WR Ladd McConkey, LAC (1 Viewer)

[Jail]

I missed out on McConkey last year so I didn't pay a ton of attention whether he was running primarily in the slot or not. It's stuck in my head that he was but I have no basis for that.

If he did run mostly in the slot, I'm also wondering if Allen's return pushes McConkey out wide more now.

Basically wondering of he's a fade at his ADP due to Allen's return and if conversely Allen at cost is worth scooping.

Ladd was in the slot 64% of the time for 9.6 of his 15.0 ppg.

Allen was in the slot 43% of the time for 5.6 of his 12.9 ppg.

Both can play inside or outside. I suspect both will be moved around a lot. The only thing stop Ladd is number of targets in a run heavy scheme.

Keenan Allen seems so washed to me, maybe I am in the minority but it seemed like the Bears would try to run rub routes or pick plays and Allen's feet were stuck in mud and could never make it to his assignment.

Ladd McConkey is the guy to own IMO. I don't see much for target competition and I doubt Allen is going to threaten Ladd much, if at all. I guess I am curious what everyone else's eyes saw but Allen looks old.

But is Ladd the guy to own at his current price?

And for the peanuts needed to acquire Allen, I might be willing to spend a single auction dollar and see if he's washed or not. Given that he was openly disgruntled in Chicago, openly critical of Caleb Williams being selfish, he might have just been loafing.

If anything will get him to break out whatever he's got left, I think a return to Herbert and the bolts will do it.

Yeah I think it’s hard to really tell from last season. Allen is a cali guy through and through. He was probably not happy about being in Chicago.

I used to be very low on any passing game players for LAC because I imagined Roman and Harbaugh drooling at the prospect of pounding the ball behind Becton and Alt on the right side. The Slater injury changes that. Now Alt is on the left side and Pipkins is over there. They will certainly try to pound it, but I don’t know how much success they will have. They could have to rely on the passing game more, and when you have Herbert back there it’s not such a bad fallback. He’s proven to be quite prolific even with shaky oline play.

Harbaugh’s comments about getting Herbert into the hall of fame makes me think maybe he will be open to having him pass more. No one knows though. It could go either way.

 

[FarFromHome]

Surprisenly enough only 11 wrs had 90 or more receptions. Barring injury, I have Ladd a lock for 90. The Keenan drop off hit hard last year. He was never fast, but last year his speed was closer to some of us running routes last year. Ladd is quick and a good route runner. I think they move him all over the field. He won't have a lot of wow moments, more like, how was he that open moments. 95 receptions. 1200 yards. 8 tds. Imo

 

[Mitchie]

So guess he's the 4th option now, awesome.

 

[rockaction]

So guess he's the 4th option now, awesome.

You know, I was trying to move him at his apex last year. Now I have to wait until he reclaims something. I have other guys I can start.

 

[irish eyes]

So guess he's the 4th option now, awesome.

You know, I was trying to move him at his apex last year. Now I have to wait until he reclaims something. I have other guys I can start.

Yeah, very depressing. Didn't see this coming.

 

[rockaction]

So guess he's the 4th option now, awesome.

You know, I was trying to move him at his apex last year. Now I have to wait until he reclaims something. I have other guys I can start.

Yeah, very depressing. Didn't see this coming.

You know what? I didn't totally see it because I thought more injury problems, but in the back of my mind I know the NFL. A guy who is 6'0" and 186 lbs. is going to be considered a slot receiver or a guy who is a bit too small (and Ladd has injury problems) to be the guy and they're always going to look for two more inches and a little more weight. That's just how it is. And it never sat right with me that he was in the top ten dynasty values. I wanted to cash in.

 

[rockaction]

That said, he might completely turn it around and I will be there to accept every bit of it and say that I am the genius who acquired him. No doubt.

 

[Moonlight]

He’s a punt returner now. QJ and Allen have crowded him out.

It’s a long season let’s see what happens. Chargers are winning so .

 

[Tau837]

Buy low IMO

 

[Uncle Leo]

Buy low IMO

Yeah. He started super slow last year too. Someone I know really well cut him for DHop.

 

[BlackCrowes]

Buy low IMO

I think so. Keenan Allen has a trick hamstring

 

[MAC_32]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

 

[Tau837]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

Me either, but, based on some of the comments in this thread, some might.

 

[TLEF316]

Yeah, this sucks. Have him on both my teams and he's killing me.

 

[RaidersAreOne]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

Funny enough I was chatting with my buddy who has Ladd in a potential swap for Chase Brown. Brown has been bad but at least he is getting good volume. Ladd on the other hand seems to be losing a ton of snaps to the vets. The keeper value is pretty similar so I don't know if I am comfortable going after Ladd right now.

