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Hayden Hurst Hayden Hurst Disappointing season in LA
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 2:32 PM
Hurst appeared in nine regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024, recording eight catches (on 13 targets) for 73 yards.
Analysis: Hurst joined the Chargers on a one-year contract last March, with expectations of bouncing back after a down year in Carolina. Instead, the 31-year-old set career-low marks across the board, including not recording a touchdown for the first time in his seven-year career. A hip injury, which led to a stint on IR, derailed any momentum he may have been building early in the season with his new squad. Ultimately, he finished the campaign as a healthy scratch in their wild-card matchup against the Texans. |
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Stone Smartt Stone Smartt Puts up career-high marks
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 2:24 PM
Smartt played in 15 regular-season games in 2024, making 16 catches (on 19 targets) for 208 yards.
Analysis: Smartt's reception and yardage totals were career highs, despite playing 122 offensive snaps less in 2024 than he had in 2023. The Old Dominion product is set to be a restricted free agent in March and is a candidate to return to the squad in 2025, depending on how the Chargers rework their tight-end corps with only Will Dissly under contract for next season. |
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Tucker Fisk Tucker Fisk Finishes as the Bolts' No. 2 TE
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 2:18 PM
Fisk appeared in nine regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024, collecting seven receptions (on eight targets) for 39 yards.
Analysis: Fisk signed with the team's active roster Nov. 9 after starting the season on its practice squad. Injuries to Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst opened up the opportunity for the Stanford product, who spent the previous season in Atlanta. Fisk is set to be an exclusive-rights free agent in March but is a candidate to return to the team, depending on what direction they go this offseason at tight end. |
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Brenden Rice Brenden Rice Limited work in rookie campaign
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 2:06 PM
Rice (shoulder) appeared in three regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024, but he didn't tally any counting stats.
Analysis: Rice was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 Draft out of USC and was unable to create any momentum in his first NFL season. After being a healthy inactive Week 1, he suited up for his first game Week 3 against the Steelers but saw snaps only on special teams. A couple of weeks later, a shoulder injury led to his placement on injured reserve, where he stayed for the remainder of the year. Rice may have an opportunity in training camp to earn a larger role with the Chargers next season if he can stay healthy in 2025. |
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Jalen Reagor Jalen Reagor Ends season on injured reserve
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 2:00 PM
Reagor (finger) appeared in eight regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024, making seven catches (on 12 targets) for 100 yards.
Analysis: Reagor started the season on the Chargers' practice squad and didn't find his way to the active roster until Week 7 against the Cardinals. After appearing in eight straight games, a finger injury suffered against the Chiefs moved him to the sidelines for the remainder of the campaign. A first-round selection in 2020 by the Eagles, Reagor has yet to reach expectations after also having stops in Minnesota and New England. Set to be a free agent again, the TCU product likely will earn another opportunity in 2025, whether it be in Los Angeles or elsewhere. |
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Simi Fehoko Simi Fehoko Has injury shortened campaign
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:54 PM
Fehoko played in eight regular-season games in 2024, making six catches (on 16 targets) for 106 yards.
Analysis: Fehoko saw more work than expected in 2024 due to injuries in the Chargers' receiving corps before he suffered one of his own. The Stanford product missed the final nine regular-season games due to an elbow injury that involved a stint on injured reserve, before returning for a wild-card loss to the Texans. The 27-year-old now will enter free agency, assuming he does not re-sign with the Chargers before the start of the new league year in March. |
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Derius Davis Derius Davis Sees similar role again
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:46 PM
Davis appeared in 15 regular-season games in his sophomore campaign, making 13 catches (on 17 targets) for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He also totaled 759 yards on kick- and punt-return duties.
