TheWinz
Footballguy
At least I wasn't the first to say it
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WR Ladd McConkey, LAC (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
wgoldsph
Footballguy
I don't understand this. He's not an amazing athlete, he's an amazing route runner. That translates.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Sounds a lot like Keenan Allen
TheWinz
Footballguy
I know people are kind of comparing him to Keenan, because it seems he may take over the Keenan role for LAC. But their measurables are quite different:
6'2", 210 lbs, 4.71
6'0", 185 lbs, 4.39
Holy cow, I didn't realize Keenan was THAT slow!
Tau837
Footballguy
Keenan ran that when not fully recovered from a knee injury. He isn't that slow.
TheWinz
Footballguy
I know. That's a 40 time for a fast D-lineman.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
If he stays healthy this kid should earn a ton of targets. For redraft purposes I'm comfortable taking him anytime starting with the 5th round. Solidly the 3rd best WR situation in this class. IMO
TheWinz
Footballguy
I hate being a FF homer, but I would love a chance to roster him in my main redraft league. Austin Ekeler averaged 6.4 targets since becoming the starter 5 seasons ago. I seriously doubt the entire RB corps will get that many this year. Their TE's are a who's who of nobodies, so that leaves the WR's to soak up targets. And who better than the guy cutting across the field?
McConkey's size/speed is basically identical to Chris Olave (6-0 187 4.39)
TheWinz
Footballguy
I'd love for him to have a start in the NFL like Olave has. Fingers crossed
wgoldsph
Footballguy
Well consider me even happier I got him at 9
Noticed the Giants draft board last night on Hard Knocks had him color coded as an injury risk, was second highest drafted player after Mitchell to Eagles that had that risk.
Probably not a big deal but does make me wonder if it's based on his history or something they uncovered in his evaluation. Generally speaking they were not designating a lot of players as high injury risk and they were trying to draft someone they designated with this risk in round two themselves(Kool-Aid).
Probably not a big deal but does make me wonder if it's based on his history or something they uncovered in his evaluation. Generally speaking they were not designating a lot of players as high injury risk and they were trying to draft someone they designated with this risk in round two themselves(Kool-Aid).
Moonlight
Footballguy
Yes when I drafted McConkey the injury risk seemed greater than some other players. I saw him on the NFL channel today as they were covering Chargers training camp, He looked small. He’s .though 12-14 pounds heavier than Worthy who is said to be a high injury risk.
I will feel more confident long term about him if he can make it through camp and the season relatively unscathed.
I disagree. None of the other WR's have proven anything. If he takes the Allen role, no reason he can't see 120+ targets.
TripItUp
Footballguy
Well, he wasn't exactly a model of health in college. Red flag for me.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
Herbert injury brutal news for this kids development.
Lansdowne
Footballguy
I say this as someone who is high on Ladd McConkey and am considering him in my rookie draft. He should theoretically see a high target share, as Greg Roman offenses favor working the middle of the field and that is where McConkey is expected to operate most of the time. But also it helps to remember Keenan Allen is one of the very best WR's of his generation, and is bigger physically than McConkey.
Here are their physical measurables courtesy of MockDraftable, link provided in the name for each player.
Keenan Allen
Height: 6' 2½" (76 percentile)
Weight: 206 lbs (62 percentile)
Arm Length: 32¾" (72 percentile)
Hand Size: 10" (87 percentile)
Ladd McConkey
Height: 5' 11⅝" (28 percentile)
Weight: 186 lbs (17 percentile)
Arm Length: 30¼" (10 percentile)
Hand Size: 8⅝" (6 percentile)
Basically means that Allen is better equipped to stretch out and make difficult catches than McConkey is. Also Allen has always seen volume dating to his Cal days in college, whereas McConkey's game was more predicated on efficiency. McConkey had two games of 100+ receiving yards in 39 games of playing at Georgia. Allen already had that many by his 13th game. But I also get that different programs lead to different results.
Guess what I'm trying to say is getting Allen volume may not yield Allen results because they are two different receivers. But while I'm not bullish on the Chargers offense in general, I do think they'll be forced to pass more than they want to due to game script, and that should benefit McConkey. I still like him a lot as a player, but I also am skeptic of him being their top receiver long term.
