David Njoku lands with Chargers: Justin Herbert's Fantasy outlook continues to rise

I'm expecting a bounce-back season from Ladd McConkey, and he's worth drafting in Round 4 as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. Hopefully, he can regain his 2024 form, and McDaniel is excited to use McConkey as the focal point of the passing game.

"The multitude of ways you can get him the ball and how he takes low-risk throws and completions and turns them into long gains and his ability to separate versus man coverage, all that," McDaniel said of McConkey.

In 2024, McConkey looked like a star with 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 targets, and he averaged 15.1 PPR points per game. He struggled in 2025 with 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets, and he averaged just 11.3 PPR points per game.

Keenan Allen was part of the Chargers' receiving corps in 2025, and his presence impacted McConkey. Herbert's struggles with an inconsistent offensive line were also a problem. But McConkey needs to step up in his third year, and I think McDaniel and Herbert will help McConkey get back to his 2024 level of production -- if not more.

McDaniel is also excited about Quentin Johnston, and McDaniel compared Johnston to Julio Jones and Andre Johnson. Johnston had 51 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 targets in 14 games in 2025, and he averaged 12.2 PPR points per game.

"He's a guy that has some traits in his game that are similar to some very powerful, explosive, productive receivers that I've had in the past," McDaniel said. "Namely, like Julio and Andre."

Johnston should be considered a sleeper in all leagues, and he's worth drafting with a late-round pick. As of early May, I expect McConkey and Johnston to lead the Chargers in targets this season, but we'll see if Tre Harris or rookie Brenen Thompson could have an impact in the passing game. I would only take a late-round flier on Harris or Thompson in deeper leagues.

At tight end, I was hopeful for Gadsden as a breakout candidate, but that was before Njoku signed Monday. Now, I don't plan to draft a Chargers tight end as a Fantasy starter, and we'll see who ends up as the better late-round flier in training camp.

Gadsden showed promise as a rookie in 2025 with 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets in 15 games. He averaged 8.8 PPR points for the season, but he had six outings with at least 10.1 PPR points or more.

Njoku, who turns 30 in July, is coming off a down season in 2025 when he averaged just 7.2 PPR points in 12 games. He had 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets, and he was outplayed by rookie Harold Fannin Jr. in Cleveland.

Prior to last year, Njoku had three seasons in a row with at least 10.1 PPR points per game, and he still has the ability to regain that level of production. We'll just see how McDaniel plans to use Gadsden and Njoku this year.

The good news is McDaniel has done well with his tight ends in Miami. In 2024, Jonnu Smith had a career season at 13.1 PPR points per game. And Darren Waller appeared in six healthy games for the Dolphins in 2025 with Tagovailoa and scored at least 17.7 PPR points in three of those outings.

This is going to be a fun offense in 2025, especially for Herbert and Hampton. The addition of Njoku makes this passing game more lethal, but it's a little challenging for Fantasy managers when it comes to ensuring everyone gets enough targets.

I'm going to trust McDaniel to figure it out. And I'm going to draft several Chargers in my Fantasy leagues this year.