Fantasy Football Player Notes

Ladd McConkey is the WR21 in fantasy points per game. McConkey has a 21.8% target share with 56.9 receiving yards per game, 1.68 yards per route run, and a 22.3% first-read share. He is tied for the team lead with 13 red zone targets while ranking third in deep targets with nine. Since Week 7, Philly has utilized two high at the fourth-highest rate (56.3%). Against two high, McConkey has led the way with a 22.4% target share and a 25% first-read share while posting only 1.38 yards per route run. The lack of per-route efficiency from McConkey is concerning, and with the corner matchup, it's tough to expect a monster game from him. Since Week 9, Philly has limited slot receivers to the lowest PPR points per target and the lowest passer rating when targeted.

Omarion Hampton will be back this week, and we have no way of accurately projecting how the workload will be divided between Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal. Vidal could split the work evenly with Hampton, Hampton could lead the way, or Vidal could retain the lead-back role as they ease Hampton in. Hampton's effectiveness is also in question here because we are still shaky on the details of his injury and what that could mean for his on-field performance for the remainder of the season. The other issue here is that Justin Herbert will be limited this week, which at first glance could be a good thing because the Bolts could lean on their ground game. Yes, the Bears ran it down Philly's throat last week, but the Chargers don't have the Bears' ground game. The offensive line can't impose its will on the ground, and Philly could just stack the box and force the Bolts to beat them through the air with their one-handed quarterback. Since Week 13, the Chargers' offensive line has had the 13th-lowest yards before contact per attempt. Hampton is best viewed as a risky flex play this week with a bad matchup. Prior to the Bears steamrolling the Eagles (Weeks 8-12), Philly had allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, the sixth-lowest rushing success rate, and the seventh-fewest yards before contact per attempt.

After seeing his route share dip recently, Keenan Allen came roaring back last week with a season-high 82.1% route share. Overall, he has been the WR28 in fantasy points per game with a 21.3% target share, 51.8 receiving yards per game, 1.87 yards per route run, and a 23.8% first-read share. Since Week 7, Philly has utilized two high at the fourth-highest rate (56.3%). Against two high, Allen has seen his numbers improve with a 21.4% target share, 1.96 yards per route run, and a 23.2% first-read share. Allen could lead the way for the Bolts' passing attack this week, especially when you consider his matchup on the perimeter. Since Week 9, Philly has allowed the third-most receiving yards per game and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers. Justin Herbert's effectiveness and the passing volume for the offense could limit Allen's ceiling and crush his floor. He's a risky flex play.

Since Week 6, Gadsden has been the TE9 in fantasy points per game with a 17.2% target share, 65.4 receiving yards per game, 2.30 yards per route run, and a 21.3% first-read share. In those seven games, he has had ten red zone targets and six deep targets. Since Week 7, Philly has utilized two high at the fourth-highest rate (56.3%). Since Week 6, against two high, Gadsden has had an 18.6% target share with 2.37 yards per route run and a 20.6% first-read share. He'll face an uphill climb this week against a defense that has shut down tight ends. Philly has allowed the second-fewest receiving yards per game and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. We also have effectiveness and passing volume worries this week with Justin Herbert under center.

Quentin Johnston is the WR29 in fantasy points per game with a 17% target share, 47.7 receiving yards per game, 1.39 yards per route run, and a 21.1% first-read share. He leads the team with 13 deep targets while also ranking fourth in red zone targets with 11. This isn't the matchup to consider flexing Johnston. Since Week 7, Philly has utilized two high at the fourth-highest rate (56.3%). Against two high, Johnston's numbers have cratered with a 14.5% target share, 0.98 yards per route run, and an 18.6% first-read share. Since Week 9, Philly has allowed the third-most receiving yards per game and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers, so maybe that helps Johnston this week. I'm not projecting a ceiling performance for him, though. He'll need a touchdown to save his day.

Omarion Hampton will be back this week, and we have no way of accurately projecting how the workload will be divided between Hampton and Kimani Vidal. Vidal could split the work evenly with Hampton or immediately be shoved back into a backup role. The other issue here is that Justin Herbert will be limited this week, which at first glance could be a good thing because the Bolts could lean on their ground game. Yes, the Bears ran it down Philly's throat last week, but the Chargers don't have the Bears' ground game. The offensive line can't impose its will on the ground, and Philly could just stack the box and force the Bolts to beat them through the air with their one-handed quarterback. Since Week 13, the Chargers' offensive line has had the 13th-lowest yards before contact per attempt. Vidal is best viewed as a risky flex play this week with a bad matchup. Prior to the Bears steamrolling the Eagles (Weeks 8-12), Philly had allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, the sixth-lowest rushing success rate, and the seventh-fewest yards before contact per attempt.