Ladd McConkey
Wide Receiver #15
Ladd McConkey News
Ladd McConkey Primed for a League-Winning Bounceback
After a disappointing sophomore season, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is primed for one of the biggest fantasy bouncebacks of 2026. The departure of Keenan Allen, who led the team in targets and receptions a year ago in an overlapping role, and the arrival of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose speed and spacing-based system suits McConkey to a T, could open the path for a big year from the 2024 second-round pick. While the Chargers have already suffered a significant loss on the offensive line following the season-ending ACL tear of center Tyler Biadasz (knee), the returns of tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater should help to keep quarterback Justin Herbert on his feet and the offense on schedule. McConkey has already demonstrated WR1 upside, finishing as the WR12 as a rookie, and with an expanded role in an improved offensive environment, he could prove to be a league-winning selection at RotoBaller's WR15.
Aug 31, 2026 5:36 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Could Have a "Huge Season" in New-Look Chargers Offense
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey disappointed in 2025 following an electric rookie season that saw him finish as the WR12, but he could be primed for a major bounce-back in Mike McDaniel's offense. Recently appearing with Ari Meirov for a 2026 Chargers breakdown, The Athletic's Daniel Popper says that he envisions a "huge season" for McConkey if he can stay healthy. Reflecting on the way that five-time All-Pro Tyreek Hill was used by McDaniel in Miami, Popper believes McConkey will benefit from pre-snap motion and creative manipulation, allowing him to leverage defenses while taking advantage of his 4.3 speed. With veteran Keenan Allen no longer on the team, McConkey should see something close to an every-down role, and as RotoBaller's WR14, the 24-year-old is well-positioned to return to his rookie form.
Aug 26, 2026 6:25 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Well-Positioned for a 2026 Resurgence
After an impressive rookie season in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey put together a relatively underwhelming sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 16 games, McConkey recorded 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. However, the 24-year-old looks to be well-positioned for a bounce-back year in 2026. Former Chargers wideout Keenan Allen is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, which should allow McConkey to play a higher-volume role from the slot. Los Angeles also has a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, who has a proven track record of getting highly productive seasons out of his top wide receivers. Entering 2026, fantasy managers should view McConkey as a high-end WR2 option.
Aug 23, 2026 12:09 PM EST
Ladd McConkey Gets a Target in Limited Action During Preseason Loss
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey saw his first preseason action in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. McConkey was removed with the rest of the starters after a quick three-and-out on the team's opening drive. The 24-year-old was unable to haul in his one target on third-and-short to extend the drive. McConkey has the opportunity to reprise his role as Justin Herbert's go-to receiver on third down. In 2025, Keenan Allen led the team in third-down targets and overall targets, which took a significant toll on McConkey's fantasy production. With Allen recently signing with the Indianapolis Colts, McConkey's fantasy ADP might rise as we get closer to Week 1. Managers should feel confident in drafting McConkey without the fear of Allen coming back to swoop up targets again.
Aug 22, 2026 8:58 AM EST
Ladd McConkey's Bounce-Back Case Is Getting Stronger
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a weird second season. After 82 catches, 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, he slipped to 66-789-6 in 2025 and never caught more than four passes in any of his final eight games. There is a pretty good reason to buy back in now. McConkey is full go after dealing with a hamstring strain during the offseason, and Mike McDaniel's offense looks like a much cleaner fit for him. The Chargers have been stressing quicker throws, motion and getting the ball into space, which should give McConkey chances to do what he does best. Justin Herbert has kept connecting with him in camp, including a long completion during Tuesday's one-on-one work. The room is not empty. Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris are both involved, and Los Angeles also has a deep tight end group with Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. That makes a huge target jump tough to assume. But McConkey is healthy, the scheme suits him, and RotoBaller has him at WR17 in half-PPR. After last year's letdown, there is a pretty believable path back to WR2 production.
