Who Should I Start? Ladd McConkey or Travis Hunter

Thursday, March 19, 7:35 AM

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.