Fantasy managers should chase McConkey as a top-12 WR with only one serious roadblock that could keep him from reaching the highs we saw from him in 2024. That would be volume -- McConkey's best work came in his final eight games including the playoffs with 20.7 PPR points and nine targets per game. This was during a stretch when the Chargers' run game was at times non-existent and their receiving corps was barren. While the changes to the Chargers' receiving corps aren't drastic, their run game was especially addressed this offseason. It's perfectly reasonable to trust McConkey to lead the Chargers in targets, catches, and receiving yards because he's literally a do-it-all receiver in a smaller body. It's just a little unreasonable to expect him to routinely have high-target games like he did toward the end of 2024 if the Chargers can run the ball effectively. Could he still average north of 16 PPR points? Absolutely, the guy is a route-running menace after all. Expect McConkey to get snagged in late Round 2 in PPR leagues and a full round later in non-PPR.
Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Makes brief preseason appearance
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McConkey made one reception on one target for 17 yards in Saturday's 23-22 preseason loss to the Rams.
McConkey played one series with the majority of the Chargers' starters, including Justin Herbert. He hauled in his only target over the middle of the field and made a few defenders miss to pick up extra yardage. McConkey may not see the field again until Week 1 of the regular season, but his rapport with Herbert appears to be on track.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Back at practice Tuesday
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McConkey (undisclosed) participated in 11-on-11 drills during Tuesday's practice, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
McConkey said afterwards that he's close to 100 percent healthy, noting that he's focused on "getting my conditioning back to where it needs to be." The 2024 second-rounder has been sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, but he is progressing in his recovery and could be available to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Rams.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Not in line to play Sunday
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McConkey (undisclosed) is not in uniform and is unlikely to play in Sunday's preseason game against the Saints, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
McConkey is working through an undisclosed injury, which has limited his practice participation over the last two weeks. Also joining McConkey on the sidelines include quarterback Justin Herbert, running backs Najee Harris (eye) and Jaret Patterson, wideouts Keenan Allen, Dez Fitzpatrick and Jalen Reagor (lower body) and tight end Will Dissly. McConkey's next chance to play will be Saturday against the Rams.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Taking part in Friday's walkthrough
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McConkey (undisclosed) is taking part in the team walkthrough Friday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
McConkey is in uniform for team activities for the first time since July 28. The coaching staff has consistently described McConkey's injury as minor, but it isn't yet clear if he has regained clearance for full practice participation, though his presence Friday is certainly a step in the right direction. The Chargers' next preseason game is Sunday against the Saints.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Misses another practice
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McConkey (undisclosed) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
McConkey continues to miss practice due to an unspecified injury, with Rhim having previously reported that coach Jim Harbaugh indicated that the second-year wide receiver is "working through something minor." It seems safe to assume, however, that McConkey won't see action in Sunday's preseason contest against the Saints.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Not practicing Monday
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McConkey (undisclosed) didn't practice Monday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, McConkey was present for Sunday's walkthrough but then worked off to the side. Given that offensive coordinator Greg Roman told Popper on Saturday that the wideout's injury is "extremely minor," consider the 2024 second-rounder day-to-day as Sunday's preseason contest against the Saints approaches.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Lone fantasy star for LAC
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McConkey reeled in nine receptions on 14 targets for 197 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 32-12 wild-card round loss to Houston.
McConkey made quite the splash in his postseason debut, setting a new career high in receiving yards (197) while tying his previous high-water mark in receptions (nine). The 23-year-old rookie's box score result was the only one worth mentioning for a Chargers squad that netted just 261 yards of offense against the Texans. The disparity between McConkey and all of Los Angeles' other available receiving options in the blowout loss highlights the team's need to surround its No. 1 option with talent as we look ahead to the 2025 season.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Ready for Week 18
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McConkey (toe) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Las Vegas.
McConkey opened Week 18 prep Wednesday with a DNP due to a toe injury, but he followed it up with a limited session Thursday and full practice Friday, thereby clearing him to suit up this weekend. He'll be taking on a Raiders defense that he took for 5-39-1 on seven targets in his pro debut all the way back in Week 1, but it should be noted that he's recorded at least six catches and 80 yards in five of his last six contests.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Back at practice
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McConkey (toe) was present for practice Thursday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
After being listed as a non-participant Wednesday, McConkey's presence for Thursday's session bodes well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Raiders.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Dealing with toe injury
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McConkey missed Wednesday's practice with a toe injury.
McConkey showed no sign of being slowed by an injury in the Chargers' 40-7 win over the Patriots this past Saturday, as he played into the fourth quarter of the blowout and finished with a 8-94-2 receiving line on 10 targets. In addition to the health of his toe, McConkey's Week 18 playing time will depend on how head coach Jim Harbaugh approaches Sunday's game against the Raiders. If the Bengals beat the Steelers on Saturday, the Chargers can then move up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC with a win Sunday. If the Steelers win Saturday, the Chargers will know that they're the No. 6 seed and thus will be more likely to rest key players, including McConkey.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Scores twice in win
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McConkey caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets against New England in a 40-7 win Saturday.
