The San Diego Chargers. You can go back less than 10 years ago and the combination of Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates was all promised to finish in the top-12 of their position. Today’s Chargers are not filled with as much certainty.

While two of the three previously named players are still active, they have many questions marks, along with the rest of the team.

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Quarterback

Rivers is still the top guy in the huddle, but his fantasy value has been one of question over the past couple seasons. In years which he expected to be a top fantasy player, he ends up disappointing. When he is expected to have a down year, he ends up finishing as a top-8 player for his position. Last season, the former first-round pick threw for 300 or more yards in eight games and threw two or more TDs in 10 games. It was his start to the season that helped him finish as the 11th-ranked QB in 2015.

Heading into 2016, Rivers is another year older and there are still many questions regarding his offensive line. He no longer has his deep threat in Malcom Floyd (retirement) and his safety blanket, Gates, is also aging. One positive sign will be the return of his number-one receiver, Keenan Allen, who missed the second half of last season with a lacerated kidney. Rivers will be the product of how well the team, primarily the running game and offensive line, will be able to produce around him. It would be safe to say he is a back-end QB1 once again.

 

Running Backs

One was the 11th-ranked fantasy running back and one was the 53rd-best. In some odd universe, the latter is still expected to be the start after only rushing for 641 yards and zero TDs last season. Melvin Gordon, the expected starter, came into last season with high expectations after being drafted in the first round, but he failed to live up to expectations. While he did have 88 rushing yards in just his second career game, he failed to top 60 yards the rest of the season, despite having double-digit carries in 10 of the next 12 games played. The offensive line that plagued Rivers is said to have hurt Gordon also. But, with a revamped line in 2016, Gordon should be able to produce at least RB2 numbers.

The other RB, Danny Woodhead, only had double-digit carries in two of the 16 games he played. His biggest weapon is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (caught four or more passes in 10 games), His usefulness in PPR leagues is not in question, but his receiving yardage keeps him valuable in standard leagues as well. If Gordon is able to produce in the running game this season, Woodhead and Rivers could see a dip in their production. The more Gordon sees the field, the more likely Woodhead will struggle to obtain even RB2 status. If Gordon struggles again, Woodhead could become a repeat RB1.

 

Wide Receivers

For the first time in a long time, San Diego has a WR the team, and fantasy owners, can be excited about. Keenan Allen, after missing most of last season, is being drafted in the second round of most early fantasy drafts, and for the right reasons. In eight games, more like seven and a half games, Rivers looked to Allen 89 times, that is almost 11 times per game.

At that pace over the course of a full season, Allen would only have finished behind Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Demaryius Thomas and Brandon Marshall, all of which finished as WR1s or a WR2 (Thomas). Large amounts of targets and a gunslinging QB should keep Allen in the conversation all season. A continuation of last season should be easily expected.

Alongside Allen, now that Floyd has retired and Stevie Johnson is out for the season, is new-comer Travis Benjamin, one of last year’s breakout studs. Benjamin comes over from the Cleveland Browns, another team that has not been able to maintain a fantasy relevant WR for a while, with the exception of Josh Gordon (if he can ever get back on the field). The newest Charger joins the team with the ability to return kicks as well as open up the field for Allen underneath. His speed will help replace Floyd’s ability to take the top of the defense and be sure that Rivers continue to target him down the field. Another WR3 for Benjamin is certainly possible.

 

Tight Ends

Another one of those regulars is still in San Diego. Antonio Gates will be entering his 14th season with the lightning bolts. Since his rookie season, he has finished as the a TE1 11 times, as well as the top-ranked TE three times. His best season came in 2004 when he recorded a line of 81-1101-10, but that was more than a decade ago and age and the upcoming youth are knocking on his door.

The team drafted Hunter Henry, the collegiate level’s best tight end, in the second round in 2016. While Henry may not jump up to even TE2 status this season, he will certainly take snaps and targets away from Gates, limiting both of their upsides. Honestly, it would be hard to target either of them confidently this season, but, if you had to choose, Gates would be best suited as your team’s second TE and Henry is a bye-week flier at best.

 

Kicker

Josh Lambo will be entering his second season as the team’s kicker. Let’s be honest here: the Chargers are going to score points regardless of how inconsistent the team’s offense may be. In 2015, Lambo attempted 32 extra points, but he missed four attempts. While the opportunities will be there for Lambo, it is hard to see him being consistent enough to start every week. He is going to be best used as a bye-week fill-in rather than a weekly starter.

 

Defense/Special Teams

Like Lambo, this is another unit of this offensively-minded team that should take on the weekly waiver wire. Last season, the team finished as the fifth-worst scoring fantasy defense/special teams unit, while only recording 11 interceptions and 32 sacks. This season, the team did not improve drastically, especially since top-drafted rookie DE Joey Bosa is yet to sign his rookie contract. The special teams part of this unit has the potential to return some kicks thanks to the addition of Benjamin, but that may not be enough to make them worth a start each week.

 

In Conclusion

Allen is the only player on this team that is worth a weekly start. The rest of the offense, including Rivers, Gordon, Woodhead, Benjamin and Gates, all have to prove they are worth a weekly start, and a roster spot, before they can be trusted. While they will all be drafted to start the season, it may not take long before some of them end up on the waiver wire. This offense is certain to produce points, but it is unknown where those points will come from each week. Word of advice: tread cautiously with the San Diego Chargers until more information is available.