 

[fightingillini]

Keenan Allen is absolutely killing McConkey's value. Thought Allen was washed up in CHI, I was so wrong about that. Not sure if McConkey's redraft value will change, I find it hard to see him returning 2nd or 3rd round value ROS. Lot of mouths to feed in LAC and LAC wants to run the ball a lot.

Still like his dynasty prospects and this may be a time you can get him cheaper than ususal.

 

[Mitchie]

Keenan Allen is absolutely killing McConkey's value. Thought Allen was washed up in CHI, I was so wrong about that. Not sure if McConkey's redraft value will change, I find it hard to see him returning 2nd or 3rd round value ROS. Lot of mouths to feed in LAC and LAC wants to run the ball a lot.

Still like his dynasty prospects and this may be a time you can get him cheaper than ususal.

i didn't think Allen was washed up but thought he'd slot in as the 2nd or 3rd option along w/ Johnston. But both those guys are getting a lot more looks than I expected.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I'd be buying. The other half of LAC's running game just had a season ending injury. WR production is naturally spikey. It takes one 8/125/1 type game to put any WR back on schedule and it's clear Herbert still looks for him in critical situations.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

Keenan Allen is absolutely killing McConkey's value. Thought Allen was washed up in CHI, I was so wrong about that. Not sure if McConkey's redraft value will change, I find it hard to see him returning 2nd or 3rd round value ROS. Lot of mouths to feed in LAC and LAC wants to run the ball a lot.

Still like his dynasty prospects and this may be a time you can get him cheaper than ususal.

He wasn't washed up. There were rumors about him being out of shape last year--but at the end of the day--in the train wreck offense that was the 2024 Bears--he had 7 tds and was the WR34 in ppr formats--which puts him in the WR3 range. If he's a WR3 in a trainwreck offense, I think the expectation should have been that he could be a WR2 (mid to low end) in a good offense. With that said, I think that this offense is good enough to support Hampton, Johnston, Allen and Ladd in half or full ppr formats. I think it's good enough to where all of these guys will have a floor of approximately 10 fantasy points per game in those formats--and each game--probably 2 of them will have games where they get closer to 20.

 

[dblock05]

Haven’t seen the data but my guess is that Allen is playing in the slot and that’s where Ladd would have played more before they signed Keenan.

 

[TripItUp]

Keenan and others are drawing softer coverage. When teams realize they have to respect the other receiving threats, the pendulum will swing the other way.

But in general, with more threats, Ladd will continue to see less targets than last year.

 

[MAC_32]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

Funny enough I was chatting with my buddy who has Ladd in a potential swap for Chase Brown. Brown has been bad but at least he is getting good volume. Ladd on the other hand seems to be losing a ton of snaps to the vets. The keeper value is pretty similar so I don't know if I am comfortable going after Ladd right now.

Oh, man...I'd have knocked over my own mother to hit accept if I had Chase and someone offered me Ladd. And it doesn't matter what the rest of my depth chart looks like. That's one of those accept now then figure out what to do next moves.

 

[rockaction]

Yeah, I didn’t say anything about selling low. I wanted to cash in when he was WR11 overall. That’s a hefty price for 6’0” 186 lbs. and I don’t care if anyone thinks that basic height and weight is too reductive. This is the NFL. These guys specialize and revel in reductive. They barbecue reductive, watch reductive fall off the bone, and sell reductive to you like it was a moral imperative wrapped in a sermon on Sunday.

Ain’t no tweeners or misfit toys here! We will find you the appropriate place on the pegboard!

 

[rockaction]

Guy was freaking catching punts at the end of the game yesterday.

I took the Lord’s name in vain when I saw the oft-injured brittlestick basically slide down so help me I did

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Guy was freaking catching punts at the end of the game yesterday.

I took the Lord’s name in vain when I saw the oft-injured brittlestick basically slide down so help me I did

The normal return Derius Davis was a little banged up. I think that's why Ladd was back there, not to mention the fumble.

 

[rockaction]

Guy was freaking catching punts at the end of the game yesterday.

I took the Lord’s name in vain when I saw the oft-injured brittlestick basically slide down so help me I did

The normal return Derius Davis was a little banged up. I think that's why Ladd was back there.

You are correct. I forgot he got hurt. Thank you and mea culpa.

eta* I think I was also nearly apoplectic when Ja’Marr Chase was standing undo the goalposts yesterday, down 34-3 (or more) to return a possibly short 55 yard FG. I almost woke the neighbors.

