Mike Williams (heel) did not receive an injury designation for Week 15 against the Chiefs.
Williams opened the week with a DNP, but he got in a full session Wednesday and was left off the final injury report. Even with Keenan Allen back, Williams will be a WR3 with upside in a pivotal matchup against the Chiefs on Thursday night.
Dec 15, 2021, 4:55 PM ET
Mike Williams caught 3-of-9 targets for 49 yards in the Chargers' Week 15 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
It was a bitterly disappointing evening for Williams, who failed to convert likely touchdowns on back-to-back plays from the Chiefs' five-yard line on the Chargers' opening drive. The first was a flat drop in the end zone. For the second, Williams got blown up right at the goal line and dropped the pass, injuring his right shoulder in the process. Williams remained down for several moments before making his way to the sideline. His arm was dangling at his side, but he ended up barely missing any time. Williams heads into an A+ Week 16 matchup with the Texans having cleared 100 yards just once in his past nine appearances. He has also found the end zone only one time in that timespan. The matchup is right, but Williams should be treated as a low-end WR2.
Dec 17, 2021, 12:20 AM ET
I’ll update next week butMike Williams' season splits:
- Weeks 1-5: WR2
- Weeks 6-10: WR80
As a Chargers fan, I seriously hope the Chargers aren't the ones who give him a contract for $15M+ per year. I don't think he is a top 30 NFL WR, but his contract will probably be top 10-20.Williams is going to be paid handsomely this off-season as an UFA, but more likely as a #2 WR again rather than a #1 with so many other FAs out there. My guess is that teams are a bit concerned about the game to game inconsistency, much like we fantasy owners are.
Of which at least 3 were clear TDs in games where it would have mattered too. Rough.As a Chargers fan, I seriously hope the Chargers aren't the ones who give him a contract for $15M+ per year. I don't think he is a top 30 NFL WR, but his contract will probably be top 10-20.
This is by far his best season, and he is averaging 4.6 receptions, 68.9 receiving yards, and 0.5 TDs. Those are solid numbers, but he also has 7 drops. And it is worth pointing out that the Chargers are tied for #3 in pass attempts per game, which boosts his numbers compared to many/most of his peers.
Chargers activated WR Mike Williams from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Williams missed a dream matchup against the Texans and returns to a brutal matchup against an offense-depressing Broncos team that held Williams to four catches for 39 yards in Week 12. The Broncos have allowed 20.5 fantasy points per game to wideouts, eighth-fewest in the NFL. Most of those have come against Kyle Fuller in the slot.
Dec 30, 2021, 4:53 PM ET
Chargers WR Mike Williams, an impending free agent, said he "would like to" return to Los Angeles in 2022.
Williams is coming off an awesome game and a career year. His 119 yards in Week 18 put him at 1,146 yards on the year. That was enough to lead the Chargers in receiving, edging out Keenan Allen by less than 10 yards. Williams struggled with consistency in 2021 but his big games were a sight to behold. With the LA offense humming in its current form, the Chargers would be wise to keep everything in tact for 2022. That could also mean hitting Williams with the franchise tag if the team doesn't want to commit to him long-term.
SOURCE: Daniel Popper on Twitter
Jan 10, 2022, 4:35 PM ET
The Athletic's Jeff Howe said impending free agent Mike Williams will "probably get paid like a No. 1 because that’s what top-of-the-market receivers get."
The Chargers will have plenty of salary cap space to re-sign Williams, 27, if they want to keep their standout receiver duo of Williams and Keenan Allen. The Athletic's Daniel Popper said in January that the Chargers could use the franchise tag to keep Williams in 2022, a move that would cost more than $19 million. An up-and-down player who has proven dominant in stretches, Williams would likely have his choice of teams if LA lets him go in free agency. Williams had career marks in nearly every major statistical category in 2021.