Analysis: Davis' second season looked a lot like his rookie campaign from a statistical standpoint. His 112 yards through the air bested his 66 from last season, though, and his two touchdowns were the first of his career. The 24-year-old still has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract and likely will be pegged for return duties again in 2025, while he works to earn a greater share of the receiving work moving forward. |
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DJ Chark DJ Chark Injuries derail season
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:39 PM
Chark appeared in seven regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024, making four catches (on 10 targets) for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: Chark signed a one-year deal in the spring and likely was pegged to take over the deep-threat role in the Chargers offense left behind by the departure of Mike Williams. However, a hip injury and then a groin injury to follow delayed the LSU product's team debut. The missed time left Chark unable to catch up, as he also missed a game as a healthy scratch. Set to be an unrestricted free agent this spring, the 28-year-old could be a candidate for a second opportunity, or he may have to look elsewhere to be on an NFL sideline in 2025. |
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Will Dissly Will Dissly Enjoys career year with Chargers
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:34 PM
Dissly secured 50 of 64 targets for a career-high 481 yards and two touchdowns across 15 regular-season appearances with Los Angeles in 2024. He caught two of five targets for 16 yards during the team's wild-card round loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Dissly emerged as a consistent target for quarterback Justin Herbert in his inaugural season with the Chargers, setting new career-high marks across the board as a receiver. That said, the veteran tight end remained a fringe fantasy option in formats that start just one tight end, as he exceeded 50 yards in a game just twice during the 2024 season. Dissly remains under contract with Los Angeles for the next two years, though the team will have a potential 'out' to evaluate after the 2025 campaign. |
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Taylor Heinicke Taylor Heinicke Gets limited work as backup
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:21 PM
Heinicke saw spot duty in four regular-season games in 2024, completing three of five pass attempts for 28 yards and also rushing two times for 20 yards.
Analysis: Heinicke's lack of work was expected, as long as the Chargers' starting quarterback, Justin Herbert remained healthy. The 31-year-old joined the franchise late in training camp due to a trade with the Falcons and ultimately won the backup job from Easton Stick. With Heinicke set to be an unrestricted free agent, he may find himself in a different uniform next season. |
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Joshua Palmer Joshua Palmer Unable to live up to expectations
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 1:03 PM
Palmer (foot) logged 39 catches (on 65 targets) for 584 yards and one touchdown across 15 regular-season appearances with the Chargers in 2024.
Analysis: Palmer entered the 2024 campaign seemingly staring down tremendous opportunity with the Chargers having moved on from wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but he ultimately took a backseat to both 2024 second-rounder Ladd McConkey and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Despite suiting up for five more games in 2024, Palmer's production remained similar to the 38-581-2 receiving line he put up across 10 appearances in 2023. After missing Los Angeles' regular-season finale and wild-card round loss to the Texans, Palmer will now work to fully recover from his foot injury in time for the start of free agency. |
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Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Hardly utilized in rookie campaign
Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 3:56 PM
Vidal finished his rookie campaign with 43 carries for 155 yards and an additional five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown across 10 games.
Analysis: The 2024 sixth-round pick was considered a possible deep sleeper entering the year given the uncertain availability of oft-injured backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, but the imported Ravens duo were relatively healthy throughout the year, relegating Vidal to a healthy inactive at portions of the season. Even when the rookie had opportunities to flourish due to various injuries to the aforementioned duo, Vidal only saw six or more carries twice throughout the season and played just over 21 offensive snaps twice throughout the entire campaign. The Chargers clearly prioritize multiple rotational backs and depth given the offensive emphasis of the position, but it's unclear if Vidal will be a part of the team's larger goals despite Dobbins entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and Edwards due a $3 million bonus entering his age-30 season. |
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Hassan Haskins Hassan Haskins Clear depth back during season
Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 3:48 PM
Haskins finished the 2024-25 campaign with 34 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns across 120 offensive snaps. He also caught three passes for 49 yards and an additional score during the season.
Analysis: Haskins was reliably the team's third back behind J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, who both spent stints on injured reserve throughout the year. Rookie Kimani Vidal saw opportunities ahead of Haskins, particularly during Dobbins' four-week absence during Week 13-16, but the rotational hodgepodge of the four backs often saw Haskins ahead of Vidal by virtue of his prowess on special teams over the rookie. The former Titans fourth-round pick back in 2022 is on a team-friendly deal next season and could return as a depth piece in a backfield that could be completely reshaped with Dobbins an unrestricted free agent and Edwards due $3 million next season. |
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Jaylen Johnson Jaylen Johnson Inks futures deal with Bolts
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 7:46 PM
Johnson signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on Monday.
