2022 Team Previews: Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview 2022

All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros.

** = target in drafts at this ADP

Top 120

Austin Ekeler, RB (ADP: 2): Ekeler is a stud, and everyone knows it based on this ADP. He’s surged past the great Christian McCaffery, likely due to his superior health the last few seasons, comparable two-way skill set, and being the featured back of one of the NFL’s best offenses. I can’t make too many arguments against Ekeler, because I love him, but I would be a little wary of spending the No. 2 pick on him. While he’s one of the top receiving backs in the game, he totaled 20 touchdowns in 2021, a number that cannot sustain. He doesn’t see the rushing volume of other top backs in this range, and that’s okay, as Ekeler’s efficiency and receiving are what set him apart. He scored 12 times on the ground though; that number screams regression on its own, and the Chargers added Isaiah Spiller in the draft who could threaten the TD total himself. I can’t imagine Ekeler being a complete bust, but there is a world where he doesn’t quite justify such a hefty draft price.

Keenan Allen, WR (ADP: 28): Allen is one of the most consistent WRs in football, a lock for 100+ receptions and six touchdowns for the past three seasons. It would be foolish to expect that not to continue with Justin Herbert emerging as a truly elite QB, and with the offenses in the AFC West likely forcing all these divisional tilts to be shootouts. Allen has entered his 30s, which might send up a flare for beginning a career descent, but he ranked inside PFF’s Top 24 receivers last season so he hasn’t shown any decline. Simply put, Allen is one of the safest WRs you could draft, and even though he’s never topped eight TDs in a season, I don’t see any reason he can’t experience a spike and finally notch double digits.

Justin Herbert, QB (ADP: 37): Herbert is phenomenal, full stop. He was PFF’s No. 4 QB last season, ranked sixth in Football Outsiders’ QB DVOA metric (17.4%) and second in Effective Yards (5,601). He finished his first full season as the starter with 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns and even ran more than you’d think. Herbert averaged 3.7 rushing attempts for the second straight season, scoring three times on the ground. Herbert can easily finish 2022 as the No. 1 QB and top scorer in all of fantasy, but despite all that, this ADP is still too high for me to snap up a QB in formats that only use one. As incredible as Herbert is, quality QBs can be found at much better values, with just as much weekly upside. I understand the urge to draft him at this ADP, and it could pay off, but he needs to hit his absolute ceiling to make this draft capital worth it. Your overall roster health is much better off beefing up the RB/WR groups.

Mike Williams, WR (ADP: 50): Williams’ final line looks like he delivered big time in 2021. He finished with 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns, finally reminding us all of the guy who tore it up in 2019. That season he managed 1,001 yards on only 49 receptions, a feat of efficiency that never ceases to blow my mind. Last season he did it more conventionally, setting a career-high receptions mark (76) and averaging 15.1 yards per reception. Herbert clearly has the ability, and the volume, to allow Williams to repeat his 2021 success.

The thing is, it’s not as guaranteed as we wish it was. Williams will always be a big play threat, and give week-winning performances, but we have only seen him top 1,000 yards twice. In the other seasons, Williams has put up 664 and 754 yards, and even in his hyper-efficient 2019 campaign he only managed two touchdowns. Williams is an inconsistent receiver, and that even manifested last year, with six games under 60 yards. I like the player a great deal, but be careful of building rosters with him as a WR1. He’s best paired with a steady WR1.

Fantasy Relevant (121-200 ADP)

**Isaiah Spiller, RB (ADP: 123): Spiller didn’t come with the draft capital many expected entering this year’s draft, but once he shows what he can do that won’t matter. Spiller’s not a real threat at this point to supplant Ekeler or meaningfully impact his role. My excitement for Spiller is more based on his own talent level, and the role he will occupy on this team. I covered it here, but he is one injury away from being a three-down back in the Chargers’ offense, and he’s shown he can thrive with a big role at Texas A&M, logging back-to-back seasons of 1,200 or more yards from scrimmage. We all know Ekeler isn’t built for normal workhorse usage, so Spiller’s going to see work. His compeition is Joshua Kelley, who we know isn’t good, and that’s about it with Justin Jackson gone. Spiller represents wild value that most won’t see because of their Ekeler love.

Gerald Everett, TE (ADP: 200): Everett looks like he’s in a great spot, but he’s entering Year 6 of his career and he’s yet to notch 50 receptions, 500 yards or five touchdowns. Allen and Williams will monopolize Herbert’s targets, and Ekeler should see receiving work in the red zone where many TEs thrive. Even the TE position has competition, leaving Everett as a very underwhelming option. Some see breakout potential, I see waiver wire fodder.

Sleeper Class (201 & later)

Josh Palmer, WR (ADP: 228): Palmer, a third round pick last season, flashed in 2021 and finished with four touchdowns. He’s a pretty talented player, but as mentioned with Everett, the receiving corps is too crowded for me to think Palmer can break through and earn a weekly role on fantasy squads. Now, should Allen or Williams go down? Now there’s potential. But until then, no need to draft him.

Jalen Guyton, WR (ADP: 307): Guyton is in the same boat as Palmer, competing for the same role. Guyton has actually shown more big play chops, but he has far less hype. Neither is someone I am targeting.

Donald Parham, TE (ADP: 404): Parham is intriguing. He’s never even cracked a 20% snap rate through his first two seasons, but has still managed three touchdowns in each of his first two seasons to score three touchdowns. He put up 15.9 yards per catch as a rookie, and if he sees more time on the field, he could be a playmaker while defenses stretch themselves to contain the Chargers’ Big 3. Everett’s presence is a bummer, but pay attention to Parham as the preseason and early weeks play out. If he pops, jump quickly.