Typically, the Los Angeles Chargers don’t really make a lot of off season moves, which makes my job a bit easier. Other than a few minor moves, they’ve pretty much stood pat, hoping to improve the team, and especially the defense, via the draft. This report covers the current state of the team from a fantasy perspective.

QB: The Bolts QB has been and remains QB Philip Rivers. Rivers very rarely gets injured and should still be considered one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the league, despite advancing age. As of this writing, there is no other quarterback on the team worthy of fantasy consideration.

RB: At age 26, RB Melvin Gordon should be in top form and will almost certainly be one of the top running backs drafted in most fantasy leagues. Backups RB Austin Ekeler and RB Justin Jackson both have some talent, but their value is limited as long as Gordon remains healthy. Ekeler is probably worth a late round grab, but Jackson should likely not be taken unless Gordon or Ekeler is hurt.

WR: The Chargers allowed WR Tyrell Williams to escape to the Raiders via free agency. That was actually a pretty major loss, in my view, as I believe him to be underrated and perhaps underappreciated. While WR Keenan Allen is outstanding, he does have a moderate history of injury. Big-bodied WR Mike Williams appears to be coming into his own and the loss of Williams probably translates into more targets for Williams. WR Travis Benjamin has good speed, but his inconsistency means that he probably has minimal value. But it’s also possible that the loss of Williams translates into more looks for Benjamin as well, so you’ll want to keep an eye on him to see anything changes.

TE: The only tight end worth discussing is TE Hunter Henry, who missed last season due to injury. If Henry remains healthy, he is a clear TE1 in just about any fantasy league. TE Antonio Gates remains a free agent and I’d be surprised to see him on the team this season, barring a major injury to Henry. TE Virgil Green will get a few looks here and there, but is not worth a spot on your bench.

PK: I’d be surprised to see anyone other than PK Michael Badgley kicking. He has a fairly accurate foot and has brought some element of consistency to the Chargers kicking game. Consider him an above average fantasy option on a team that is likely to score some points this season.

DEF: The defense was respectable and should improve this year. The addition of DT Jerry Tillery should help, although perhaps not immediately. Draft pick FS Nasir Adderly was a nice addition and should contribute immediately. Underrated LB Denzel Perryman, who I’ve met and is a nice guy, should be back contributing. S Derwin James is one of the best in the game. The pass rushing tandem of DE Melvin Ingram and DE Joey Bosa is perhaps the best pair of defensive ends in the game. Look for the Bolts defense to improve in 2019.

End.