How do the Chargers stack up offensively compared to the rest of the division?
By Scott Iger
Due to an onslaught of injuries over the past two years, the Chargers’ record has suffered greatly, but the amount of talent on the roster remains high. How does the Chargers’ offensive roster compare to the rest of the AFC West? Let’s find out.
Quarterbacks (ranked):
Jan 1, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) signals before the snap during the first half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chiefs won 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
1. Philip Rivers – LAC
2. Derek Carr – OAK
3. Alex Smith – KC
4. Trevor Siemian – DEN
Although Derek Carr is coming off a career season, whether he will be able to continue his strong performance remains in question. On the other hand, Philip Rivers has consistently proven to be an elite quarterback, granting him the honor of being the top quarterback in the division. Neither Alex Smith nor Trevor Siemian are even guaranteed to be starters this season, so they definitely fall behind.
Running Backs (starting):
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
1. Melvin Gordon – LAC
2. Spencer Ware – KC
3. Marshawn Lynch – OAK
4. C.J. Anderson/Jamaal Charles/D. Booker – DEN
Coming off a disappointing rookie season, Melvin Gordon improved to elite status in his sophomore season. I placed Spencer Ware in front of Marshawn Lynch simply because Lynch hasn’t played in a year or started in two, so Ware seems more likely to play well in my opinion. The committee of C.J. Anderson, Jamaal Charles, and Devontae Booker are by far the worst in this division.
Wide Receivers:
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
1. Keenan Allen, T. Williams, M. Williams – LAC
2. Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree – OAK
3. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders – DEN
4. Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley – KC
The Chargers have arguably the deepest receiver group in the NFL, with five players who could arguably be starters. While Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are very talented, they both suffer major consistency problems, as Crabtree had the most drops in the league last season. Denver has two very capable receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmauel Sanders, but not much past that, and Kansas City has one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the NFL.
Tight Ends:
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
1. Hunter Henry/Antonio Gates – LAC
2. Travis Kelce – KC
3. Jared Cook – OAK
4. Jake Butt/Virgil Green – DEN
The Chargers one-two punch of a future Hall of Famer and a rising young star make them one of the best tight end groups in the league. Travis Kelce is a great tight end for the Chiefs, but Oakland and Denver are far inferior in this position group.
Offensive Line:
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
1. Oakland Raiders
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Denver Broncos
4. Los Angeles Chargers
Oakland is renowned for having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and the Chiefs offensive line is solid as well. The Broncos offensive line has struggled recentlyand the Chargers offensive line last season was a complete mess, although, with the addition of some new players, it could be much better in the Chargers 2017-18 campaign.
In conclusion, we can see that the Chargers are better at pretty much every position except for offensive line within the AFC West, showing the true potential of this roster. Which team do you think has the most talented roster in the AFC West? Let us know in the comment section below.