The Los Angeles Chargers went 9-7 last season, their best season since 2014. The Chargers have a group of good players in Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, and Melvin Gordon. Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen are one of the best QB-WR duos in the NFL and should produce a ton of fantasy points this season. Other wide receivers Mike Williams and Tyrell Williams should also put up respectable numbers. The following Chargers players should be monitored by fantasy owners.
Philip Rivers
One of the most consistent quarterbacks of the past decade, Philip Rivers has thrown for at least 25 touchdowns every season since 2008. Rivers should continue that trend this season as he has his best supporting cast in recent years. Weapons like Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen helped Rivers produce 270.4 ESPN standard fantasy points while throwing for 4,515 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2017. Rivers finished the 2017 fantasy year as the 8th highest scoring quarterback and is projected to score 269.1 fantasy points this year. Rivers could be picked between rounds 7-9 in fantasy drafts.
Melvin Gordon
After coming up just short of a 1,000 yard season in 2016, Gordon rushed for 1,105 yards and 8 touchdowns. Gordon was also a receiving threat last season, totaling 476 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Those numbers translated to 288.1 fantasy points last season, good enough for 5th to rank Gordon as the 5th highest scoring running back. ESPN has Gordon ranked as the 8th best fantasy running back for the 2018 season. He is projected to score 261.6 points this season, but Gordon could easily hit the 285 mark. Expect Gordon to be drafted before round 3.
Keenan Allen
After injury plagued seasons in 2015 and 2016, Keenan Allen had a great year in 2017, scoring 284.2 fantasy points. Allen finished the season as the 3rd highest scoring wide receiver after going off for 102 receptions, 1,393 yards and 6 touchdowns. If Allen can remain healthy, he should mirror those numbers again this season. Allen is ranked as the 4th best wide receiver by ESPN and he is projected to score 279.2 fantasy points. Fantasy owners should expect to draft Allen during rounds 2-3.
Tyrell Williams
After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft, Tyrell Williams produced a 1,000 yard season in 2016. With Keenan Allen returning from injury, Williams only caught 43 passes for 728 yards. Although this was worse than his 2016 season, Williams still scored 137.8 fantasy points. Williams is projected to only score 121.7 points this season but his value could increase if Mike Williams and Keenan Allen have injury trouble. Williams should be drafted very late, somewhere between rounds 13-15.
Mike Williams
After being drafted 7th overall in the 2017 NFL draft, Williams only caught 11 passes for 95 yards during his first professional season. After injury trouble throughout 2017, Williams looks healthy and ready to be a breakout candidate in 2018. ESPN only has him projected to score 107.3 fantasy points, which could easily be way more. Williams is a great talent and should start this season and get more targets with Hunter Henry out for the season. Williams could be a steal late during rounds 13-15.
Honorable Mentions: K Caleb Sturgis (113.9 projected points), WR Travis Benjamin (106.5 projected), Chargers D/ST (104.6 projected), RB Austin Ekeler (99.6 projected), TE Virgil Green (82.2 projected).
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