Keenan Allen returns to Chargers: Fantasy projections now become slightly more complicated for Ladd McConkey

Keenan Allen is back with the charge after having signed a one -year contract of $ 8.52 million on Tuesday. And now things get complicated for fantasy managers regarding the charges that receive a body.

Allen began his career with the charge in 2013 – when the team was still in San Diego – and spent 11 seasons with the franchise until 2023. He left Los Angeles in 2024 to play Chicago, and now Allen is back with Justin Herbert.

At 33, Allen is down his career, and he had trouble last season with the Bears. He has an average of 12.3 PPR points per game per game, which is not horrible, but this corresponded to the worst full season of his career because he also has an average of 12.3 PPR points in 2014. However, keep in mind that Allen had four outings with at least 20.2 PPR points, which is impressive since Caleb Williams fought as a Chicago Starter.

Allen was a star in 2023 with the loads, and he had an average of 21.6 PPR points per game. He had 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven affected on 150 targets in 13 games.

No one should expect this level of Allen production, but he could still have an impact this season, especially if he aligns in the slit. It is worth taking a leaflet on Allen with a late choice in all the leagues.

Allen’s signature will have an impact on all receivers of the loaders, including Ladd McConkey, Tre Harris, Quentin Johnston and Keandre Lambert-Smith. All are downgraded to a certain extent with the arrival of Allen.

Start with McConkey, who was great in his recruit campaign in 2024. He was receiver No. 19 to 15.1 PPR points per game per game, but he has an enormous 20.7 PPR per game per game on his last eight outings, including the playoffs. He scored at least 16.5 PPR points in six games during this period.

McConkey was the main slot machines receiver for the charge last season, but Allen could steal this work. This does not mean that McConkey cannot win as an external receiver, but the presence of Allen reduces the McConkey ceiling.

He was drafted towards the end of Tour 2 or the start of the 3 round in the majority of the leagues, and now I’m going to drop him to the back of the Tour 3. I will certainly not panic about McConkey – and he could stay in the slot on Allen – but he should be pushed back after Tyreek Hill and Tee Higgins, and potentially Davante Adams, Jaxon Smith -Jigba and Garrett.

Harris and Johnston, in this order, go only from late leaflets now. The Director General of Chargers, Joe Hortiz, told Athletic that McConkey and Allen were going to play a lot, which is bad news for younger receivers.

“You get good players on the field and you play them,” said Hortiz about playing together McConkey and Allen. “You can be creative with many different players.”

Harris and Johnston still have advantages and can make occasional splashes. But their targets will be limited in the offensive of Greg Roman if McConkey and Allen are in good health.

In the long term, I still like Harris, but we could not see the best of him before 2026. Harris, a second round choice in the draft of the NFL in Ole Miss, had 114 captures for 2,015 yards and 15 affected on 72 targets in 20 games in the last two seasons. It had a capture rate of 66.3% and had an average of 11.7 yards per target, and it should emerge as receptor No. 2 for loaders behind McConkey.

As for Johnston, he had a hard time in the first two years of his career after being the overall selection n ° 21 in the first round of the NFL 2023 draft. He had 38 captures for 431 yards and two affected on 67 targets as a recruit, then he had 55 catches for 711 yards and eight affected on 91 targets last year.

It is difficult to imagine a third year escape for Johnston because of McConkey, Allen and Harris, but Johnston scored at least 15.5 PPR points in three of his last five games last season with 45 targets during this period. Now, however, any potential advantage is capped because of Allen.

And you can forget that Lambert-Smith does a lot in his recruit campaign. He looked good in the hall of the Hall of Fame against the Lions with two sockets for 43 yards and one touch on two targets, but the choice of fifth round will have trouble playing if everyone is healthy.

Herbert is a winner with all this talent around him, and Allen is a great security cover given their story together. I like Herbert as a sleeper, but there remains a late choice in the formats of a quarter and a selection in mid-edge in the superflex leagues and two quarters.

Herbert only recorded an average of 19.5 fantasy points per game last season, and it will always be a race team with Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris. Herbert had only seven outings with more than 20 fantastic points in 2024, but all came in the last 12 games of the season.

The charges attempted another meeting this offseason with Mike Williams, but he retired at the start of the training camp. Allen should provide a quality of veterans for young receivers and help Herbert, and Allen could also help fancy managers.

We just hope it has no impact on McConkey in a negative way. It will be interesting to see how it all takes place during the season now that Allen has returned to charge.