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WR Mike Williams, Retired (1 Viewer)

Chaka said:
I have to believe the Chargers didn't draft him where they did with those kind of numbers in mind for his second season.
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My first thought as well when I read those projections.  I think 90 targets is more realistic.   60 catches and 8 TDs should occur.   

 
ESPN's Eric D. Williams expects the Chargers to use more three-wide sets following Hunter Henry's season-ending knee injury.

With Antonio Gates gone and 2017 first-rounder Mike Williams hopefully healthy, the Chargers were likely to lean less on two-TE formations and more on three-receiver sets anyway, but Henry's injury all but assures it. That should open up some more targets for Williams, especially near the end zone -- Henry and Gates combined for 42.2 percent of the Chargers' targets inside the 10 last season. Williams is a solid late-round flier.

Source: ESPN 

May 31 - 11:26 AM
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Faust said:
Quote
ESPN's Eric D. Williams expects the Chargers to use more three-wide sets following Hunter Henry's season-ending knee injury.

With Antonio Gates gone and 2017 first-rounder Mike Williams hopefully healthy, the Chargers were likely to lean less on two-TE formations and more on three-receiver sets anyway, but Henry's injury all but assures it. That should open up some more targets for Williams, especially near the end zone -- Henry and Gates combined for 42.2 percent of the Chargers' targets inside the 10 last season. Williams is a solid late-round flier.

Source: ESPN 

May 31 - 11:26 AM
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They ran about 60% of their plays last year with 3+ WRs. Given HC Lynn's desire for a strong running game, I am skeptical that will go up by a large margin.

 
BigTex said:
The league avg is 58%, they ran it 56% they also ran 12 personnel package 22% of the time while the NFL avg is 19%.

Tex
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So more often than not they run and room to run more out of the formation.  

Thanks Tex.  :)

 
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tangfoot said:
You think Mike Williams was the missing piece preventing this?
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I don't. He's always in the conversation but the addition of Pouncey, and the healthy return of Lamp and Williams make him a much stronger candidate to hit that bar.

The loss of Verett doesn't hurt either.

 
WHO IMPRESSED:

Ricky Henne’s Take:

Have a day, Mike Williams! The wide receiver showed exactly why he was the seventh-overall selection in last year’s draft with a bevvy of highlight reel catches. Williams has gotten better each day, but Tuesday was far and away his most solid. Whether it was his full-extension snare over the middle with a man in place to lay him out or a 45-yard bomb down field, the wideout is quickly gaining Philip Rivers’ trust. On defense, undrafted free agent Patrick Afriyie had a pair of back-to-back plays that caught my eye. The 6-2, 240-pound defensive end shed the tackle with ease for a big-time tackle for loss, and then on the next play came around the edge for a sack.

Hayley Elwood’s Take:

Head Coach Anthony Lynn said it in his post-practice presser, but Mike Williams had his best day of camp on Tuesday. Frankly, his performance over the last two days in pads has shown why the Chargers took him with the seventh-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s making and completing contested catches while playing more physical, aggressive and even a little more cerebral. While what he’s doing in camp is great, what he does on Sundays will be infinitely more important. Still, his performance has been a welcome sight to see thus far.

Chris Hayre’s Take:

After catching a 40-plus yard reception from Philip Rivers on Monday, Mike Williams had his best practice of camp on Tuesday according to Head Coach Anthony Lynn. There was a specific sequence early in which the second-year receiver was hit over the middle and still managed to hold onto the football. It showed toughness, and it was a play that Lynn said “may have woke him up because after that, he had a hell of a practice.” Williams is gaining confidence and is back to making the types of plays he routinely made as an All-American at Clemson.
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Report from Tuesday Practice

That's the sound of the buy low window closing shut.

 
Mike Williams was listed with the second-team offense on the Chargers' unofficial depth chart.

