Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart
- AFC West
- Stadium
- SoFi Stadium
- Head Coach
- Anthony Lynn
- Offensive Coordinator
- Shane Steichen
- Defensive Coordinator
- Gus Bradley
- Special Teams Coach
- George Stewart
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Los Angeles Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, taken sixth overall in April out of Oregon, was extremely productive in college. Herbert threw 52 touchdowns and only seven interceptions from a clean pocket (fourth-most TDs) in the last two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. He also completed 62.2 percent of his passes (sixth-best) against man coverage in 2019 and threw 11 TDs against the blitz, the most without an interception among college QBs. It's more impressive considering his receivers dropped 32 passes last year, which was tied for sixth-most in college football. He also had 713 passing yards on screen passes last year (second-most) and 1,212 since 2018 (second-most), with his eight TDs on such passes in 2019 topping the college ranks. Herbert threw the fourth-most deep passing touchdowns since 2018 (25), which is good news for receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The 22-year-old also excelled on play-action at Oregon. NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund projects Herbert to play in 10 to 12 games in his rookie season. It makes him undraftable in single-QB redraft leagues, but Herbert could be a streamer in two-QB leagues when/if he gets the nod, and he's an excellent early round dynasty/keeper selection as the future face of the Chargers franchise.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is a creative route-runner with an assortment of moves off the line of scrimmage that leave defenders out of place. Allen, who stands at 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, has three straight 1,000-yard seasons and has also gone over 100 catches twice in that span. The 28-year-old remains entrenched as the team's No. 1 receiver, but he'll be catching passes from either quarterback Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert in 2020 after the team decided to let veteran Philip Rivers walk in free agency. That'll make fantasy owners hesitant to tab Allen with a WR1 price tag, but the shifty wideout should still make for a solid WR2 in PPR leagues.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said the team is happy with their three quarterbacks -- Tyrod Taylor, rookie Justin Herbert and Easton Stick -- but that Kaepernick "definitely fits the style of quarterback for the system we're going to be running." It sounds as though Kap is on the Chargers' emergency workout list this year. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has encouraged a team to sign Kaepernick this offseason, but it remains to be seen if that will happen. It also remains to be seen if Kaepernick even has interest in going to a team as a backup instead of a starter. It feels like there is more legitimate interest from teams in signing Kap than there has been in the last three or four seasons.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Justin Jackson won't have a long leash as the No. 2 back behind Austin Ekeler in 2020. Jackson played in just seven games because of injuries in his second season in the NFL last year, rushing for 200 yards on 29 carries (6.9 yards per tote), but he might fall to third on the depth chart quickly if he can't stay on the field this year. The Bolts drafted Joshua Kelley in the fourth round in April, so he'll push Jackson for work as the backup. There will be opportunity, however, with Melvin Gordon III now in Denver. The 24-year-old Jackson could have standalone value as a flex play in deep PPR leagues if he can hold off the rookie. Otherwise, he's a solid handcuff for Ekeler owners.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has returned to the team's facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL allowed coaches to return to their team facilities last Friday, but not all of them have reported yet. Players are still prohibited from returning to the facilities unless they are rehabbing under the direction of the team's medical personnel. Virtual offseason programs are still underway, but it's unlikely that players will be allowed to get together with their teams for minicamps later this month. The NFL is hoping that training camps can get underway as scheduled in late July, which would be the first time that teams will be working out together as a whole the entire offseason.