Ladd McConkey showed impressive potential during his rookie season, positioning himself as a promising option for fantasy football managers. As the 2024 season approaches, many are evaluating whether McConkey can establish himself as a truly elite fantasy receiver in the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense. With his skill set and growth trajectory, McConkey represents a compelling mid-second-round pick for fantasy drafts this year.
Assessing McConkey’s Rookie Campaign and Role
The 2024 wide receiver rookie class featured remarkable talents like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., both posting historically strong debut seasons. Additionally, the hype surrounding Marvin Harrison Jr. made it easy for McConkey to be overlooked despite his own noteworthy performance. Although selected in the second round, McConkey has demonstrated that draft position alone does not tell the full story.
Early questions about McConkey’s ability to handle a full-time receiver role arose because of his unusual usage profile in college, where he delivered strong production on limited routes. Concerns about his readiness for a consistent role in the NFL faded as he steadily earned more playing time. McConkey’s snap share was modest during the first half of his rookie season, not surpassing 80% until Week 7, and he ran over 30 routes in a game just once during the first 10 weeks.
Like many rookie wide receivers, McConkey adjusted to the professional level gradually. From Week 1 to Week 10, he averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game, but his production surged from Week 11 onward, posting an impressive 18.67 points per game from Week 11 to Week 18. His standout performance came in the Chargers’ playoff game, where he caught nine passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, tallying 34.7 fantasy points.
Placing McConkey Among Top Rookie Receivers
Evaluating McConkey’s second-half output places him alongside Malone class rookies Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. This assessment is reflected in fantasy managers’ behavior, where McConkey’s average draft position (ADP) ranks around WR11, corresponding to a mid-second-round selection in fantasy drafts.
How rookie WRs played last year, filtering out a lot of noise in the data. I thought Ladd McConkey, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas were very clearly the best rookie WRs on tape, so these numbers are pretty good to use. pic.twitter.com/pKUcGbzqmq
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) May 19, 2025
McConkey stands among a small group of receivers considered capable of finishing as the overall WR1, though he is not the clear favorite. As a rookie, he averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game while ramping up in the latter half of the season, which is especially impressive considering the offensive scheme he played in.
Impact of Chargers’ Offensive Style on McConkey’s Production
The Chargers’ offense under head coach Jim Harbaugh operates at a notably slow pace, limiting opportunities for wide receivers to have big games. They ranked as the slowest team in neutral game script, averaging 30.7 seconds per snap, which was significantly behind the league’s fastest team. Quarterback Justin Herbert attempted fewer than 30 passes per game, his lowest average of his career.
Expectations are that the Chargers will continue emphasizing their running game following the first-round draft selection of running back Omarion Hampton, who brings fresh energy. The team’s commitment to the ground attack includes acquiring other backs like J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, which could slightly reduce passing volume but is not expected to drastically limit targets for top receivers.
Despite this, the Chargers’ neutral game script pass rate sat at 56%, indicating they still passed more than half the time, and rookie wide receiver Tre Harris, selected soon after Hampton, suggests some growth in the passing game is likely. McConkey’s target share was 24.5% last season, and there is room for that figure to rise as the team throws more.
Reasons for Fantasy Managers to Trust McConkey’s Growth
McConkey enters his second year with a strong foundation, following an elite rookie season that featured increasing production and reliability. Historically, sophomore wide receivers tend to be valuable fantasy assets, and McConkey benefits from stability at the quarterback position with Justin Herbert delivering consistent play. His role as the clear alpha receiver is secure, especially with former star Keenan Allen no longer in the picture.
With a potential increase in target volume in a slightly more pass-friendly offense, fantasy football managers can expect McConkey to be a major contributor in 2024. Ranking him as a top 10 wide receiver to start the season is justified, and having him as the primary wideout on any fantasy roster should be considered a strong strategic decision.