Unsurprisingly, Tyrell Williams is running with the first team opposite Keenan Allen. That could remain the case all year, though Williams' 6-foot-4 frame is going to be needed in the red zone with Antonio Gates still a free agent and Hunter Henry out for the season. Williams is a WR5/6 flier who could become more valuable as the year progresses.

Source: Jack Wang on Twitter 

Aug 7 - 7:38 PM
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Faust said:
Mike Williams was listed with the second-team offense on the Chargers' unofficial depth chart.

Unsurprisingly, Tyrell Williams is running with the first team opposite Keenan Allen. That could remain the case all year, though Williams' 6-foot-4 frame is going to be needed in the red zone with Antonio Gates still a free agent and Hunter Henry out for the season. Williams is a WR5/6 flier who could become more valuable as the year progresses.

Source: Jack Wang on Twitter 

Aug 7 - 7:38 PM
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I have to imagine SD .... errrr .... LA will run a lot of 3-wide this year given lack of tight ends.

 
Mike Williams said he has "a big role in the red zone right now."

With Antonio Gates still unsigned and Hunter Henry out for the year with a torn ACL, the Chargers need to replace 32 percent of their red-zone targets, and Williams always seemed like the best option. "Henry was a big red zone threat, and that's a spot where I can help," Williams said. "So we're working on a lot of that stuff right now." His target share is still uncertain coming off a lost rookie season, but touchdown upside alone makes him worth a look in the double-digit rounds.

Source: ESPN

Aug 9 - 10:24 AM
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idk maybe im a sucker, but im buying in.  been taking him before his adp in best ball leagues over the last week or so.  i feel like pedigree + the need for a red zone presence + hyped camp reports + rule changes lead to a big breakout.  like i said these are best ball leagues where i dont have to figure out when to start him but still i think hes the best option around his adp right now.

 
Mike Williams - WR -  Chargers

Mike Williams caught a 25-yard touchdown in the Chargers' second preseason game.

Williams high-pointed a third-quarter fade for his touchdown. He started the Chargers' first preseason game, but played deep into the second half this week. Williams' target share is a concern behind Keenan Allen, but there's potential for him to make a red-zone impact.

Aug 19 - 12:44 AM
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That was a beastly TD grab, but it's concerning he is playing so late. Did he play at all with Rivers this week?

 
Wow that TD grab was nice. Dude looks bigger than he did in college. He seems to be filling out his frame. Of course, it'll take weeks before his bull-beaded coaches move him ahead of the gazelle. Smells like Clinton Portis' rookie year. And many other examples of cream rising. AK41 was in a similar spot this time last year.

 
Breakout coming IMO (if he remains healthy). Per DD, the Chargers had a total of 70 red zone targets last season. 23 of those were targets to players not on the roster, most notably Henry and Gates. Allen already led the team with 24, so it seems unlikely his number will go up much if at all. They lost 2 TEs who were very good red zone targets and added none to fill that void. Mike Williams seems most likely to fill that void IMO.

Even if they bring Gates out of retirement, I think MW gets 20 red zone targets, in which case he has a solid chance at double digit TDs.

 
Just Win Baby said:
Breakout coming IMO (if he remains healthy). Per DD, the Chargers had a total of 70 red zone targets last season. 23 of those were targets to players not on the roster, most notably Henry and Gates. Allen already led the team with 24, so it seems unlikely his number will go up much if at all. They lost 2 TEs who were very good red zone targets and added none to fill that void. Mike Williams seems most likely to fill that void IMO.