 

[Gally]

So guess he's the 4th option now, awesome.

You know, I was trying to move him at his apex last year. Now I have to wait until he reclaims something. I have other guys I can start.

I will take him off your hands

 

[FarFromHome]

I had one Ladd share. My gut was telling me to move him. I just didn't see it when others spoke greatly of him. I've been wrong countless times, but this feels like one I got correct. Wr3 at best for fantasy. Imo

 

[RaidersAreOne]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

Funny enough I was chatting with my buddy who has Ladd in a potential swap for Chase Brown. Brown has been bad but at least he is getting good volume. Ladd on the other hand seems to be losing a ton of snaps to the vets. The keeper value is pretty similar so I don't know if I am comfortable going after Ladd right now.

Oh, man...I'd have knocked over my own mother to hit accept if I had Chase and someone offered me Ladd. And it doesn't matter what the rest of my depth chart looks like. That's one of those accept now then figure out what to do next moves.

Wow you think that highly of Ladd or hat lowly of Chase Brown?

 

[rockaction]

I had one Ladd share. My gut was telling me to move him. I just didn't see it when others spoke greatly of him. I've been wrong countless times, but this feels like one I got correct. Wr3 at best for fantasy. Imo

Eh. Like I said. Around overall WR10-12 in dynasty. That’s a pretty penny. WR3? That’s a league-losing eval, IMO.

 

[Ray_T]

Keenan Allen is absolutely killing McConkey's value. Thought Allen was washed up in CHI, I was so wrong about that. Not sure if McConkey's redraft value will change, I find it hard to see him returning 2nd or 3rd round value ROS. Lot of mouths to feed in LAC and LAC wants to run the ball a lot.

Still like his dynasty prospects and this may be a time you can get him cheaper than ususal.

He wasn't washed up. There were rumors about him being out of shape last year--but at the end of the day--in the train wreck offense that was the 2024 Bears--he had 7 tds and was the WR34 in ppr formats--which puts him in the WR3 range. If he's a WR3 in a trainwreck offense, I think the expectation should have been that he could be a WR2 (mid to low end) in a good offense. With that said, I think that this offense is good enough to support Hampton, Johnston, Allen and Ladd in half or full ppr formats. I think it's good enough to where all of these guys will have a floor of approximately 10 fantasy points per game in those formats--and each game--probably 2 of them will have games where they get closer to 20.

and he missed a couple of games too. would have been ranked higher if he played a full game season.

even so, the offense in Chicago was (in my opinion) poorly designed. so the fact he didnt do well in a poorly designed offense with a rookie QB is hardly surprising.

but he then went back to an offense where he had his career best season only 2 years ago. I was pretty sure McConkey would be fine back in LA

 

[rockaction]

So guess he's the 4th option now, awesome.

You know, I was trying to move him at his apex last year. Now I have to wait until he reclaims something. I have other guys I can start.

I will take him off your hands

There is very much an ironic twist to this. lol.

 

[FarFromHome]

WR3? That’s a league-losing eval, IMO.

That's like your opinion man. Ha ha. It's also what makes this fun. After 3 weeks he is 16th in receptions, 28th in yards, and has zero tds. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see a big improvement. Obviously injuries could change that.

 

[rockaction]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

Funny enough I was chatting with my buddy who has Ladd in a potential swap for Chase Brown. Brown has been bad but at least he is getting good volume. Ladd on the other hand seems to be losing a ton of snaps to the vets. The keeper value is pretty similar so I don't know if I am comfortable going after Ladd right now.

Oh, man...I'd have knocked over my own mother to hit accept if I had Chase and someone offered me Ladd. And it doesn't matter what the rest of my depth chart looks like. That's one of those accept now then figure out what to do next moves.

Wow you think that highly of Ladd or hat lowly of Chase Brown?

I think you guys need to be on the same redraft/dynasty page.

In dynasty, Chase is decently less than Ladd although I don't think it's as dramatic as MAC_32 makes it . . . well, I actually sort of do. KTC has them at about the 3.01 or so apart. You'd have to throw Jalen Royals into the deal to get Ladd.

I actually think it's worse than KTC has it and that KTC is overvaluing Chase Brown. I think you need more than Royals. He's a fifth-round back. As soon (I tried to convince myself this didn't matter last year and it's ******** and now I'm holding an empty bag of Tyrone Tracy for a 2025 first-round pick) as you realize you're holding a fifth-round draft capital asset in his second year on the the job (and he only won the starting job in Week Nine or so the year before—or whenever he won it) and things are going south, they can go very south with both his value and his playing time. And you thought this upspoken dynamo was the answer to your RB problems and there he is with his *** on your bench getting 3.2 points for your troubles and his efforts.