Here are their physical measurables courtesy of MockDraftable, link provided in the name for each player.
Keenan Allen
Height: 6' 2½" (76 percentile)
Weight: 206 lbs (62 percentile)
Arm Length: 32¾" (72 percentile)
Hand Size: 10" (87 percentile)
Ladd McConkey
Height: 5' 11⅝" (28 percentile)
Weight: 186 lbs (17 percentile)
Arm Length: 30¼" (10 percentile)
Hand Size: 8⅝" (6 percentile)
Basically means that Allen is better equipped to stretch out and make difficult catches than McConkey is. Also Allen has always seen volume dating to his Cal days in college, whereas McConkey's game was more predicated on efficiency. McConkey had two games of 100+ receiving yards in 39 games of playing at Georgia. Allen already had that many by his 13th game. But I also get that different programs lead to different results.
Guess what I'm trying to say is getting Allen volume may not yield Allen results because they are two different receivers. But while I'm not bullish on the Chargers offense in general, I do think they'll be forced to pass more than they want to due to game script, and that should benefit McConkey. I still like him a lot as a player, but I also am skeptic of him being their top receiver long term.
It's probably minor and I don't want to make more of it then it might be but would point out he was held out of practice yesterday and all Harbaugh said was "he was working through something". Was seen in the weight room with Herbert so not like he was totally laid up or something.
On that note fantasy managers are not going to like Harbaugh's injury reporting. He's going to be extremely vague and that becomes a little more of an issue with players that typically play in the later afternoon games. It's not a reason to put a player down a tier, but it's the kind of thing that might separate players in a given tier in leagues I got to set a lineup.
Donny Loved Bowling
Footballguy
From a purely physical standpoint, Josh Palmer is much closer to Allen's measurables than McConkey.
Height: 6'1
Weight: 210 lbs
Arm Length: 32 7/8"
Hand Size: 9 5/8"
Palmer was not dominant in college, but he has proven to be a capable NFL receiver over the past 3 seasons. I'd like to see what he could do with a larger target share.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Definitely one of the more cagey HC’s when it comes to injury,
massraider
Footballguy
I'm assuming with the Chargers, he'll get plenty of practice.
Tau837
Footballguy
Didn’t play at all in 2 WR sets this preseason which is bad news for fantasy outcomes. I don’t like him and took him anyway in my redraft league yesterday. I will blame the beers for that.x.com
x.com
I would seriously caution against drawing conclusions from usage in 1 preseason game as a rookie.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
From 2021-2023, 31 wide receivers fit this criteria
0 snaps in 2 WR sets in the preseason
10+ snaps in 3+ WR sets in the preseason
100+ snaps in the regular season
Only St. Brown in 21 and Bourne in 23 played 100+ snaps in 2 WR sets
3 ended as top 36 WRs (St. Brown in 21, Curtis Samuel in 22, Reed in 23)
7 more ended in the top 70
21 finished WR69 or lower
A few WRs who fit the first two criteria so far this preseason
Ladd McConkey
Demario Douglas
Wan'Dale Robinson
Malachi Corley
Tyler Boyd
x.com
0 snaps in 2 WR sets in the preseason
10+ snaps in 3+ WR sets in the preseason
100+ snaps in the regular season
Only St. Brown in 21 and Bourne in 23 played 100+ snaps in 2 WR sets
3 ended as top 36 WRs (St. Brown in 21, Curtis Samuel in 22, Reed in 23)
7 more ended in the top 70
21 finished WR69 or lower
A few WRs who fit the first two criteria so far this preseason
Ladd McConkey
Demario Douglas
Wan'Dale Robinson
Malachi Corley
Tyler Boyd
x.com
x.com
JohnnyU
Footballguy
It’s preseason. About as important as the combine.From 2021-2023, 31 wide receivers fit this criteria
0 snaps in 2 WR sets in the preseason
10+ snaps in 3+ WR sets in the preseason
100+ snaps in the regular season
Only St. Brown in 21 and Bourne in 23 played 100+ snaps in 2 WR sets
3 ended as top 36 WRs (St. Brown in 21, Curtis Samuel in 22, Reed in 23)
7 more ended in the top 70
21 finished WR69 or lower
A few WRs who fit the first two criteria so far this preseason
Ladd McConkey
Demario Douglas
Wan'Dale Robinson
Malachi Corley
Tyler Boyd
x.com
Tau837
Footballguy
From 2021-2023, 31 wide receivers fit this criteria
0 snaps in 2 WR sets in the preseason
10+ snaps in 3+ WR sets in the preseason
100+ snaps in the regular season
Only St. Brown in 21 and Bourne in 23 played 100+ snaps in 2 WR sets
3 ended as top 36 WRs (St. Brown in 21, Curtis Samuel in 22, Reed in 23)
7 more ended in the top 70
21 finished WR69 or lower
A few WRs who fit the first two criteria so far this preseason
Ladd McConkey
Demario Douglas
Wan'Dale Robinson
Malachi Corley
Tyler Boyd
x.com
Questions:
- Do you think 31 WRs over 3 seasons is a large sample size? I don't.