Even if they bring Gates out of retirement, I think MW gets 20 red zone targets, in which case he has a solid chance at double digit TDs.
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2017 NFL - 20+ Red Zone Targets

(targets - catches - TDs)

Jimmy Graham    SEA    26-16-10
Keenan Allen    LAC    24-11-4
Davante Adams    GNB    23-15-7
Cooper Kupp    LAR    23-13-5
Jarvis Landry    MIA    23-18-9
Rob Gronkowski    NWE    22-11-6
Larry Fitzgerald    ARI    21-12-6
Travis Kelce    KAN    21-10-5
Antonio Brown    PIT    20-11-6
Dez Bryant    DAL    20-11-5

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/redzone-receiving.htm

 
I'm slightly fond of Mike although in order for him to truly break out I think he'd need some misfortune to befall either Allen or Tyrell in the form of an injury. At the moment it seems like the pecking order is going to be Allen > Gordon > Mike = Tyrell. I don't think Tyrell is going anywhere. And I'm sure that Benjamin will still be used to stretch the field at times and Ekeler will be involved as well.

At the very least, it's very likely that Whis utilizes 11 personnel more than the 56% of the time he did last year when he had Gates and Henry. That number is sure to rise significantly 

 
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BobbyLayne said:
2017 NFL - 20+ Red Zone Targets

(targets - catches - TDs)

Jimmy Graham    SEA    26-16-10
Keenan Allen    LAC    24-11-4
Davante Adams    GNB    23-15-7
Cooper Kupp    LAR    23-13-5
Jarvis Landry    MIA    23-18-9
Rob Gronkowski    NWE    22-11-6
Larry Fitzgerald    ARI    21-12-6
Travis Kelce    KAN    21-10-5
Antonio Brown    PIT    20-11-6
Dez Bryant    DAL    20-11-5

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/redzone-receiving.htm
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I stand by my post, as long as he is healthy. - 20 red zone targets and a solid chance at double digit TDs.

Of the WRs on this list, how many win on jump balls consistently? Williams is going to be better at that than every WR on this list, and Rivers will give him chances.

ETA: To be clear, I am saying that his expected (by me) strong red zone performance will help him to have a solid chance at double digit TDs. I'm not saying every TD will be within the red zone. Like in the last preseason game, he caught a 25 yard TD. He'll get some of those too.

 
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SameSongNDance said:
I'm slightly fond of Mike although in order for him to truly break out I think he'd need some misfortune to befall either Allen or Tyrell in the form of an injury. At the moment it seems like the pecking order is going to be Allen > Gordon > Mike = Tyrell. I don't think Tyrell is going anywhere. And I'm sure that Benjamin will still be used to stretch the field at times and Ekeler will be involved as well.

At the very least, it's very likely that Whis utilizes 11 personnel more than the 56% of the time he did last year when he had Gates and Henry. That number is sure to rise significantly 
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You mean like misfortune befell Hunter Henry? Of all of the Chargers' top 4 WRs, Williams' game translates the best to filling the TE void they currently have, going from Henry and Gates to Virgil Green and Sean Culkin.

Assuming Rivers, Tyrell, and Mike are all healthy this season, I will be very surprised if Mike doesn't end up with more targets than Tyrell. I will be surprised if it isn't by a solid margin, too. Importantly, though, even if their targets are similar, I expect Mike is going to get a lot higher quality targets, i.e., red zone targets. Tyrell has proven in his time with the Chargers that he is not a quality red zone target, whereas that skill is what got Mike drafted #7 last year.

 
Just Win Baby said:
You mean like misfortune befell Hunter Henry? Of all of the Chargers' top 4 WRs, Williams' game translates the best to filling the TE void they currently have, going from Henry and Gates to Virgil Green and Sean Culkin.

Assuming Rivers, Tyrell, and Mike are all healthy this season, I will be very surprised if Mike doesn't end up with more targets than Tyrell. I will be surprised if it isn't by a solid margin, too. Importantly, though, even if their targets are similar, I expect Mike is going to get a lot higher quality targets, i.e., red zone targets. Tyrell has proven in his time with the Chargers that he is not a quality red zone target, whereas that skill is what got Mike drafted #7 last year.
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Yes, like the misfortune that befell Henry. I agree that Mike's game translates best to filling the TE void, specifically in the RZ and I have him putting up TE like numbers. Assuming Allen is the target share black hole that he was last year and the RBs stay as involved in the passing game (as they should) I don't even see how Mike could out target Tyrell by a solid margin unless Tyrell simply wasn't involved. I don't like Tyrell this year for fantasy purposes but I don't think he's just going to disappear. He's a good player and some stats (like his 87th percentile success rate vs. man coverage, 15th ranked DVOA by footballoutsiders, the fact that LAC's most successful play [57% success rate] on 3rd and long was targeting him last year) bear out that in some aspects he's a great player. 