Aug 12, 2026 10:05 AM EST
Ladd McConkey is a Full-Go For Training Camp
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey told ESPN's Kris Rhim he is a "full-go" for training camp, which begins tomorrow. McConkey was considered questionable for the start of training camp due to a strained hamstring he suffered during offseason workouts in the spring. The 24-year-old is coming off a disappointing sophomore season, but he is a trendy breakout candidate among fantasy analysts due to his talent being utilized by new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McConkey also went on to say, "I feel like this is probably the most talented roster I've been on since I've been here. Now we just gotta go do it." With McConkey at full health, the Chargers are looking to finally deliver on sky-high expeactions within the organization in 2026.
Jul 28, 2026 10:34 AM EST
Ladd McConkey an Appealing Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate Ahead of 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey put together an underwhelming 2025 season, recording 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets across 16 games. After finishing as the WR12 in PPR scoring in 2024, McConkey fell all the way to WR30 last season. However, there are reasons to believe the 24-year-old will bounce back in 2026. For one, Los Angeles hired Mike McDaniel as its new play-caller for 2026, which should help open up the offense and maximize McConkey's talent. Secondly, former Chargers wideout Keenan Allen currently remains unsigned. Allen led the team in targets in 2025 and also forced McConkey out of his natural position in the slot. As long as Allen does not end up back in Los Angeles, McConkey should be in line to set a new career-high in targets this year. In dynasty leagues where his stock is down, McConkey profiles as a prime buy-low target for fantasy managers.
Jul 24, 2026 7:59 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Has Strong Bounce-Back Appeal in Redraft Leagues
The Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey did not come close to matching his rookie breakout last season, but the path back to a bigger year is still there. He finished 2025 with 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns after going 82-1,149-7 as a rookie. Even with the drop, McConkey led the Chargers in receiving yards while sharing work with Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Oronde Gadsden II, and Tre' Harris. Allen remains unsigned, and that matters after he paced the team with 81 receptions. Johnston and Gadsden are not going away, but McConkey should have a better shot to sit at the front of the target line if Allen does not return. Mike McDaniel's arrival only adds to the appeal. McConkey has already piled up 799 yards after the catch through two seasons, and his quickness should play well in an offense built around motion and easy touches. The hamstring strain needs to be checked once camp begins, though he expected to be ready. At WR20 in RotoBaller's rankings, McConkey is priced like a WR2 with room to climb.
Jul 12, 2026 10:11 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Dealing With Hamstring Strain, Expected to be Ready for Camp
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (hamstring) said he strained his left hamstring during Phase 2 of the team's offseason program, but he doesn't view it as a significant concern and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said that McConkey is "working through something," but that he will take part in individual drills during this week's mandatory minicamp. The 24-year-old burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2024 after the Bolts took him with the 34th overall pick in the second round in 2024 out of the University of Georgia, catching 82 of his 112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. McConkey took a slight step back as a sophomore, though, finishing with a 66-789-6 line on 106 targets across 16 regular-season games. In his first year in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme, McConkey could be headed for another big year, making him a strong WR2 target in fantasy drafts, especially in PPR formats.
Jun 16, 2026 3:16 PM EST
Ladd McConkey a Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate with Improved Offensive Environment in Los Angeles
After a standout rookie campaign in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey saw his numbers fall across the board in 2025. Across 16 games (12 starts), the 24-year-old recorded 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets for an average of just 11.3 PPR fantasy points per game. Despite the downturn in production, there's reason for fantasy managers to be optimistic about McConkey's outlook in 2026. For one, the Chargers brought in a new play-caller over the offseason in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who should help maximize the team's offensive weapons. Additionally, veteran wideout Keenan Allen is currently a free agent after leading the team with 122 targets in 2025. If the Chargers do not bring back Allen, McConkey could see an uptick in both targets and playing time in the slot. In dynasty formats, managers may want to explore buying low on McConkey ahead of a possible re-emergence in 2026.
Jun 13, 2026 10:20 AM EST
Can Ladd McConkey Re-Establish His Dynasty Value in 2026?
