2025 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview
Jim Harbaugh’s first season in Los Angeles was a racing success. The Chargers improved from 5-12 in 2023 to 11-7 and a Wild Card playoff appearance in Year One of their rebuild. Harbaugh’s immediate impact saw the club climb from 28th in defense to 11th. The offense regressed slightly, but injuries played a big role in that. With plenty of cap space and key reinforcements via free agency and the draft, the 2025 Chargers are trending up.
QB Justin Herbert gutted out leg and foot injuries to start all 18 games. In his first season in Greg Roman’s system, Herbert set career-highs in yards per attempt (7.7), ADOT (9.0), QB rating (101.7), and threw the fewest interceptions (3) in the league. The touchdown numbers dipped, but Herbert also took the most sacks of his career (41).
L.A. signed Mekhi Becton and Andre James in free agency to help protect Herbert. Other additions in the backfield and at wideout will also help. Even battling injuries throughout the year, Herbert still ranked 15th in fantasy points per game and rushed for 306 yards and two scores. He’s a sleeper pick to post top-10 fantasy numbers and can be targeted much later in drafts.
The Chargers improved from 96.6 rushing yards per game to 110.7 in 2024. J.K. Dobbins averaged 14.8 fantasy points per game but will be replaced by the tandem of Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris. Hampton was selected No. 22 overall and profiles as a downhill runner who will fit well in Roman’s scheme. Hampton has an intriguing blend of size (5-11, 221), speed (4.47 40-yard dash), and power.
Harris has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in all four of his NFL seasons, giving Harbaugh one of the top tandems in the NFL. Expect the Chargers to be among the most run-heavy offenses, with plenty of play-action opportunities for Herbert to exploit.
Ladd McConkey was sensational as a rookie, snagging 82-of-112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven scores in 16 games. He finished his first season as the WR13 and is now firmly ranked in WR1 territory. The Chargers also re-signed Mike Williams and used a second-rounder on sizable Mississippi wideout Tre Harris. Harris was a yards per route run terror who led the nation in receiving yards per game. The rookie will be an instant upgrade over the inconsistent Josh Palmer.
The tight end rotation that Harbaugh employed last season looks to be back, this time, with newly signed Tyler Conklin competing with Will Dissly for snaps. Both options lack upside because of their unpredictable usage. They should only be viewed as reserves to target late in deeper leagues.
Fantasy Grade: C+
On the surface, Justin Herbert had a modest showing in 2024, but Herbert gutted through several injuries and guided the Chargers to an improbable Wild Card appearance. Despite playing in Greg Roman’s run-first scheme that ranked 28th in pace of play, Herbert ranked 15th in fantasy points per game. Accuracy was key, as Herbert threw a league-low three interceptions and shined in deep-ball accuracy (5th in deep-ball completion rate). Play-action was key, and with the Chargers signing Najee Harris and drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round, look for Herbert to continue to game manage and take deep shots.
RB Hampton, Omarion, LAC [RB1]
Omarion Hampton joins a crowded Chargers backfield with Najee Harris. However, this staff targeted Hampton in the first round when running back wasn’t LA’s biggest need. Hampton’s powerful running and superior pass-catching ability, akin to Nick Chubb, position him as a mid-tier RB2 in PPR leagues. In 2024, Chargers’ running backs recorded just 43 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets. That should trend up with Hampton replacing J.K. Dobbins. There is a chance that Jim Harbaugh opens the season with a committee, so Hampton could get off to a slow start.
Harris looked like a quality RB2 before the Chargers selected Omarion Hampton with the 22nd overall pick. Hampton (4.46 40) is faster than Harris (4.57), is a better receiver, and has first-round draft capital. Clearly, the staff liked what Hampton did at North Carolina. Harris has been sturdy, playing all 17 games and rushing for 1,000-plus yards in all four of his seasons. But this is likely to be a committee backfield led by Hampton. The Chargers project to be one of the run-heaviest teams in the league, but Harris is unlikely to command enough touches to post another RB2 campaign.
McConkey exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign, pacing the 2024 class with 2.6 yards per route run and finishing as the WR13 in total fantasy points. From Weeks 8 through the playoffs, he surged to WR10 levels, drawing a 25% target share and averaging 98.7 yards and 16.4 fantasy points per game, trailing only Ja’Marr Chase over that stretch. Although the Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton in Round 1, potentially shifting toward the run, McConkey’s late-season dominance remains impossible to ignore. His connection with Justin Herbert is already elite, and with the coaching staff remaining intact, McConkey is set up for a big leap in year two.
Tre Harris had a standout college career at Louisiana Tech and Ole Miss, amassing 220 receptions, 3,532 yards, and 29 touchdowns over four seasons. His receiving yards grew annually (562, 935, 985, 1,030), with explosive play at Ole Miss (18.2, 17.2 yards per catch). Despite a groin injury sidelining him for five games last season, Harris shone in 2023, surpassing 100 yards in five games. Harris has good size (6-2, 205), 2nd-round NFL Draft capital, and landed with a Chargers’ offense that needs a perimeter wideout. Harris looks like a good late-round fantasy target this summer.
WR Johnston, Quentin, LAC [WR3]
Inconsistent option that made a lot of big catches last season. Mike Williams’ retirement opens the door for Johnston to remain a key cog in the Chargers’ passing attack. But from a fantasy perspective, he’s an inconsistent weekly option who will have a handful of ‘blow-up’ games and a few duds.
ADVICE: The Chargers will trot out multiple tight ends. Dissly enters the season atop the depth chart after posting a solid TE24 campaign in LA last season. He doesn’t have TD upside, but can be a reliable source of targets.
ADVICE: LA’s other tight end has been a better fantasy option. However, Conklin is listed second on the depth chart. Splitting time limits his upside, but if Will Dissly were to miss time, Conklin would be on the weekly streaming radar.
TE Gadsden, Oronde, LAC [TE3] Super Sleeper
Gadsden has flashed excellent play-making ability throughout camp. He’s starting to look like an intriguing late-round sleeper.
Dicker ranked 2nd in the league in field goals (39) converted and attempts (42). He did miss three of his 36 PATs, but should be in position to post quality fantasy numbers once again for a Chargers’ offense that projects to be slightly better in 2025.
Def Chargers, Los Angeles, LAC
Call it the Harbaugh Effect. Los Angeles improved to 15h in fantasy scoring based on a healthy 46 sacks and 21 turnovers. The Chargers will be a borderline DST1, but there is no need to go out of your way to target them on draft day.
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