McConkey is not only the WR1 for the Chargers, but the only wideout the Chargers have who can consistently produce. Although McConkey wasn't considered a classic WR1 as a prospect, the distance between him and the second-best Chargers wide receiver is substantial. McConkey has 77 receptions for 1,054 yards and seven touchdowns on 104 targets through 15 games, providing standout volume on elite efficiency (74.0 percent catch rate, 10.1 yards per target). The Raiders might present McConkey a challenging Week 18 matchup with slot corner Nate Hobbs, but McConkey has earned a major benefit of the doubt at this point.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Paces pass catchers in win
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McConkey secured all six targets for 87 yards in the Chargers' 34-27 win over the Broncos on Thursday night.
McConkey set the pace in receptions and receiving yards while sharing the team lead in targets with fellow receivers Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston. The rookie wideout's final catch of the night came early in the fourth quarter but was a critical one, as his 17-yard grab took the ball down to the Broncos' 19-yard line and Justin Herbert threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Derius Davis on the next play to give the Chargers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. McConkey has come on strong down the stretch, as he'll head into a Week 17 road matchup against the Patriots on Saturday, Dec. 28 with at least six receptions and 83 receiving yards in four of the last five contests.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Leading receiver Sunday
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McConkey (knee/shoulder) finished with five receptions on seven targets for 58 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 40-17 loss to the Buccaneers.
McConkey was iffy leading up to Sunday's kickoff after missing last week's contest due to injury. Hopefully fantasy managers were able to activate the shifty receiver for Week 15 after he led the Chargers in receiving yards while cashing in one of Justin Herbert's two passing touchdowns in the blowout loss. Don't be surprised if the rookie wideout is limited on a short practice week despite completing Sunday's tilt without issue after logging only limited practices leading up to the contest against Tampa Bay. Assuming he suits up in Week 16, McConkey makes for a fine fantasy play against the Broncos on Thursday Night Football.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Back in action Sunday
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McConkey (knee/shoulder) is listed as active Sunday against the Buccaneers.
Since sustaining a sprained knee Week 13 in Atlanta, McConkey has been listed as limited on every Chargers injury report the last two weeks and didn't play last Sunday at Kansas City. He again was a game-time decision this Sunday, but this time around the team was optimistic about his ability to suit up, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. With his availability now confirmed for Week 15, McConkey will rejoin Los Angeles' receiving corps looking to build upon his 58-815-4 line on 81 targets in what has been an impressive rookie campaign to date.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Questionable for Sunday
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McConkey (knee/shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers after being limited in practice Friday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
McConkey has logged six straight limited practice listings, and given that he was inactive for last weekend's loss to the Chiefs, his status for Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET contest remains uncertain. Ideally, those considering him in Week 15 fantasy lineups will have added context regarding his status prior to the early wave of kickoffs, but if McConkey remains sidelined versus Tampa Bay, fellow wideouts Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer would be in line to see added snaps and targets.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Remains limited Thursday
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McConkey (knee/shoulder) remained limited at practice Thursday.
McConkey, who was inactive for this past Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Chiefs, also was limited Wednesday, and unless he practices fully Friday, the wideout figures to approach this weekend's game against the Buccaneers with an injury designation. If McConkey isn't available versus Tampa Bay, fellow WRs Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer would be in line to see added pass-catching opportunities Week 15.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Inactive Sunday night
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McConkey (knee/shoulder) is inactive for Sunday night's game against the Chiefs.
After being limited at practice Wednesday through Friday, McConkey was listed as questionable for the Chargers' Sunday evening tilt. With McConkey having been made inactive, Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, Jalen Reagor, Derius Davis and DJ Chark are in line to handle the team's Week 14 wideout duties. McConkey's next chance to see game action will arrive Dec. 15 versus the Buccaneers.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Another limited practice
Rotowire
McConkey (knee/shoulder) remained limited at practice Thursday.
McConkey also was limited Wednesday, so he'll probably need to practice fully Friday in order to approach Sunday night's game against the Chiefs without an injury designation. Through 12 games to date, McConkey -- who has scored four TDs in that span -- paces the Chargers in catches (58), targets (81) and receiving yards (815), a level of production that will keep the 2024 second-rounder firmly on the Week 14 fantasy lineup radar, provided he's available.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Uncertainty around knee injury
Rotowire
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that McConkey (knee) is "working through a couple things," and it remains to be seen if he will practice this week, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
McConkey did all of the heavy lifting Sunday against the Falcons, securing nine of 12 targets for 117 yards, but he exited late with a knee injury and was unable to return. It's unclear if he's dealing with a day-to-day or week-to-week type of injury. McConkey should be considered questionable for next Sunday's AFC West bout with the Chiefs. If McConkey needs to miss time, the Chargers will roll with Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, Jalen Reagor and Derius Davis at wide receiver.
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Chargers' Ladd McConkey: Injures knee Sunday
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McConkey exited Sunday's 17-13 win over the Falcons with a knee injury.
Prior to his departure from the contest, McConkey caught nine of his 12 targets for 117 yards. Now that the wideout is dealing with a knee issue, his status will need to be monitored as next weekend's game against the Chiefs approaches. If McConkey ends up limited or out in Week 14, DJ Chark, Jalen Reagor and Derius Davis would be candidates to log added WR snaps behind Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer.