SOURCE: The Athletic
Feb 21, 2022, 11:21 AM ET
Agreed, the offense would be best suited to keep the players in place. They are losing coaching staff to other teams. At least the players would know the offense.He just seems like the type that should stay where he is. Herbert, Allen, Eck and him seem like a solid unit.
Think that's pretty fair. Herbert one of the best young QBs, even in a 1QB league I'd like to have him. Williams is a good piece but he's been around a while and only had 1 really good year. I think it's fairly close - if you can stand to lose Williams I don't mind it.Would you guys trade away Mike Williams for Herbert in a 1 QB league?
I do it to get Herbert if I needed a QB. I wouldn't do it to give up Herbert unless I had an equally decent QB already in place.Think that's pretty fair. Herbert one of the best young QBs, even in a 1QB league I'd like to have him. Williams is a good piece but he's been around a while and only had 1 really good year. I think it's fairly close - if you can stand to lose Williams I don't mind it.
Would you guys trade away Mike Williams for Herbert in a 1 QB league?
Would you guys trade away Mike Williams for Herbert in a 1 QB league?
No brainer for me. Majority trashes QB values in 1QB but I like to have a top guy. Herbert has the look and now two seasons of resume indicating he can be that for a long time.Would you guys trade away Mike Williams for Herbert in a 1 QB league?
Herbert seems like a truck and Williams seems like a trailer to me.Would you guys trade away Mike Williams for Herbert in a 1 QB league?
Yes. We don't know where Williams would land, Williams has a history of getting hurt, not sure if Williams will even match this year again, and I get Herbert who would be my starter for the next 5-8 years? Sign me up for that.Would you guys trade away Mike Williams for Herbert in a 1 QB league?
https://twitter.com/ohrnberger/status/1496587690866720769?s=21Rich Ohrnberger @ohrnberger
Mike Williams is about to get PAID or tagged. Big play/deep threat WRs are obviously important in today’s NFL. Size, speed, and ability to catch contested passes work everywhere.
My guess, he gets tagged—gives Herbert another year with a familiar target.
Agreed, great news for fantasy owners, iffy news for Chargers fans.This feels like an obvious overpay, but good to keep him connected to Herbert.
I don't think so. "Big jump" implies that he will significantly exceed his stats in 2021:seems like a guy poised to make a big jump, no?
I would say I think it's possible he takes a big jump and if he does or not will depend on how healthy he can remain more then anything. Just a night and day difference for him from week 5 last year to rest of season. I know Staley has said his knee was not an issue but his decline in production was literally right when his knee issue popped up.I don't see how anyone looks at these facts and concludes that Williams is in line for a big jump in 2022.
Why would we expect more growth from a 27-28 year old WR?Checking the scoring from my leagues last year:
In PPR, he finished WR13 in total points.
I'm in a few leagues with bonuses for long TD's/big yardage games. Williams finished WR11 and only hit a bonus once-- 4 point bonus, finishing 4.xx points above Lockett.
In another league with bonuses for big plays/big yardage games, he finished WR13.
I'm not saying it's perfect, but it gives us an idea that he was a fringe WR1 last year. With another season of growth and being tied to Herbert--seems like a guy poised to make a big jump, no?
I know the inconsistency has been maddening. I realize he had a very hot start and then kind of fell off. But then he finished with 3 big games.
That's a fair question although Kupp just showed that it can be done. I guess my theory is that there will be more offensive production to go around. I'm imagining numbers closer to what Brady put up last year - 5,300/43. I don't think Ekeler is likely to catch 8 td's again. He's done it twice and I think Faulk is the only other person to do that. I do think Palmer will have a larger role but I think Williams will be the biggest beneficiary. To your question earlier, he hurt his knee in Week 5 and although he played through the injury, it clearly impacted his production. I'm not predicting that WIlliams will be the overall WR1 but rather that if I had to bet on someone outside of round 2 doing it, it would be him, just because I think the environment and surrounding factors so favorable for him. I don't see him or anyone else doing what Kupp did, but, assuming health, I can see a 10-15% leap across the board to 85/1300/12/.Why would we expect more growth from a 27-28 year old WR?
