Ladd McConkey Belongs as a Tier 2 Receiver in 2025

The group of wide receivers going in the second round of drafts this year will be a huge factor in this fantasy season. Players like Brian Thomas Jr., Nico Collins, and Drake London are being drafted essentially right after one another in our multi-site ADP tool, and whichever one can make the leap to top-5 status will change the course of your season. In this article, I’ll be arguing why Ladd McConkey, who is being drafted slightly after that as the WR11 and 22nd overall, could be the breakout player from that tier.

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An Impressive Rookie Season

McConkey was selected by the Chargers with the 34th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and immediately became an impact contributor. He led the Chargers in targets (112), receptions (82), and receiving yards (1,149), finishing as the overall WR12 in fantasy football. Like most rookie receivers, McConkey was particularly valuable down the stretch. From Week 8 on, he was on a 1,500-yard 17-game pace and was the WR8. McConkey also quietly had one of the best single-game receiver playoff performances ever, racking up 197 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ Wild Card loss.

McConkey’s underlying metrics matched his counting stats, finishing 9th among receivers in yards per route run and 13th in first downs per route run. If there is one area for McConkey to improve, it would be his target share. Despite playing over 60% of his snaps from the slot, McConkey ranked just 27th among receivers in target share, and his 112 targets ranked behind guys like Jauan Jennings, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Calvin Ridley, who did not have nearly as much fantasy production.

McConkey in the Chargers Offense

McConkey should once again be the clear leader in all major receiving categories for the Chargers this year. There has been a lot of training camp buzz about rookies Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, but both of those players are competing more for the No. 2 spot behind McConkey. The Chargers also drafted running back Omarion Hampton in the first round of the 2025 draft, and while he may command volume on the ground, he will also raise the ceiling of the offense as a whole.

Because of the culture instilled by Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, the Chargers feel like a defense-first, run-heavy team. However, last season, Justin Herbert and company were actually a rather adequate passing offense, and more than productive enough to support McConkey as a top-10 fantasy receiver. The Chargers ranked 6th in early-down pass frequency in 2024 and had the 4th highest EPA per dropback on those early down plays, indicating that they were willing and able to air the ball out.

Assessing McConkey’s Floor and Ceiling

I think that McConkey has one of the higher floors among receivers this year. Thanks to his situational stability, he should comfortably match his reception and yardage totals from last season, giving him a worst-case scenario of around the WR15.

McConkey’s ceiling will be dictated by whether he can command more of the passing volume in the offense. Increasing his target numbers to around 125-130, his pace after Week 8 last season would put him in the conversation of a top-10 receiver. Additionally, after receiving just eight total red zone targets last year, McConkey could improve those numbers if the Chargers offense is more efficient. They ranked 13th as a unit in offensive EPA per play as a whole, but with a borderline top-5 quarterback, they certainly have the potential to be much better than that. This gives McConkey a great chance to increase his touchdown mark of seven from 2024.

Why Ladd McConkey Wins at ADP

I strongly believe that McConkey belongs in the second tier of receivers. Looking at the thirrd round receiver group below him, he has a much safer fantasy outcome than players like Tyreek Hill, Tee Higgins, or Garrett Wilson. His situational stability makes him equally as appealing as someone like Brian Thomas Jr. and A.J. Brown, who will face much stronger target competition from Travis Hunter and DeVonta Smith, respectively. McConkey also has a higher chance at scoring double-digit touchdowns than Thomas or Malik Nabers, who project to be in worse offenses. McConkey may not be the most exciting pick you make, but I would be comfortable with him as my WR1 this year after taking an elite running back in the first round.

The Bottom Line

• Ladd McConkey is coming off a productive rookie season where he finished as a top-15 fantasy wideout with strong underlying metrics.
• McConkey should once again be the clear top receiver in the Justin Herbert-led Chargers offense that has an increased offensive ceiling thanks to the arrival of Omarion Hampton.
• If McConkey can improve his target share and/or touchdown numbers, he has a real chance at finishing as a top-10 receiver. His stability and guaranteed output make him a worthy pick in the late second round of your fantasy draft, and I would definitely take him ahead of the more questionable 3rd tier of receivers.