Ladd McConkey

McDaniel continued to entertain head coaching offers even after it was rumored he would join the Chargers. Now, after much deliberation, McDaniel is officially joining the Chargers to pair with Justin Herbert and company. McDaniel's offense finished 11th or better in points scored in two of his four seasons with the Dolphins, but his final two seasons proved forgettable as Tua Tagovailoa's limitations became apparent and defenses took advantage. McDaniel gets a top-flight QB and talent young playmakers in Ladd McConkey and Omarion Hampton to help guide his offense into 2026. All will make for enticing fantasy picks, and Herbert should enjoy a bounce back if his offensive line can stay healthy.

This would be a fun pairing. The Chargers' offense stagnated this season, with veteran WR Keenan Allen operating as the No. 1 target earner. One imagines McDaniel would draw up some fantasy-friendly concepts for QB Justin Herbert and WR Ladd McConkey if he were to be offered and accept the role. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the interview "will likely happen early next week."

The Chargers fired OC Greg Roman. The offense was disappointing this season, but an injury-wrecked offensive line was a much bigger culprit than Roman's scheme or play-calling. The Chargers lost LT Rashawn Slater to a season-ending torn patellar tendon in August and then watched RT Joe Alt go down with his own season-ending ankle injury in Week 9. Los Angeles finished bottom two in Pro Football Focus' run- and pass-blocking grades and ESPN's run- and pass-blocking win rates. QB Justin Herbert was pressured on a league-high 43.6% of his dropbacks. We'll see who the Chargers tab to replace Roman. But the offensive line should be much better in 2026 with better health. With Herbert, plus RB Omarion Hampton, WRs Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre Harris, and TE Oronde Gadsden, this is a prime bounce-back offense to target in fantasy drafts.

McConkey briefly flashed his top-tier route running abilities by selling a Patriots' defensive back on an in-breaking fake before cutting back outside, en route to a 20-yard gain. His low target total is inexplicable, as is his status as the No. 2 wide receiver behind a 33-year-old Keenan Allen. McConkey caught 66-of-102 targets for 789 yards and six touchdowns this season. His yardage total led the team, but still falls far short of expectations after a promising 2024 rookie campaign. We give him decent odds of bouncing back next year. The talent he flashed last season is difficult to fake. McConkey can be viewed as a fantasy football WR2 for next year.

Allen operated as Justin Herbert's top target earner against the Patriots, just like he did all season long. The 33-year-old wide receiver successfully supplanted youngster, Ladd McConkey, as the team's No. 1 wide receiver after returning from a one-off campaign with the Bears in 2024. Allen caught 81-of-118 targets for 777 yards and four touchdowns. He finished as the half-PPR WR33 on the year, but his productivity notably decreased as the season progressed. After finishing as the WR17 or better in Weeks 1-3, he finished inside the position's top 36 just three times in Weeks 4-18. Allen is a free agent this offseason. Should the Chargers re-sign him, he would warrant FLEX treatment in 2026 drafts.