They say draft capital doesn't matter after a while and they swear up and down, but who defines how long that while is? You'd better be objectively outstanding by almost all advanced measures or you're competing for about two years. I mean, when even second and third-round RBs and now even adequate vets have to be their coach's guy, this **** is just so volatile. It's an old adage, but we try and build with WRs because they're just more stable.

And I don't know if that answers your question, but it attempts to get at how at least I think about it.

 

[Tau837]

Haven’t seen the data but my guess is that Allen is playing in the slot and that’s where Ladd would have played more before they signed Keenan.

Per PFF, these are the slot percentages through 3 games for Chargers with at least 5 targets:

• 63.0% McConkey
• 47.2% Allen
• 47.1% Gadsden
• 46.4% Harris
• 17.1% Johnston
• 2.0% Hampton

Last season, Ladd's slot percentage was 69.3%, so not a big change for him. If this percentage holds for Allen, it would be his lowest slot percentage since 2016, which makes it seem like the Chargers are adjusting Allen's usage to accommodate McConkey rather than vice versa.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Haven’t seen the data but my guess is that Allen is playing in the slot and that’s where Ladd would have played more before they signed Keenan.

Per PFF, these are the slot percentages through 3 games for Chargers with at least 5 targets:

• 63.0% McConkey
• 47.2% Allen
• 47.1% Gadsden
• 46.4% Harris
• 17.1% Johnston
• 2.0% Hampton

Last season, Ladd's slot percentage was 69.3%, so not a big change for him. If this percentage holds for Allen, it would be his lowest slot percentage since 2016, which makes it seem like the Chargers are adjusting Allen's usage to accommodate McConkey rather than vice versa.

Interesting. To me the lower number of target share probably points to Ladd getting more defensive attention. As long as QJ continues to produce this should role in Ladd’s favor at some point.

 

[zoonation]

Hoping he can turn into a solid WR2 at this point. Complete bust. He was hyper targeted out of necessity at the end of last year. Not necessary now.

 

[dblock05]

It is honestly impressive what Allen is doing at his age.

 

[kyoun1e]

Hoping he can turn into a solid WR2 at this point. Complete bust. He was hyper targeted out of necessity at the end of last year. Not necessary now.

I think a key question is, do we believe that Q. Johnson has actually improved as a player and has taken a major leap? If yes, that's a problem for this player...

...along with K. Allen finding the fountain of youth.

Still think he's a buy low especially if you can get him for WR2 pricing. He's too good.

 

[MAC_32]

Buy low IMO

Who's selling? I'm sure not

Funny enough I was chatting with my buddy who has Ladd in a potential swap for Chase Brown. Brown has been bad but at least he is getting good volume. Ladd on the other hand seems to be losing a ton of snaps to the vets. The keeper value is pretty similar so I don't know if I am comfortable going after Ladd right now.

Oh, man...I'd have knocked over my own mother to hit accept if I had Chase and someone offered me Ladd. And it doesn't matter what the rest of my depth chart looks like. That's one of those accept now then figure out what to do next moves.

Wow you think that highly of Ladd or hat lowly of Chase Brown?

That lowly of the Bengals run game

I expect positive regression from Ladd too.

 

[DirtyCashDylan]

I wasn't able to see most of the game. Can someone shed some light on his god awful stat line? 1/6 for 11 yards

 

[dickey moe]

He was the guy I was most worried about after drafting him in the 2nd round. Buyer's remorse.

 

[kface]

Unstartable at this point. This is QJs team

 

[King of the Jungle]

Unstartable at this point. This is QJs team

Hard to comprehend, got open at will last year. No idea what is happening.

 

[kface]

Unstartable at this point. This is QJs team

Hard to comprehend, got open at will last year. No idea what is happening.

We are at week 5...not going to flip back

 

[Uncle Leo]

Unstartable at this point. This is QJs team

Hard to comprehend, got open at will last year. No idea what is happening.

Keenan Allen took his role and QJ’s coming out party.

 

[The Frankman]

I wasn't able to see most of the game. Can someone shed some light on his god awful stat line? 1/6 for 11 yards

see the game thread, was posted multiple times there...

 

[TLEF316]

Biggest bust I've ever drafted

 

[kyoun1e]

Officially time to panic.

 

[Uncle Leo]

2nd round or even 3rd round should have kept most of the sharks away from this dude. I would have taken him in the 4th if available.

Not to worry I took Treveyon Henderson in the 4th.