Monday, September 3, 2018

2018 Fantasy Football Projections: Los Angeles Chargers

In addition to viewing our 2018 Fantasy Football Projections by position, we will post our preseason projections per team.

Below you will find our 2018 fantasy football projections for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Quarterbacks

 

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDFLPoints
Philip Rivers582.1361.5445327.414.617.621.10.42.2258.63
Except for 2012 (21st) and 2016 (14th), Rivers has finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in the eight of his past 10 NFL seasons. On my list of 12 Undervalued Players Compared to Fantasy ADP, Rivers has thrown for at least 4,286 yards and 28 touchdowns in each of the past five seasons.
Geno Smith2.91.7210.10.10.93.2001.36

More Fantasy Football QB Resources:

Running Backs

 

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDFLPoints
Melvin Gordon2861186.98.662.4505.42.51.5232.83
Yet to average 4.0 yards per carry in any season, Gordon rushed for 1,105 yards last year and added 58 catches for 476 yards, all of which were career highs. And after not scoring on 217 touches as a rookie, MG3 has scored exactly 12 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. With Hunter Henry sidelined (ACL), it's possible that Gordon sees a few extra dumpoffs in the passing game.
Austin Ekeler90.6389.62.931.1286.11.21.289.77
Finishing as a top-50 fantasy back in 2017, Ekeler has a reasonable chance to do so again as MG3's backup. As a rookie, Ekeler had 539 YFS, 27 catches, 5.5 YPC and five TDs.
Justin Jackson30.8129.40.95.750.20.20.224.16
Derek Watt3.512.30.12.632.50.105.68

More Fantasy Football RB Resources:

Wide Receivers

 

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDFLPoints
Keenan Allen101.51304.37.11.87.600.1173.59
Playing just eight games in 2015 and one game in 2016, Allen won the AP Comeback of the Year award as he posted career numbers (102/1,393/6) in a healthy 16-game campaign. From Weeks 11 to 17, Allen was absolutely dominant with five 100-yard games during that seven-game span. No player had more receptions (58) or receiving yards (797) and only Antonio Brown (six) scored more touchdowns (five) than Allen over that stretch.
Tyrell Williams55.4875.350000.3116.93
With Keenan Allen out for virtually of 2016, Williams had a breakout season with 69 catches for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns. With Allen healthy, Williams had 43/728/4 in 2017 — and that level of production is a more reasonable expectation barring an Allen injury in 2018.
Mike Williams40.4533.34.80000.381.53
Using the No. 7 pick on the former Clemson wideout, the Chargers got only 11 catches for 95 yards from the rookie. Back in April, Williams said he's "100%" now and the big target (6-4, 218) could become especially productive as a red-zone weapon for the Chargers.
Travis Benjamin30.1475.638.857.20.20.471.68
Benjamin averaged 16.7 yards per catch last season and the speedster always has the potential for a big play. On the flip side, he had seven games with no or one reception in 2017.
Geremy Davis1.920.10.100002.61

More Fantasy Football WR Resources:

Tight Ends

 

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDFLPoints
Virgil Green29.6340.430000.151.84
Although the Chargers brought back Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry may make a late-season return, Green has some sleeper appeal and should still be the team's most-productive fantasy tight end.
Antonio Gates19.3200.71.90000.131.27
Despite playing all 16 games last season, Gates finished with just 30 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were either a career low or the lowest since his rookie season (2003). That said, Gates will be a TD-dependent fantasy TE streamer for 2018.
Hunter Henry4.557.20.50000.18.52
With Henry (ACL) possibly out for the season but only placed on reserve/PUP, it's unclear what the Bolts will get from Henry during the fantasy football season (through Week 16). The Vegas favorite to win the AFC West, it's possible that Henry returns at some point during the 2018-19 NFL season.
Sean Culkin0.77.10.100001.31

More Fantasy Football TE Resources:
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