- How many in that sample were rookies? That presumably makes it a smaller sample.
- Looking at that group of 5 you listed at the end there, how do you feel the talent level compares?
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Yes and no. Just saying there is some recent data (though small sample ofc) that doesn’t look great and he’s a player I was already in on so I admit I’m bias.It’s preseason. About as important as the combine.From 2021-2023, 31 wide receivers fit this criteria
0 snaps in 2 WR sets in the preseason
10+ snaps in 3+ WR sets in the preseason
100+ snaps in the regular season
Only St. Brown in 21 and Bourne in 23 played 100+ snaps in 2 WR sets
3 ended as top 36 WRs (St. Brown in 21, Curtis Samuel in 22, Reed in 23)
7 more ended in the top 70
21 finished WR69 or lower
A few WRs who fit the first two criteria so far this preseason
Ladd McConkey
Demario Douglas
Wan'Dale Robinson
Malachi Corley
Tyler Boyd
x.com
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Never hate draft a player. It never works out well.Didn’t play at all in 2 WR sets this preseason which is bad news for fantasy outcomes. I don’t like him and took him anyway in my redraft league yesterday. I will blame the beers for that.x.com
JohnnyU
Footballguy
If dynasty, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. If it’s a redraft, the preseason is a sprint compared to the regular season.Yes and no. Just saying there is some recent data (though small sample ofc) that doesn’t look great and he’s a player I was already in on so I admit I’m bias.It’s preseason. About as important as the combine.From 2021-2023, 31 wide receivers fit this criteria
0 snaps in 2 WR sets in the preseason
10+ snaps in 3+ WR sets in the preseason
100+ snaps in the regular season
Only St. Brown in 21 and Bourne in 23 played 100+ snaps in 2 WR sets
3 ended as top 36 WRs (St. Brown in 21, Curtis Samuel in 22, Reed in 23)
7 more ended in the top 70
21 finished WR69 or lower
A few WRs who fit the first two criteria so far this preseason
Ladd McConkey
Demario Douglas
Wan'Dale Robinson
Malachi Corley
Tyler Boyd
x.com
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Is that beer speak?Never hate draft a player. It never works out well.Didn’t play at all in 2 WR sets this preseason which is bad news for fantasy outcomes. I don’t like him and took him anyway in my redraft league yesterday. I will blame the beers for that.x.com
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Nah, I’m just sayin, I’ve drafted players thinking, “I don’t love this dude but people love this dude, so f it, I’ll take him” and they always suck. It never fails. It’s like hooking up with an ex after a bitter break-up. It seems right at the time, but it’s just a terrible idea.
I’m only drafting players I like.
Ray Barboni
Footballguy
… I took Brian Thomas Jr over Ladd, for this very same reason. Give me the upside rather than the ADP.
*mocks of course, but will stick to my guns when it counts
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BIRDGANG52
Footballguy
How many times does he catch 8, 10, 12 passes this season?
If it goes like college the answer would be zero.