Did Kupp grow as a player or did he just get a better QB and 70 more targets?That's a fair question although Kupp just showed that it can be done. I guess my theory is that there will be more offensive production to go around. I'm imagining numbers closer to what Brady put up last year - 5,300/43. I don't think Ekeler is likely to catch 8 td's again. He's done it twice and I think Faulk is the only other person to do that. I do think Palmer will have a larger role but I think Williams will be the biggest beneficiary. To your question earlier, he hurt his knee in Week 5 and although he played through the injury, it clearly impacted his production. I'm not predicting that WIlliams will be the overall WR1 but rather that if I had to bet on someone outside of round 2 doing it, it would be him, just because I think the environment and surrounding factors so favorable for him. I don't see him or anyone else doing what Kupp did, but, assuming health, I can see a 10-15% leap across the board to 85/1300/12/.
I think it's the latter. Stafford was the perfect fit, they had amazing chemistry and it unlocked his full potential. Plus, Woods went down and a huge number of targets flowed Kupp's way.Did Kupp grow as a player or did he just get a better QB and 70 more targets?
In my opinion, both.Did Kupp grow as a player or did he just get a better QB and 70 more targets?
I think what changed for Williams is the way he was utilized by Lombardi. His role expanded significantly from being mostly a down the field contested catch player. What you're saying is certainly possible, but I thought Allen looked like a player in slow decline towards the end of last season to me. I still think the floor remains high but not seeing the ceiling he once had.In my opinion, both.
With Williams, I'm mildly concerned he had a contract year push. I'm also concerned that he'll see #1 coverage a lot more often this season, which in turn might actually benefit Keenan Allen, who I prefer by a decent amount in redraft.
On the flip side, I didn't think Williams played any better last year than he had in the past, he just was used more often. Its possible he stays used as often, though as others have said, the Chargers likely won't be chasing as much this season with their defensive improvements. Ultimately, I see Williams as the #3 target in the passing game, and much more likely to catch 60 passes, than 80+ passes.
FWIW, in that 5th game, he had 2 deep TDs on badly blown coverages. I know that can happen occasionally, just pointing out that he was gifted 2/114/2 in that game, which contributed to him having such strong numbers through 5 games. If you ignore those 2 plays, he had 29/357/4 in the first 5 games. Not nearly as strong, obviously.I would say I think it's possible he takes a big jump and if he does or not will depend on how healthy he can remain more then anything. Just a night and day difference for him from week 5 last year to rest of season. I know Staley has said his knee was not an issue but his decline in production was literally right when his knee issue popped up.
Just to put those 5 games vs ROS in perspective he had a 2 point turd game those first 5 games and was still WR3 in PPG and within less then a point of WR1. If I'd have known how he'd have performed from week 6 to ROS I'd have cut him in redraft leagues heading into that week.
Again I can't help but think that stark contrast in production was not related to health. Targets and health has always been his two issues, I think the new system brought in last year fixed one of those items.
...Anthony Lynn was his head coach... This is a point in favor of 2021 being more representative of what to expect from him over the next few seasons than his first 4 seasons.Prior to 2021
Unless you are counting on two AFC West matchups in the playoffs, they only have 6 games against AFC West opponents.Obviously, all of their 8 games against AFC West opponents have the potential to be very high-scoring.
Even worse... 2022 will be his 6th NFL season.But he's going into his 5th year, and for a Top 10 WR pick, for last year 76/1146/9 to be his best year...I imagine someone will fall in love with him more than me at whatever price he goes for.
yep, I miscounted.Even worse... 2022 will be his 6th NFL season.
Wishful thinking!Unless you are counting on two AFC West matchups in the playoffs, they only have 6 games against AFC West opponents.