After topping 80 catches and 1,100 receiving yards as a rookie in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey turned in an underwhelming sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 16 games, the 24-year-old hauled in 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. The Chargers will have a new play-caller in 2026 in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who could help McConkey rediscover his rookie-year magic. Former Chargers wideout Keenan Allen also remains unsigned, and his absence would likely allow McConkey to spend more time in the slot in 2026. Los Angeles does have other capable pass-catchers in wide receiver Quentin Johnston and tight end Oronde Gadsden, as well as 2025 second-round wideout Tre' Harris and 2026 fourth-round wideout Brenen Thompson. Still, McConkey has the highest upside of the bunch and should be the lead target-earner in McDaniel's revamped offense. In dynasty formats, McConkey could be a solid buy-low target entering 2026.
May 5, 2026 12:27 PM EST
Can Ladd McConkey Recapture Rookie Season Magic?
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey burst onto the scene as a 2024 rookie, finishing his first season with 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on a team-leading 82 receptions. He entered his second season priced as a low-end WR1 in both redraft and dynasty leagues as fantasy managers underestimated the impact of a returning Chargers legend. Keenan Allen came back to Los Angeles in 2025 as a 33-year-old veteran and promptly led the team in targets and receptions, operating primarily in the same short-to-intermediate parts of the field as McConkey. Heading into the NFL Draft, Allen remains unsigned, and McConkey should see every chance to thrive in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's rhythm-based scheme that will maximize his ability to add yards after the catch. Among players with at least a 60% snap share out of the slot, McConkey's 4.8 yards after catch average through his first two seasons already lands him near the top of the league, but McDaniel should repeatedly motion him into position to make even greater use of his 4.39-speed and return to something resembling his rookie form.
Apr 12, 2026 5:49 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Could Bounce Back in Mike McDaniel's Offense
The Athletic's Daniel Popper thinks that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey could have a bounce-back season in 2026 in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense. Popper also believes that for McConkey to bounce back, the Chargers need to avoid re-signing veteran Keenan Allen, who led the team in targets and catches in 2025. McConkey and Allen both thrive in similar areas of the field, so in the absence of Allen in McDaniel's offense, McConkey could become a fantasy football stud again. Popper sees McDaniel maximizing McConkey's "shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability" with pre-snap motion and linebacker manipulation. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2024 out of Georgia caught 82 of 112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie season, but he fell to a 66-789-6 line in 16 games in 2025. With more targets and a focus on the offense under McDaniel, McConkey definitely can become a strong WR2 for fantasy managers going into his third year in the NFL.
Mar 22, 2026 8:40 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Has Terrific Opportunity to Bounce Back
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had an underwhelming second season in the NFL. Rather than building on an exceptional rookie campaign, he took a step backward with 66 catches, 789 yards, and six touchdowns. He ranked as the WR30 overall in PPR leagues, dropping more than a dozen spots from his 2024 ranking as WR13. The exact reason for McConkey's regression is unclear, but we'd imagine the Chargers' league-worst offensive line played a role. McConkey excels in running medium routes downfield, getting open, and making plays, but if the big men up front didn't allow enough time for that to develop, the receiver would either get uncatchable targets or no targets at all. Los Angeles fortified its trenches this offseason with Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange, and they also freed up an additional 122 targets by letting Keenan Allen walk in free agency. These two factors -- as well as the hiring of smart-minded offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel -- could be exactly what McConkey needs to get back into the low-end WR1 or high-end WR2 conversation in 2026.
Mar 19, 2026 7:35 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Looking to Bounce Back After Frustrating Second Season
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a frustrating second season in the NFL. He caught 66 passes for 789 yards and six touchdowns, ranking as the overall WR30. He wasn't a total bust, but he certainly failed to live up to the expectations he had established after finishing as the WR13 as a rookie in 2024. That same year, he had 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. Justin Herbert continues to play at a very high level, so we can't blame his regression on poor quarterback play. The Chargers' bottom-tier offensive line could have been a contributing factor, but more likely than not, defenses just started to do a better job game-planning for the former second-round pick now that they had a full year's worth of film on him. Los Angeles replaced offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel this offseason, which should benefit all of the Chargers' skill players in fantasy football. Additionally, there might be a few extra targets to go around, now that Keenan Allen is headed for free agency. All in all, managers absolutely should not panic about McConkey after the 2025 season. In fact, dynasty managers might be able to buy low on McConkey if his current manager is frustrated by how he played last year.