I am however just reading that Tyrell has recently been dealing with a foot injury.

 
SameSongNDance said:
I'm slightly fond of Mike although in order for him to truly break out I think he'd need some misfortune to befall either Allen or Tyrell in the form of an injury. At the moment it seems like the pecking order is going to be Allen > Gordon > Mike = Tyrell. I don't think Tyrell is going anywhere. And I'm sure that Benjamin will still be used to stretch the field at times and Ekeler will be involved as well.

At the very least, it's very likely that Whis utilizes 11 personnel more than the 56% of the time he did last year when he had Gates and Henry. That number is sure to rise significantly 
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I don't think Tyell is near the talent Mike is, and if Mike is healthy and shows equal knowledge of the offense, he'll blow Tyrell away in targets.

 
Hankmoody said:
I don't think Tyell is near the talent Mike is, and if Mike is healthy and shows equal knowledge of the offense, he'll blow Tyrell away in targets.
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I'm not sure about that. Mike is certainly stronger and better at contested catches. Tyrell is a better athlete who is more dangerous after the catch. If Mike Williams is more talented, it might not be by much. 

 
Ilov80s said:
I'm not sure about that. Mike is certainly stronger and better at contested catches. Tyrell is a better athlete who is more dangerous after the catch. If Mike Williams is more talented, it might not be by much. 
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I'm a big Tyrell truther but I don't see this as even close. 

 
If what you guys are saying is true than LAC is home to the best trio of recievers in the league. It's of course possible but since I haven't seen it yet it's hard for me to make that leap. The only types of players that are better than Tyrell by the margin you guys claim Mike to be are players like Allen. Tyrell could start for a lot of teams. 

 
Tyrell is physically gifted, there is no question about that. The problem is that, during his time with the Chargers, he has not played up to his physical talent. If he was playing up to his physical talent, he would get more targets than Allen, because he would be a consistent mismatch on every play.

In his big season in 2016, which was driven by opportunity created by injuries to Allen and Stevie Johnson, he frequently ran poor/wrong routes, did a terrible job on contested catches, and just generally exhibited only a surface level understanding of his position. I am a Chargers fan and NC State fan and thus a Rivers fan, and I cannot remember him demonstratively getting on any player so frequently as he did Tyrell in 2016. Rivers had a lot of interceptions in 2016, and a high number of them were targeted at Tyrell. Some were Rivers' fault, but a number of them weren't.

IMO there is a difference between physical skills/talent and football talent. The latter requires an ability to master one's position, be on the same page as the QB, etc. Tyrell may be similarly or even more physically talented that Mike Williams, but IMO will never be as good at playing WR as Mike Williams is going to show this season. 

:2cents:  

BTW, I did NOT want the Chargers to draft Mike W at #7 in 2016, and I still think it was a mistake based on their roster needs, in part because they had Tyrell coming off a breakout season. But that doesn't change my opinion that he is better than Tyrell.

 
SameSongNDance said:
If what you guys are saying is true than LAC is home to the best trio of recievers in the league
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Not sure about this, but I definitely think they are in the running for best quartet, including Benjamin. I'd be interested to hear which teams others think have better trios/quartets.

 
Just Win Baby said:
Not sure about this, but I definitely think they are in the running for best quartet, including Benjamin. I'd be interested to hear which teams others think have better trios/quartets.
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Brown, Juju and Washington

Marvin, Tate, Galloday

DT, Sanders, Sutton

I think these teams are in the running but a common theme amongst them is an unproven yet talented commodity.

 
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