Monday, September 6, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Los Angeles Chargers

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Los Angeles Chargers.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Justin Herbert610408.74483.530.210.3755.1239.73.86326.53
Chase Daniel25.417.1165.10.80.69715.80.0710.42

Justin Herbert: Herbert's rookie season was anything but typical. Not only was it a pandemic year with an atypical offseason program and no preseason, but the rookie became a surprise Week 2 starter following a pre-game mishap -- team doctor punctured Tyrod Taylor's lung trying to administer a pain-killing injection.

There was no looking back from that point for the league's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as he had at least 300 passing yards and/or multiple touchdowns in 13 of his 15 starts as a rookie. Even with a new coaching staff in place for the upcoming season, the second-year quarterback should benefit from a more normal offseason. In addition, the offense could be more QB-friendly in 2021. Especially if he looks to run just a bit more in 2021, it wouldn't surprise me if he makes a sophomore leap that catapults him into the top five or so fantasy QBs.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Austin Ekeler206.4918.54.6475.6662.44.2248.93
Justin Jackson82.3366.21.6917127.80.973.44
Larry Rountree III62.2267.51.48.765.10.649.61
Joshua Kelley48.12020.9413.699.90.646.23
Gabe Nabers2.39.20.083.223.20.26.52

Austin Ekeler: Missing a significant chunk of time due to injury and playing at less than 100 percent when returning to the field, Ekeler averaged 5.5 yards per touch and scored only three touchdowns, both of which were career lows. With Joe Lombardi coming over from New Orleans to run the offense, Ekeler's immense receiving upside makes him a top-10 back across all formats and arguably a top-five option in full PPR formats.

Justin Jackson: Despite some speculation that he could be cut, Jackson enters 2021 as the likely change-of-pace option to Ekeler, but that role could certainly rotate between Jackson, Larry Rountree III and Joshua Kelley throughout the season. The fourth-year back has played in only 29-of-48 career games.

Larry Rountree III: The sixth-round rookie of Missouri rushed for 3,720 and 40 touchdowns over his collegiate career. Rountree's role could become more prominent as the season progresses, especially given Jackson's durability history.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Keenan Allen108.61134.36.30.93.80.01205.97
Mike Williams66927.46.51.24.70.04165.45
Josh Palmer334162.91.45.60.0176.12
Jalen Guyton16223.11.62.16.80.0240.71
K.J. Hill4.353.50.40009.9

Keenan Allen: Allen missed a couple of games and was limited in others, but he finished with 100 catches for the third time in four seasons despite playing with a rookie quarterback. Although just shy of the 1,000-yard mark and averaging a career-low 9.92 Y/R, Allen tied his career high (set as a rookie in 2013) with eight touchdowns. Along with Davante Adams and Diontae Johnson, Allen was just one of three receivers to get double-digit targets in 10 games in 2020.

Mike Williams: Williams' 2020 numbers were a bit disappointing (48/756/5) and he finished as a top-36 (half-PPR) weekly wide receiver in only four of 15 weeks played last year. Before that, however, Williams scored double-digit touchdowns in 2018 and led the NFL in yards per reception (20.4) in 2019, his only 1,000-yard season. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has said that he'd "bet on nice numbers coming from [Williams] on the stat sheet, that's for sure."

Josh Palmer: The team's third-round pick in April earned the team's WR3 role behind Allen and Williams in short order. Poor quarterback play at Tennessee limited Palmer's collegiate production, but he has the skill set to be a more productive pro even if he becomes more fantasy-relevant in 2022 -- Williams is a free agent after this season.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Jared Cook43.6497.43.600093.14
Donald Parham28.73372.600063.65
Tre' McKitty4.346.50.30008.6
Stephen Anderson3.234.90.20006.29

Jared Cook: Cook replaces Hunter Henry atop the Chargers' depth chart, which disappointed fantasy managers hoping for a Donald Parham breakout season. Entering his age-34 season, Cook has 22 touchdowns over his past three seasons combined, but he averaged only 33.6 YPG -- a five-year low -- in 2020. At this stage of his career, Cook offers little more upside than a streaming option at the position.

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