solid results, but he nearly scored a second touchdown on the Chargers’ second drive, when Raiders CB Kyu Blue Kelly perfectly jumped McConkey’s route in the end zone. Chargers QB Justin Herbert linked up with McConkey for six on the Chargers’ seventh drive, though. The Chargers’ No. 1 wide receiver motioned into the slot on the left side of the field, just before the snap. Herbert evaded pressure by rolling out of the pocket, kept his eyes on McConkey and let the pass rip once McConkey got open. McConkey is a WR2 against the Eagles next week.

A complete disaster for fantasy managers, but one where you just shake your head and move on. The Chargers were shockingly non-competitive in Jacksonville, to the point that Justin Herbert completed only 10 passes for 81 yards. The Bolts simply could not sustain drives. They now head on bye where they will attempt to fix their offense in LT Joe Alt’s absence. They return for a plus Week 13 home date with the Raiders.

He’ll be a plugged in WR2 against the Jaguars after being limited in the early sessions of this week. McConkey hasn’t been listed with this ankle injury before, but apparently it isn’t all that serious.