BIRDGANG52
Footballguy
Keenan Allen had 7, 4. 2 last year. Do we think any player on their roster is capable of having a few big games? Of all of the Chargers WR likely to catch 8+ passes a game, he would be my bet to do it. I mean, Gus Edwards is great but I'm pretty sure Herbert is going to be slinging it unless they plan on pounding the rock with a rookie / a guy with a torn ACL and Achilles.My gut would say that Ladd catches 8 or more passes more than once.
If he was playing outside, I'd say sure, but in the slot, off playaction this guy is going to be running free with 3-5 yards of separation. Do you know who he is? He's Julian Edelman. He's going to be a menace.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
This is a Harbaugh offense, they are pounding the rock. Your analysis conveniently omitted Gus Edwards, their battering ram. I think McConkey will be good in PPR formats, but I don't think he'll be doing peak Keenan Allen numbers or anything like that.
Lansdowne
Footballguy
The problem with assuming the Keenan Allen work will all go to Ladd McConkey is in also assuming that they are similar talents, when in reality Allen is a superior WR and physically different from McConkey, which I pointed out a few posts earlier. It’s also worth remembering that Ekeler suffered a Grade 3 high ankle sprain in Week 1 and the running game suffered ever since, finishing as one of the worst running teams in the league. Between Ekeler being hobbled and Mike Williams missing the season after 3 games, it was no wonder Herbert force fed the ever-reliable Allen in the absence of other reliable weapons. In fact Allen had the highest target rate of his career (11.5 targets per game). That is a 6-time Pro Bowler getting that volume.
The other mistake would be to dismiss Josh Palmer. He’s the veteran incumbent and the guy who more closely resembles Allen from a physical standpoint. He also played 54.2% of the time out of the slot. Palmer also takes pride in his run blocking, and that’s going to be important in Harbaugh’s zone run scheme. It’s also trendy to poke fun at Quentin Johnston, but he was also one of the best run blocking WR’s in his draft class and that could be why Harbaugh has been talking him up as their X receiver for this season.
McConkey will get his, and is still my favorite to lead the team in targets, but I’m bearish on the Chargers offense and am lowering my expectations on his fantasy output.
nittanylion
Footballguy
Great wr5/6 in ppr.
Would rather have Josh Palmer at cost if I had to rely on a Chargers wr for reliable, predictable production.
Would rather have Josh Palmer at cost if I had to rely on a Chargers wr for reliable, predictable production.
EBF
Footballguy
He's the only rookie WR I wound up with in my redraft league.
I like Harrison, but his talent may be slightly overstated and he's going very, very high in redraft for a rookie WR. The cost is so high that I don't see much upside in rostering him, given the huge uncertainty.
Worthy has Tank Dell potential in the KC offense. McConkey is a better all-around receiver.
McConkey is more polished than Nabers, Thomas, or Coleman. Odunze has the rookie QB factor and tough competition for targets. I think Nabers has a chance to be great eventually, but he's raw and went to a putrid org with pathetic QB play. Probably not the recipe for instant impact.
McConkey might be the best route runner in this WR class and lands in one of the better QB/coaching spots, provided Herbert is healthy. There's really no proven pass catcher on the roster. I like Palmer some, but he's still a bit of a mystery. Quentin Johnson is a feast-or-famine enigma. Maybe the light goes on, but I trust McConkey a lot more. To predict a Puka Nacua season would be too optimistic, but he could be a WR2-WR3 in PPR leagues.
I like Harrison, but his talent may be slightly overstated and he's going very, very high in redraft for a rookie WR. The cost is so high that I don't see much upside in rostering him, given the huge uncertainty.
Worthy has Tank Dell potential in the KC offense. McConkey is a better all-around receiver.
McConkey is more polished than Nabers, Thomas, or Coleman. Odunze has the rookie QB factor and tough competition for targets. I think Nabers has a chance to be great eventually, but he's raw and went to a putrid org with pathetic QB play. Probably not the recipe for instant impact.
McConkey might be the best route runner in this WR class and lands in one of the better QB/coaching spots, provided Herbert is healthy. There's really no proven pass catcher on the roster. I like Palmer some, but he's still a bit of a mystery. Quentin Johnson is a feast-or-famine enigma. Maybe the light goes on, but I trust McConkey a lot more. To predict a Puka Nacua season would be too optimistic, but he could be a WR2-WR3 in PPR leagues.