Feb 17, 2026 4:35 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Trending Upwards After Coordinator Change in Los Angeles
After an excellent rookie season in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey posted a relatively disappointing sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 16 games played, the 24-year-old recorded 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. McConkey's production fell off sharply down the stretch of the season, as he recorded just one game with more than 40 receiving yards after Week 10. After losing in the AFC Wild Card Round to the New England Patriots, the Chargers decided to move on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman, replacing him with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. While McDaniel's tenure in Miami went downhill over the last couple of seasons, he coached the Dolphins to top-five offenses by measure of total passing yardage in both 2022 and 2023. By contrast, Roman-coached teams have never finished better than 13th in passing yardage in any of his 12 seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator. Given the change in offensive infrastructure around him, McConkey could be in line for a bounce-back season in 2026.
Jan 27, 2026 12:20 PM EST
Ladd McConkey Looks to Bounce Back After Week Off
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey was an inconsistent contributor throughout the 2025 regular season, but he'll have an opportunity to get back on track by making a big impact against the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on Sunday evening. McConkey had 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns through 16 regular-season games, with his lone absence coming in Week 18 as Los Angeles rested key starters. New England ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2025, but they did allow the seventh-most touchdowns to the position. The best fantasy performance of McConkey's career came against the Patriots in Week 17 of the 2024 season, as he caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. New England's defense has gotten much stronger since then, but nonetheless, the second-year wideout will look to use today's game as an opportunity to get back on track.
Jan 11, 2026 5:44 PM EST
Ladd McConkey has Tough Test in Wild-Card Round
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is in desperate need of a bounce-back performance. McConkey has struggled to put up any consistent numbers during the second half of the season. The 24-year-old has been held to under 40 receiving yards in six of his last seven games. It's not going to get easier for McConkey against the New England Patriots' defense on the road during the Wild-Card round on Sunday night. The Patriots' defense is in the top 10 in terms of limiting passing yards. They've also done an excellent job of holding the WR1 on opposing teams in check all season long. McConkey has been much harder to trust in Year 2 in fantasy, and that will continue to be the case this weekend.
Jan 5, 2026 10:00 PM EST
Ladd McConkey Facing Difficult Matchup with Backup Quarterback in Week 18
Across 16 games this season, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey has recorded 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. Over the second half of the season, the 24-year-old has seen his role in the Chargers' offense minimized. Across six games since Week 10, McConkey has not recorded more than six targets, four receptions, or 43 receiving yards in any contest. While McConkey remains one of his team's top wideouts, he's not an every-down player. Over his last nine games, McConkey has played more than 76% of the Chargers' offensive snaps just twice. In Week 18, Los Angeles will rest quarterback Justin Herbert in preparation for the AFC playoffs, leaving McConkey to catch passes from backup signal-caller Trey Lance. McConkey himself could see a reduced snap share, and he's facing a tough defense in the Denver Broncos. Fantasy managers can view McConkey as a low-end WR3/flex option in Week 18.
Jan 2, 2026 10:20 AM EST
Ladd McConkey Faces Elite Defense on Saturday, A WR3 for the Fantasy Finals
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey returned to the end zone last week, leading the team with six targets, but a repeat performance will be difficult on Saturday against the Houston Texans. Houston's secondary is arguably the best in the NFL, ranking first in EPA/Pass and allowing the fewest passing yards per game. While McConkey remains Justin Herbert's primary target, the Texans' elite pass rush, which is tied for sixth in sacks, will likely force Herbert into quick, low-ADOT throws. This defensive pressure mirrors the conditions that led to McConkey's recent dud games rather than his productive outing against a porous Dallas secondary. While his target floor remains decent, the matchup significantly limits his big-play potential. He is a touchdown-dependent WR3 for the fantasy finals.
Dec 26, 2025 9:53 AM EST
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