On the FF4W podcast this summer, I highlighted the Chargers' WR corps more than any other group. Mike Williams retires? An episode questioning why -- many days later -- both Tre Harris's and Quentin Johnston's ADPs hadn't jumped. Keenan Allen signs? An episode questioning why -- again, many days later -- Harris and Johnston lost ground while Allen only inched upward.
And then most recently, an episode on why Ladd McConkey's WR11 ADP made no sense with every other L.A. wideout outside the top 50. The market assumed he'd be a weekly starter and no other Chargers WR would be even streamable. Beyond strange. And when something is beyond strange, it needs to be discussed.
Last night was only one game. Yet it was a complete turnaround from last year's one-dimensional aerial attack, where McConkey was the unquestioned alpha. The additions of Allen, Harris, and TE Tyler Conklin transformed a top-heavy corps into a seemingly balanced group. Johnston, a former first-rounder, took a big step forward in 2024 after a somewhat disastrous rookie campaign. He showed last night that he has more big steps ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Allen led his team in targets and catches, just like old times. He was a "big buy" on my draft board based on ADP, and both Johnson and Harris were "monster buys" (as you might guess, that's bigger than "big buy"). And McConkey was my only WR fade among ADP's top 14 wideouts. Teammates often are interconnected in fantasy. But ADPs generally aren't that systematic. Last night captured why, as well as why these market-value limitations prevent managers from recognizing who's undervalued and who's overvalued.
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Hollywood Brown is going to be one of next week's biggest waiver adds. We don't yet know the severity of Xavier Worthy's injury. Still, even if he returns in Weeks 2 or 3, Brown's 19.9 points and moderately impressive history will be viewed as boon for WR-needy managers.
I would be cautious, or at least significantly reduce expectations. He averaged a pretty anemic 6.2 yards per target. Before his 49-yard reception late in the fourth quarter when K.C. was down two scores, he had only 50 yards on 14 targets. In all likelihood, that is Brown these days, four years removed from his only 800+ yard season. I wouldn't expect more than eight targets per game, even if Worthy's sidelined. He'll be a streamer at best.
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Finally, as down as I was about Travis Kelce last year vs. his overall ADP, and as down as I was this year, I almost drafted him Wednesday night. His overall ADP was 61. He was still in play at #88 -- my 7th-round pick. But I decided to draft Cooper Kupp instead, and then snagged a preferable bargain (Dallas Goedert) 24 picks later.
One of many reasons: the second half of the season, when a fully healthy/active (or so we might think) Chiefs receiving corps would make Kelce no more than the #4 offensive option. But last night he was largely an afterthought even with Rice our and Worthy mostly out. His touchdown helped a lot of managers, and it's also not indicative of what we should expect later this year.
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