Although the Los Angeles Chargers were able to pull out the victory against the Oakland Raiders, they unfortunately missed the playoffs due to a lack of help from other teams.
While I’m sure the Chargers wished they had a shot in the postseason, they still have to feel slightly optimistic finishing the season 9-7 after an 0-4 start. In fantasy, the Chargers had a very good season, with many of their players being top producers. Today, I will discuss the performance of each offensive player this season in fantasy, and therefore their value going into next season.
Quarterback
Philip Rivers
With the exception of a couple poor performances, Philip Rivers was rather consistent for the rest of the season. He proved that he isn’t done in the league just yet, and he can still play at a top level as well.
Grade: A
Running backs
Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon, who has now had back-to-back career years, seems to be finding his stride and role as a premier back in the league. If Gordon can get some more help up front, he could become a top-5 runner in the league, increasing his already first-round fantasy value to that of a top pick.
Grade: A-
Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler, who was a long shot to even make the team during training camp, was a very effective backup for Gordon this season. Although he had some issues fumbling the ball and with clock management, he was still an effective player overall, so it will be interesting to see how he will do in his sophomore season.
Grade: B
Branden Oliver
Branden Oliver, who spent a lot of the season injured, played decently when called upon. His fantasy value remained limited, especially with the heavy usage of Gordon and Ekeler.
Grade: C
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen
Keenan Allen quickly became one of the top receivers in the league this season, as he set a record for being the first player in NFL history to post three consecutive 100-yard, 10 reception games with a touchdown reception. In fantasy, he really blew up starting with the Bolts’ game against Buffalo. He will likely be selected among the top five wide receivers in many fantasy leagues next season.
Grade: A
Tyrell Williams
After Tyrell was thrust into a starting role last season following Allen’s Week 1 injury,, he had the opportunity to be a starting WR2 this season for the Bolts. Despite some issues with dropping the ball, Tyrell had a pretty decent season considering his role.
Grade: B+
Travis Benjamin
Travis Benjamin, who had a rather disappointing first season with the Chargers, churned out a better performance in the Chargers’ most recent campaign. Benjamin even had a punt return touchdown this season, something he had yet to do with the team. As a receiver, he made significant progress with Rivers this year, and hopefully he will be able to further develop that relationship next season
Grade: B
Mike Williams
The Chargers’ first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft missed the majority of the offseason and a big chunk of the regular season, so he has not yet really had a chance to develop or create a relationship with Rivers. Hopefully, with a full offseason ahead of him, he will be able to make more of an impact in his second year.
Grade: C-
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry
In his second year, Henry was nothing short of sensational. He blocked and received well all year (except the first couple games where he did not see many targets) and was a major key to the Chargers’ success in the passing game. Henry has become an elite tight end, and should be a major fantasy asset next season.
Grade: A+
Antonio Gates
While many thought that this was likely Gates’ last season, it seems that he may not be done just yet. Gates did not see too many targets when Henry was starting, but after Hunter’s injury, Gates stepped up and performed when the Chargers needed him. While his fantasy value is slightly diminished by his status as a backup tight end, Gates still remains someone to watch whenever he is in the game.
Grade: B
Kickers
Yeah, this was an issue this year. Enough said.
Grade: F
Defense
More from Bolt Beat
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- LA Chargers: Drue Tranquill takes a jab at Gus Bradley’s defense
- LA Chargers second-year players: Nothing to lose and a lot to gain
- LA Chargers: Why running back could be a big issue for the Bolts
- LA Chargers: Chris Rumph’s upside is Melvin Ingram-like, but better
While this was a rather maligned unit in 2016, the hiring of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley seems to have turned the unit around. With the best red zone defense in the league, the combination of a strong pass rush and a great secondary has allowed the Chargers defense to stand out compared to the rest of the league.
In fantasy, the Bolts’ defense was a pretty good value start, as they created a fair amount of turnovers and even some defensive scores.
Grade: A-
How do you think the Chargers performed this season in fantasy? Did any of them lead you to a fantasy title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.