Fantasy football: Coming weeks could be huge for Chargers Ladd McConkey
How many Jim Harbaughs does it take to install a light bulb? We’re going to guess one, but it might take him half a season to turn the light on. We’re eight games into the 2024 campaign (for most teams), and the Chargers offense under Harbaugh largely has been operating in the dark.They have scored the sixth-fewest points, scored the third-fewest touchdowns, run the second-fewest plays and have the fifth-fewest passing yards on the fourth-fewest attempts. The passing has been scarce, but the running hasn’t been great, either.
They rank in the bottom half for rush attempts (20th) and rushing yards (24th), and are sixth-worst in yards per attempt. Yet they sit at 4-3 in the thick of the playoff race, and have what many consider to be a quarterback with top-tier potential in Justin Herbert. So what is the holdup? Why have the prospects been so dim? Well, because they operate slowly, methodically and often times inefficiently — particularly on the ground. Though their rushing numbers are unimpressive, most of their passing stats can be pinned on the pace, thus the lack of opportunity.But when the Chargers do throw, they aren’t terrible.
They rank 17th in yards per attempt.Better, Justin Herbert has an 8-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio, second-best behind Josh Allen (14-1). It isn’t otherworldly, but their middle-of-the-pack (or better) passing efficiency numbers hint at more potential than their bottom-tier output reflects thus far. Part of that can be pinned on play-calling and pace.
And part could be a lack of reliable receiving options — a deficiency that could also influence the play-calling and pace. But what if that inadequacy were squashed? What if they found a reliable target in the passing game? And what if that coincided with a light bulb going off in Harbaugh’s head, giving him the enlighted thought: Wait, I have Justin Herbert as my quarterback? Handing Harbaugh that light bulb idea is rookie receiver Ladd McConkey. The Geor...