Analysis: Johnson signed with the Chargers in late April as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia. He was signed to the Bolts' practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp, and he made his NFL regular-season debut in Week 8 against the Saints, during which he played four snaps (one offense, three special teams) but did not show up in the box score otherwise. The 24-year-old wide receiver will have an opportunity to develop his skillset under the Chargers' coaching staff during the offseason and will look to earn a spot on the 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign. |
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Jaret Patterson Jaret Patterson Staying with Bolts
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 6:56 PM
Patterson signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on Monday.
Analysis: Patterson was unsuccessful in making the Chargers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but he signed with their practice squad Sept. 2. He was elevated for the Chargers' wild-card game against the Texans on Saturday, but ended up being inactive for the contest. The 25-year-old running back will stay with the Bolts during OTAs, minicamp and training camp in an effort to earn a spot on the 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Lays goose egg in WC loss
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8:12 PM
Johnston (thigh) failed to bring in any of his five targets in Saturday's 32-12 playoff loss Houston.
Analysis: Johnston entered the wild-card round loss carrying a questionable tag, but he showed no limitations from the thigh injury while running routes. The 23-year-old's playoff debut was instead plagued by his hands after suffering multiple drops en route to a zero-catch performance. Saturday's dud comes on the heels of the Johnston's best game of his career in Week 18 against the Raiders (13-186-0). The inconsistent sophomore finished the regular season with a 55-711-8 receiving line across 15 games for the Chargers. |
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Gus Edwards Gus Edwards Quiet game on seven carries
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:58 PM
Edwards rushed seven times for 22 yards and was not targeted as a receiver in Saturday's 32-12 wild-card round loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Edwards teamed up with co-starter J.K. Dobbins (ankle) to overcome ankle issues in order to start Saturday's disappointing playoff loss to Houston. Neither tailback could generate any running room when the game was close, resulting in the longtime teammates being phased out of the second-half game plan as the Chargers began desperately throwing from behind. Dobbins finished the season as the club's top producer and preferred fantasy option while Edwards logged a career-worst 3.6 YPC in 11 active contests. The former is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason while the latter still has one season remaining on the two-year contract signed in 2024. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Forgettable playoff start
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:47 PM
Dobbins (ankle) took nine carries for 26 yards and failed to bring in his lone target in Saturday's 32-12 playoff loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Dobbins carried a questionable tag into Saturday's wild-card round matchup, but he did not appear limited after leading a dismal rushing attack with nine touches. Veteran backup and longtime teammate, Gus Edwards, struggled similarly (7-22-0) as the starting duo failed to set the tone against a stout Houston defensive front. The 26-year-old Dobbins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason after producing a 195-905-9 rushing line in 13 healthy games for Los Angeles in 2024. |
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Ladd McConkey Ladd McConkey Lone fantasy star for LAC
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:37 PM
McConkey reeled in nine receptions on 14 targets for 197 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 32-12 wild-card round loss to Houston.
Analysis: McConkey made quite the splash in his postseason debut, setting a new career high in receiving yards (197) while tying his previous high-water mark in receptions (nine). The 23-year-old rookie's box score result was the only one worth mentioning for a Chargers squad that netted just 261 yards of offense against the Texans. The disparity between McConkey and all of Los Angeles' other available receiving options in the blowout loss highlights the team's need to surround its No. 1 option with talent as we look ahead to the 2025 season. |
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Justin Herbert Justin Herbert Throws four picks in ugly loss
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:21 PM
Herbert completed 14 of 32 pass attempts for 242 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions with no rushing stats in Saturday's wild-card round loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Herbert picked an inopportune time to have the worst passing game of his promising career after Saturday's four-pick performance was the primary cause of the Chargers' season coming to an abrupt end. The 26-year-old is now 0-2 in two career playoff appearances, which comes on the heels of a solid regular season (3,870-23-3) in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first season with Los Angeles. Herbert and the Chargers' more-balanced offense will have to regroup for the 2025 campaign despite finishing the season well ahead of franchise expectations. |
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