Mike Williams is the 6’4 jump ball highlight machine wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers. In recent years, Williams has been a WR2/Flex option for fantasy football owners in PPR leagues. With a new offensive coordinator in Kellan Moore who has been known to be pass-heavy, can Williams have a career year in 2023?
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Mike Williams 2023 Fantasy Outlook
Williams 2022 Fantasy Season Recap
After achieving a career-high 1,146 receiving yards, 76 receptions, and hauling in nine touchdown passes in 2021, Williams disappointed fantasy owners with a boom-or-bust type season on a week-to-week basis finding no consistency and finishing as a low-tier WR2 in 2022.
Williams finished the season with 895 yards and four touchdown receptions on 63 receptions totaling only 176.5 fantasy points and finishing as WR32 in PPR leagues. He also missed four games in 2022 which limited his upside in an exciting Chargers offense led by Justin Herbert who passed for 4,739 yards and 25 touchdown passes.
Williams in New Offense
With a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore who is notably pass-heavy, Williams can potentially receive more targets and opportunities. Williams has been the deep and red zone jump ball wide receiver for the Chargers in years past. If Moore can get Williams more involved in other aspects of the offense and not just jump ball plays, he could have a potentially big year.
In camp, he has been featured in the slot wide receiver role to create mismatches against smaller corners. This could be something to monitor especially if he finds new success in this role which would create a massive upside for him.
Something to note as well about Williams is he will still be catching passes from a top-10 quarterback in Herbert making him a threat to break out potentially whenever.
Can Williams be a Consistent Option in 2023?
Entering the 2023 season, Williams still is the Chargers wide receiver two on the roster behind Keenan Allen. In games they played together in 2022 with Allen attracting opponents’ best cornerbacks, Williams was able to average a snap count of 70.8% on offense and rack up 385 yards, 25 receptions, and one touchdown.
These numbers were solid WR2/Flex production for fantasy owners in the back end of the fantasy season but showed that as long as Allen is healthy, Williams will be a consistent WR2/Flex option with a few potential big “boom” games. His upside is limited unless Allen misses time which would propel him to a high-end WR2.
ADP and Draft Ranking
According to FantasyPros, Williams ranks as the 30th-best receiver with an average ADP of 66. This makes him a fifth to seventh-round target in 10-man and 12-man PPR leagues.
Fantasy owners should not be drafting Williams to serve as their primary WR2, but rather a WR3/Flex option player. His upside is limited and he will most likely finish again outside the top 15 for fantasy wide receivers in PPR.
Time will tell for Williams if he can find consistency for fantasy owners or still be a week-to-week boom or bust type player in fantasy football.
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