The Chargers have restructured WR Keenan Allen's contract, shaving $8.9 million off his 2023 salary cap number, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That's big for two reasons: 1) The team opened the offseason with one of the league's worst cap situations. 2) That plus Allen's contract had driven speculation the Chargers would cut or trade him. You can now bet on that not happening. And that makes Allen a strong value in current best ball drafting. His ADP has sat in WR3 range since 2023 drafting began. Even with big-time injury issues last year, Allen still finished the season 12th among WRs in PPR points per game and 13th in half-PPR. L.A. also restructured WR Mike Williams' contract to save another $5.5 million in cap space.
The Athletic's Daniel Popper considers WR Keenan Allen 1 of the Charger's most likely salary cap casualties. (L.A. is currently about $23.5 million over the projected 2023 salary cap.) Allen missed 7 games and most of 2 others with hamstring trouble this past season and turns 31 in April. But he averaged 10.4 targets, 7.5 catches, 84 yards and .5 TDs over 8 healthy regular-season games. And he ranked 12th among 96 qualifying WRs in yards per route run. Allen would draw plenty of interest on the open market if he is released. His departure would be a significant boost to WR Mike Williams and especially WR Josh Palmer. Palmer averaged 7.3 targets, 4.6 catches and 49 yards across 8 games with Allen out or limited this past year.
The Chargers are set to hire Kellen Moore as their new OC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Although we just learned that Moore was done in Dallas on Sunday, the Chargers had been working on this hire "for a while," per Rapoport. It's a great get for QB Justin Herbert and Co. Moore helped the Cowboys to top-11 finishes in both points and total yards in 3 of his 4 seasons -- with the only exception being 2020, when QB Dak Prescott missed most of the year. That included a 1st-place finish in both points and yards in 2021. Moore's Dallas offenses were balanced to run-leaning in terms of Pass Rate Over Expected, although he certainly seems willing to adjust his play calling to the personnel. Moore also deploys a fast-paced attack, with the Cowboys ranking top 4 in both pace and situation-neutral pace in all 4 of his seasons.
The Chargers have fired OC Joe Lombardi, according to NFL Network. Lombardi piloted Los Angeles to top 9 finishes in total yards in each of the past 2 seasons, despite dealing with a bunch of injuries to offensive linemen and skill-position players. But his scheme simply didn't accentuate QB Justin Herbert's arm talent, as evidenced by his 7.6 and 6.4 intended air yards per pass attempt marks over the last 2 years. That 6.4-yard mark this past season ranked 31st among 33 qualifiers. We'll see who the Chargers tab to replace Lombardi -- but the change is more likely than not to be good news for Herbert's fantasy value.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen finished Saturday's Wild Card game with 6-61 on 13 targets. The massive workload represented a 30.2% target share. It also meant that Allen, 30, finished his 10th pro season with 9 straight games of 5+ catches. He’s currently under contract for 2 more seasons.
Playing without WR Mike Williams, Chargers QB Justin Herbert completed 25-of-43 passes for 273 yards and 1 score. The Chargers settled for 2 short range FGs in the first half — 1 after Herbert missed Keenan Allen in the end zone — which kept Jacksonville’s comeback hopes alive. In the second half, the Chargers went: punt, FG, missed FG, punt. Following the loss, we’ll see if the Chargers retain HC Brandon Staley (and OC Joe Lombardi) for another season. Regardless, Los Angeles needs to find a speed threat to compliment Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
If the Bengals beat the Ravens -- and they're currently 7-point favorites -- in the early slate of games on Sunday, the Chargers will clinch the AFC's #5 seed and have nothing to play for vs. the Broncos in the late slate. And it sure sounds like there's a chance that HC Brandon Staley will rest starters in that case. "Once we find out about that game, then we'll make the appropriate decisions moving forward," Staley said Wednesday. The Chargers are notably 2.5-point underdogs right now, suggesting the oddsmakers are at least baking in some chance of starters not playing. We'll continue to keep an eye on the situation, but guys like QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams carry elevated risk in Week 18 fantasy lineups.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley plans to play starters in Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. A win would lock up the AFC's #5 seed for the Chargers, meaning a Round 1 game vs. the Jaguars or Titans. A loss would open the door for the Ravens to take the #5 seed with a win over the Bengals. That'd push the Chargers down to #6 and mean a Round 1 game vs. Cincinnati. “Our approach is definitely going to get shot to win this ballgame and play as well as we can play heading into the playoffs,” Staley said. “I think that there’s certainly an advantage to be in the No. 5-seed, from where I stand, so we’re going to try and get there.” Staley did add that he'd consider sitting banged-up players. But, as of now, we're projecting full playing time for QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen dominated the receiving work in Monday night's win over the Colts. He racked up 11 catches for 104 yards on 14 targets, 45.2% of the team's total pass attempts. WR Mike Williams and RB Austin Ekeler tied for 2nd with 4 targets apiece on a limited passing night. Williams caught all 4 for 76 yards. The Chargers get a home date with the Rams in Week 17, a matchup that has been near-neutral for WR scoring on the year.