The Chargers Can (And Will) Support Three Fantasy Relevant Wide Recievers In 2025

Herbert put up similar numbers in his first three seasons in the league. His averages from these seasons are as follows:

• 4,696.33 passing yards, 31.33 passing touchdowns, and 655.33 passing attempts.

He can (and will) sustain these numbers. He’s done it before, and the way this season is going, it certainly looks like it will happen again.

These are elite numbers. Historically, these numbers have been able to sustain multiple receivers in the past.

History Of Three Receivers Producing In One Offense

This three-headed monster of receivers doesn’t come around often. Usually, elite receivers come in duos, or one star and then other receivers in specific roles. To look back historically, I will compare Herbert’s numbers to those of past quarterbacks who had similar high-level three-person receiving corps.

In 2004, Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning led 3 receivers to over 1,000 yards. Here were his stats in this season:

• 4557 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns within 497 attempts. This was an MVP season and one of the best quarterback seasons ever, yet it remained fairly consistent with Herbert’s projections (hold the touchdowns).

Here are the three receivers the Colts’ offensive ecosystem in 2004 hosted:

• Marvin Harrison: 139 targets, 86 catches, 1,113 yards, 15 TDs (17.96 PPR PPG)
• Reggie Wayne: 115 targets, 77 catches, 1,210 yards, 12 TDs (16.88 PPR PPG)
• Brandon Stokely: 102 targets, 68 catches, 1,077 yards, 10 TDs (14.73 PPR PPG)

In 2008, Arizona Cardinals’ Kurt Warner also led 3 receivers to over 1,000 yards. Here were his stats in this season:

• 4,583 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns within 598 passing attempts. These numbers are below what Herbert is on pace for this year. This provides a much more realistic picture of what the Chargers can produce this year.

This 2008 Arizona offense produced the following receiver season:

• Larry Fitzgerald: 154 targets, 96 catches, 1,431 yards, 12 TDs (19.44 PPR PPG)
• Anquan Boldin (in 12 games): 127 targets, 89 catches, 1,038 yards, 11 TDs (21.57 PPR PPG)
• Steve Breaston: 113 targets, 77 catches, 1,006 tards, 3 TDs (12.23 PPR PPG)

Both of these offenses primarily featured a main duo and had a third player who filled in the gaps. The Chargers corps is much closer in talent than the three trios.

The 2023 Minnesota Vikings were incredibly injured yet still had three players with over 900 receiving yards. They were quarterbacked by eight games of Kirk Cousins, four games of Joshua Dobbs, three games of Nick Mullins, and two games of Jaren Hall. Here are the stats they collectively put up:

• 4,359 passing yards, 30 TDs, in 631 passing attempts. The Chargers’ passing offense is led by much better quarterbacking with Herbert, and is projected to do much better than these numbers.

Here is how the top three receivers fared in this offense:

• Justin Jefferson (In 10 games): 100 targets, 68 catches, 1,074 yards, and 5 TDs (20.54 PPR PPG)
• Jordan Addison: 108 targets, 70 catches, 911 yards, and 5 TDs (11.24 PPR PPG)
• T.J. Hockenson (In 15 games): 127 targets, 95 catches, 960 yards, and 10 TDs (16.7 PPR PPG)

These examples show that it is possible to sustain three productive receiving options in an offense, with varying levels of quarterback play. Los Angeles has top-end quarterback play, closer to Manning than Warner and the Vikings in 2023. I believe that the 2025 Chargers can repeat the production of these seasons and will be the next team with three fantasy-relevant pass catchers.

The Chargers’ Receiving Corps Is Talented All Around

For three receivers to eat in one offense, three things have to be true: there has to be enough ball to go around, the receivers must have roles that work together, and the receivers need to be talented.

I believe all three of those criteria to be true. Allen is on pace for 158.67 targets, Johnston is on pace for 136 targets, and McConkey is on pace for 119 targets. These numbers eclipse the trios previously mentioned. There is enough ball to go around to let this corps eat.

They also have their own specific roles. Allen is a talented route runner with sure hands who has great chemistry with his quarterback. Johnston is an elite height, weight, and speed athlete. He excels not only at yards after catch but has also added a deep threat to his game that will allow him to enhance his role and take the top off the defense. This also helps to open up the offense for Allen and McConkey underneath. Talking about him, McConkey can do it all. He has the athleticism to attack all parts of the field, he has strong hands, is an elite route runner, and has a great rapport with Herbert.

Their skill sets work in tandem with one another. This has allowed Allen and Johnston to FEAST early on. There is not too much overlap where I am concerned that, say, Allen takes over McConkey’s role. Not really how it works. Sure, no one guy will eat as much as a result, but they can most definitely all eat.

It seems right now that McConkey has not been able to get the ball as much, but it is important to remember the sample size is small through three weeks of the season. I believe he is the most talented pass catcher on this team, and that positive regression with targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns will follow.

End Of My Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receivers Rant

This was originally an article about just McConkey. He will not reach the megastar level that he had the potential for before the season. The addition of Allen, plus the breakout of Johnston, almost guarantees that McConkey won’t get the volume necessary for that.

His value will almost certainly rise from where it is right now, right? I believe so. Only time will tell, but history does provide a hopeful picture.

The current pace of all these receivers will not hold up. Allen and Johnston won’t be top 10 the rest of the way, the same way McConkey won’t be ranked 41st all season. It will all even out, the same way the previous 3 way wide receiver corps have in the past.

There’s no need to panic-sell McConkey, but also don’t be too reactive and buy Allen or Johnston too high. If your league’s fantasy owner, though, doesn’t believe Allen or Johnston can keep it up or that McConkey will never find his footing, be ready to capitalize on the opportunity.