Ladd McConkey 2025 Dynasty Outlook

Ladd McConkey

We are all about honesty and transparency here at Total Apex, and I will be the first to say I balked at the idea of some of the close people I know who made trades to acquire Ladd McConkey for their Dynasty leagues. It seemed like a bad idea to sign a generous 6’0″ player under 190lbs who was taken in the 2nd round to an average at best Chargers team.

But boy oh boy was it ever a great thing to be wrong. This spark plug of a slot receiver seemed to be just what the doctor ordered, not only for Justin Herbert but for many fantasy football owners around the world.

In this write-up, we are going to dive into not only what made Ladd McConkey a great player last year. But also make the case why you should either highly target in your first year dynasty draft, or make big moves to acquire him if you are already in the trenches of dynasty. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into this exciting tale that is the Ladd.

Ladd McConkey 2024 Stats and Fantasy Production

Ladd McConkey was not your prototypical fantasy player, in that he didn’t blow you away in any one category that we fantasy owners are looking for.

His speed is not that of Tyreek Hill, he doesn’t have hops like DeAndre Hopkins, nor does he have hand skills like Justin Jefferson. But like the Los Angeles Chargers, who I still will never get used to that name change, saw something that has just as much value that we fantasy owners always seem to overlook. He is consistent, he creates openings, and he has an amazing chemistry with his elite quarterback, Justin Herbert.

The Los Angeles Chargers rolled the dice with some seemingly more talented players still available in the draft, but boy oh boy did the gamble pay off. As Ladd McConkey went off for a rookie year. Amassing 112 targets, with one yard shy of 1,150 yards, and a not too shabby seven touchdowns too boot.

This is all as a rookie, while learning a new offense, a new coaching style, a new environment, a new quarterback, and a new everything. The Los Angeles Chargers utilized Ladd McConkey to the fullest of his abilities, as he was constantly Justin Herbert’s go-to guy when a play needed to be made.

For teams and managers in Points Per Reception, McConkey was just about as elite as they come, as, according to ESPN, he was WR 11. That is pretty dang good, not just for a rookie but for anyone. He constantly got open and created plays. He played his slot position as well as anyone in the game currently.

There was a ton of production on the fantasy side of making consistent catches that moved the ball downfield. Now his touchdown numbers weren’t eye-popping. So, in formats outside PPR then McConkey slides down a bit in point production. Still very worthy of a major look at heading into the 2025 season.

Ladd McConkey 2025 Fantasy Outlook

Jan 11, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) is tackled by Houston Texans safety Eric Murray (23) after the catch and run in the second quarter in an AFC wild card game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Ladd McConkey heads into the 2025 season healthy and ready to build upon a great rookie campaign. A major plus this young man has is that his quarterback is still an elite thrower, Justin Herbert. Fantasy owners can expect a high floor for McConkey as he has a developed rapport with Herbert.

Adding young running backs to the team will help create a better mixture of passing opportunities that McConkey will eagerly take advantage of. PPR formats are going to be a major deciding factor in drafting or attempting to trade for McConkey.

There is no question that Herbert will be targeting McConkey early and often and thus will supply the young wide receiver with plenty of opportunities, thus equaling more points for fantasy managers. With his young age and foreseeable quarterback being Herbert, then I would target McConkey in Dynasty drafts anywhere before the 4th round, for McConkey, as he should complement big touchdown players like Nico Collins.

For those that have already drafted, you will need to spend a mid to late 1st round pick on McConkey, as outside of Ashton Jeanty and maybe Matthew Golden, they just won’t put up the points McConkey will.

Don’t be afraid to spend big, as you have to remember, you have McConkey locked in forever in most dynasty formats, as such, he is young and has 5 years at minimum of being just on the cusp of elite. The benefit is he isn’t the biggest name, so he may fall in drafts, or you might get away with offering a 2nd rounder for rookie drafts and adding in a low-tier player or a 3rd rounder as well.

All in all, Ladd McConkey was an under-the-radar pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, but we here at Total Apex are saying don’t let him slip by; he can be the big difference in a championship title or missing out on the playoffs. Full send on this amazing talent.

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