Why 1 Chargers WR is better option than Ladd McConkey in fantasy football drafts

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The Los Angeles Chargers have become a popular team to target among fantasy football managers thanks to the arrival of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel along with the return of tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. McDaniel is expected to get the most out of Justin Herbert and the passing game, with Ladd McConkey considered the primary beneficiary at wide receiver.

But McConkey may not be the Chargers receiver to target in drafts this year. That would be Quentin Johnston, the former first-round pick who many wrote off after a slow start to his career. Johnson broke out for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, outscoring McConkey (11.3) in fantasy points per game at 12.2.

Sure, Keenan Allen cut into McConkey's target share last season, as they share a similar route tree. And with Allen gone to the Indianapolis Colts, McConkey should indeed see a bump in production. But it's not enough to warrant the ADP gap between him and Johnston, the Chargers' only true deep threat.

McConkey is going in the 40s while Johnston is in the 100s, according to Fantasy Pros. That's a massive gulf, and it's unclear why it's warranted when Johnston was straight up better in 2025.

Why Quentin Johnston could take another leap

Herbert was running for his life most of last season following the injuries to Slater and Alt. With both those two back, Herbert will have more time in the pocket to uncork deep balls to Johnston, who emerged as one of the league's field-stretchers in his third NFL season. We got a sneak peek of what's to come with Herbert launching a 65-yard touchdown pass to QJ in Thursday's preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.

There's plenty more big plays to come for Johnston, so make sure you snag him in drafts.

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This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why 1 Chargers WR is better option than Ladd McConkey in fantasy football drafts

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