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for 313 yards in Sunday's narrow victory over the Chargers. But he added 2 INTs and no TDs, falling short of 10 fantasy points in many formats. WR Keenan Allen led the receiving with 8 catches for 86 yards among 9 targets. WR Mike Williams added 4-67 on 8 targets. WR Josh Palmer caught all 5 of his looks for 49 yards. It was Herbert's 3rd straight game with more than 300 yards and fewer than 2 TDs. Next comes a Colts defense that allowed 460 yards to Kirk Cousins on Saturday and 7 combined TD passes over the past 2 games.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert posted his 2nd-largest passing-yardage total of the season Sunday, throwing for 335 yards in a loss to the Raiders. He completed 28 of 47 throws (59.6%), finding WR Keenan Allen for the offense's only TD. Allen posted a 6-88-1 receiving line on a team-high 14 targets. WR Josh Palmer led the team with 7 catches among 11 targets and totaled 60 yards. TE Gerald Everett added 5 catches for 80 yards among 6 targets. The Chargers host Miami in Week 14. We'll see whether WR Mike Williams (ankle) can make it back for that contest.
Chargers WR Mike Williams (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders. He remained sidelined in practice all week and has no timetable for return. Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter will again operate as Los Angeles’ top 3 WRs on Sunday.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for 274 yards and 3 TDs in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. Herbert hit WR Keenan Allen, WR DeAndre Carter and RB Austin Ekeler for TDs. The 1-yarder to Ekeler with 15 seconds left won the game. Ekeler (15) and Carter (10) combined for 53.2% of Herbert's pass attempts and 51.4% of his completions for the game. Carter caught 7 for 73 yards. WR Josh Palmer went 5-56 on 7 targets. Allen finished with 5 receptions for 49 yards. TE Gerald Everett added 4 catches for 18 yards on 4 targets. The Chargers get a soft Raiders defense in Week 13.
Chargers WR Mike Williams (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Cardinals. He didn’t practice all week after aggravating that high-ankle sprain last Sunday night. Keenan Allen and Josh Palmer will serve as Los Angeles’ top 2 WRs this weekend.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley confirmed on Monday that WR Mike Williams re-aggravated his right high-ankle sprain in Sunday night's loss to the Chiefs. Staley added that the team will "find out a lot more in the next couple days" but that it's not "a significant re-injury." Considering Williams was out 4 weeks with the original injury, though, he seems unlikely to be available for Week 12's game against the Cardinals. That'd leave Keenan Allen and Josh Palmer as the Chargers' top 2 WRs.
Despite the returns of WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, WR Josh Palmer led Chargers receivers in Sunday night's loss to the Chiefs. Palmer paced the team in targets (10), receptions (8), yards (106) and claimed both of QB Justin Herbert's TD throws. Williams' early departure after he aggravated his sprained ankle certainly helped. Allen, meanwhile, finished 2nd in targets (8), catches (5) and yards (94). No other charger drew more than 3 targets. We'll see about Williams' status heading into a Week 12 visit to Arizona.
Chargers WRs Mike Williams (ankle) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) are active for tonight’s game vs. the Chiefs. Both guys were limited in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices and upgraded to full participation on Friday. Their presence is excellent news for QB Justin Herbert.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that both Chargers WRs Keenan Allen (hamstring) and Mike Williams (ankle) are expected to play tonight against the Chiefs. Both are officially questionable, which adds some risk to waiting for the Sunday night kickoff. But each also finished the week with a full practice.
Chargers WRs Mike Williams (ankle) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) are listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game vs. the Chiefs. Both guys were limited in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices and upgraded to full participation on Friday. That seemingly has both on track to play on Sunday night. We’d try not to use Allen in fantasy lineups considering he’s been dealing with hamstring trouble since Week 1. Williams carries elevated risk coming off the high-ankle sprain but is probably worth starting on most fantasy teams.
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