Is Ladd McConkey or Joshua Palmer The Fantasy Football WR1 For The Chargers?

The Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver room went through some changes this offseason. The team traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears and released Mike Williams. With those top two wideouts gone from this offense, quarterback Justin Herbert must find a new WR1 in 2024. 

His likely candidates will be rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey or fourth-year wideout Joshua Palmer. The Chargers drafted McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, while Palmer has been a steady WR3 for Herbert over the past few years. 

So, is McConkey or Palmer the fantasy football WR1 for the Chargers? Let's dive in and find out.

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Who is the Los Angeles Chargers' WR1?

The Chargers wide receiver room will look different this season. With Allen and Williams leaving in the offseason, the team replaced them with McConkey and DJ Chark. While Chark's addition gives Los Angeles a veteran wideout, he will likely serve as Los Angeles' WR3, while Quentin Johnston starts as the WR4. 

That leaves McConkey and Palmer as the two options to win that WR1 job out of training camp. The latter is the likely favorite to win that role, though, after showing some great things in his first three years. The 24-year-old has totaled 143 catches for 1,703 yards and nine touchdowns since entering the league in 2021. 

This is Joshua Palmer

The receiver who’s been forgotten since the Chargers drafted Ladd McConkey.

With Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler gone, Palmer has a chance to take on the biggest target share of his career in 2024.pic.twitter.com/gwEx3tX52y

— Moody (@EricNMoody) August 5, 2024

As for McConkey, he should be heavily involved in his first season. The Chargers selected him with the 34th overall pick in this year's draft, and he has the skill set to be Herbert's favorite target in the passing game. Palmer might start the year as the team's WR1, but don't be surprised if the rookie takes over that role as the season goes on. 

Who Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?

Despite being in line for the WR1 role in 2024, Palmer finds himself going 50 picks later than McConkey in fantasy drafts this season. On Sleeper, Palmer has a 140.3 ADP, while the rookie has an 88.6 ADP. That makes the fourth-year wide receiver a great value pick in the later round of drafts. He was a sneaky flex play last year, averaging 13.1 PPR fantasy points over his last five games. With Herbert as his quarterback, the 24-year-old has the best fantasy value among all Chargers wideouts this year.

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