Week 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are first in our aFPA vs. WR rankings and first in overall PPR points per game allowed to the position. It could not get any worse for Chargers receivers this week against Jalen Ramsey and company. Sit Mike Williams.
Week 8 at New England Patriots
This Chargers-Patriots game has the second-highest over/under in Vegas of Week 8 at 48 points, potentially foreshadowing a shootout. The Patriots rank 28th in our aFPA vs. WR rankings and have allowed the third-most PPR points per game to fantasy wideouts. However, Keenan Allen and Hunter Henry are the top two targets in this offense, at this point. Mike Williams has 1 target in two games. You aren't starting him in Week 8.
Week 1 at Denver Broncos
The Chargers first-round rookie will start the season on the active roster but is not expected to play against Denver (back injury).
Fantasy Upside
The Chargers grabbed Clemson's Mike Williams with the seventh overall pick in April's draft, passing on a handful of elite defensive prospects to add a big-play target for Philip Rivers. The 6-foot-3 Williams won the national title last season, leading the Tigers with 98 catches for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Fantasy Downside
The Chargers released a statement to open training camp saying that Williams is not expected to practice at all during training camp due to the back injury he suffered on the first day of rookie minicamp this spring. The lack of training camp time and the nature of Williams' injury would seem to make him a candidate to open the regular season on the physically unable to perform list. That would keep him out of action for the first six weeks and HC Anthony Lynn said the absence may stretch well beyond that point. "I'm hopeful that it's not [a season-ending injury], but who knows? It could be," Lynn said.
2017 Bottom Line
The Chargers’ announcement erased optimism about Williams’ availability that may have been created when the prospect of surgery was discarded earlier in the week. For now, it looks like getting the rookie on the field at all will be a win—for the Chargers (the team is said to be targeting October for the rookie's return). For fantasy owners? Not so much right at the moment. You'll want to be sure he's heading back before investing draft capital, and even then, expecting a solid season seems like a reach.
