LA Chargers roster: Predicting the 2021 running back depth chart

4. Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley had a great first game for the LA Chargers and then it all started to go downhill from there. It got to the point where Kelley was a healthy scratch from the lineup in certain weeks. That should be the no. 1 tellin sign that Kelley is likely going to be low on the depth chart.

Quite frankly, Kelley was one of the worst running backs in the entire league last season. Football Outsiders ranked Kelley as the worst running back in 2020 and his numbers are truly woeful. He lacked good field vision and his numbers showed it. He averaged a staggeringly low 3.2 yards per carry last season.

Granted, some of that was due to the fact that the offensive line was terrible last season but that is not a scapegoat for Kelley. We saw players such as Troymaine Pope have good performances for the Bolts last season. Kelley got ample chances to prove his worth.

Add in the poor performance in special teams and it is easy to make Kelley a practice squad running back in just his second season. It may seem like a waste of draft capital, but it is better to address the problem now rather than force a fit that is not there just so the pick is not bad.

Kelley also seemed to be an Anthony Lynn selection. With Lynn now gone, chances are Staley and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi are going to favor the guy they just drafted, not the guy that the previous coach drafted.

Joshua Kelley is going to have to show up in 2021 as a completely different running back to be productive for the LA Chargers.