The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a rough 2016 season as they finished 5-11 and fourth in the AFC west. The Chargers were one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, but couldn’t stay healthy. The biggest problem was not being able to keep players healthy. The Chargers lost several key playmakers on offense to injuries last season. Below is the Los Angeles Chargers 2016 fantasy football recap.
Los Angeles Chargers 2016 Fantasy Football Recap
Quarterback
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL for over a decade. 2016 was another solid season for the veteran. He threw for 4,386 yards with 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Rivers finished as the 14th best quarterback in fantasy with 258 fantasy points. The 35-year-old averaged 16 fantasy points per game last season, making him a solid fantasy quarterback. The main problem was the turnovers and his playmakers getting hurt. If Rivers can limit his turnovers and with the offense he has he could easily finish as a top ten quarterback in fantasy this coming season. Rivers is worth a late round pick in drafts and could be a great bargain this season.
Running Backs
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon was coming off a disappointing rookie year in 2015. But he bounced back with a great sophomore season. He finished with 1,416 total yards and 12 touchdowns, good enough for 209 fantasy points. He was one of the best running back in fantasy last season. Gordon finished as the eighth ranked fantasy running back, averaging 16 fantasy points per game in 2016. He was injured in week 14 and missed the remainder of the season. Gordon is a top ranked running back in fantasy and is worth a first round pick in drafts this season.
Wide Receiver
The leading wide receiver for the Chargers was Tyrell Williams with 69 receptions for 1,058 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished as the 14th ranked receiver with 147 fantasy points. He averaged a little over seven fantasy points per game last season. Williams was a solid wide receiver two last season and with the injuries to rookie Mike Williams, he could still be a solid wide receiver two in the beginning of the season. He is worth a mid to late round draft pick and drafts this season.
Dontrelle Inman was the Chargers next leading receiver last season. Inman totaled 810 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He totaled 105 fantasy points and was the 47th ranked receiver in fantasy last season. Inman was a decent flex option in the back half of the season but was rather inconsistent in his production. With all of the mouths to feed in the Chargers offense, it will be difficult for Inman to be consistent and productive in 2017. He is not worth much more than a late round flyer. The receiver that many are looking to be the star in 2017 is Keenan Allen who is returning from an ACL tear that he sustained in week one of last season. Allen has looked solid throughout camp and is worth a fifth or sixth round pick in draft this upcoming season.
Tight End
The Chargers have had one of the best tight ends in the NFL for over a decade now in veteran Antonio Gates. While Gates is getting up there in age he has continued to be a solid tight end in the NFL and in fantasy football. Last season, Gates totaled 548 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished as the tenth ranked tight end in fantasy with 94 fantasy points. While he is still a solid NFL tight end it seems that there is a new lead tight end for the Chargers and Gates is not worth much more than a late round flyer in deeper league this season.
Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is coming off a solid rookie season where he totaled 478 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished as the 11th ranked tight end with 93 fantasy points. Henry appears to be the next in line to take over for Antonio Gates in the Chargers offense. He is a solid TE1 this season and is worth a mid to late round pick in fantasy drafts.
Kicker
The Chargers have a solid kicker in Josh Lambo who made 26 of his 32 field goal attempts last year and added 42 extra points. He finished the season as the 18th ranked kicker in fantasy with 120 fantasy points. With the depth at kicker Lambo is worth a late round flyer and if not drafted is worth keeping an eye on as the Chargers could have one of the best offenses in the league this season.
Defense
The San Diego Chargers defense was solid in fantasy last season as it finished as the tenth ranked defense in fantasy with 109 fantasy points. While the defense did only average six and a half fantasy points per game it was a decent match up play throughout the season. The Chargers defense is young and talented and could be a good streaming option in 2017.
The Los Angeles Chargers are a solid young talented team on both sides of the ball. The main issue with them is needing to stay healthy. They have suffered critical injuries to keep play makers off the field in several of the last few seasons. With the offense that the Chargers have and all the play makers on offense the Chargers could be interesting in the AFC West this year. The Chargers offense is a solid option for fantasy owners this season and should produce consistent and solid numbers.
