The 2024 NFL Season is rapidly approaching. The season kicks off on Thursday, September 5 and every day through Monday, September 2 we’ll be going team-by-team as we preview the new season. Be sure to come back here every afternoon as we look at a new team and get your ready for the 2024 season. We’ll cover off-season changes, the fantasy prospects, and the prediction for how the team will fare this season.

Like so many teams in the AFC, the 2023 season didn’t go as planned for the Los Angeles Chargers. The team, with Justin Herbert at quarterback and a solid veteran core of weapons, seemed poised to make a playoff push. Instead, Herbert got injured and the wheels came off the bus quickly. Following a historic loss to the Raiders, Chargers’ Head Coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco were fired. The slumping squad finished at the bottom of the AFC West, earning a Top 5 Draft Pick.

In the off-season, the Chargers added Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, who brought with him Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman. Together, they’ve spent the off-season beginning the process of reshaping the Chargers’ roster. Will that yield positive results in 2024? Let’s dive in and preview the Chargers.

Off-Season Changes

Herbert is still the Chargers’ starting quarterback. Much of the rest of the offense has gotten a big makeover. Long-time running back Austin Ekeler, receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and tight end Gerald Everett are all gone. In their place, the Chargers were modest in the free agent market and used the draft to supplement the positions. Among pass-catchers, the team added veteran receiver D.J. Chark and veteran tight ends Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly. In the backfield, the team added former Ravens Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, both of whom have experience with Roman. Edwards led the Ravens’ attack in 2023, finishing as RB25.

In the draft, the Chargers started by grabbing top tackle Joe Alt to bolster the line. They also added Kimani Vidal, a running back, and Brendan Rice, a receiver in later rounds. But the most intriguing pick was former Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey. He steps into a receiver room that’s wide open and could have a chance to step up as a rookie. In three years, he caught 119 passes for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Fantasy Prospects

The Chargers are locked in at quarterback, but with an inexperienced pass-catching group and a likely run-first offense, does that cap Herbert’s fantasy ceiling? I think it does, especially in 2024. I think he’ll be more of a QB2. In the backfield, meanwhile, it’s an open competition. Still, I like Edwards to take the lead role, finishing as a top-end RB3. I like Dobbins to bounce back and contribute some big plays without being a consistent weekly performer. The run game, like the offense, will likely be a work in progress.

The passing game is similarly wide open. The Chargers have a veteran in Josh Palmer and a second-year player in Quentin Johnston, a First-Round pick in 2023, in addition to McConkey, Chark, and Rice. Who takes the lead, and how high can they go? That’s more of a question. I like Johnston to step up a bit, but I’m betting more on Palmer and McConkey. Still, I have them both in the WR5 range, and Johnson in the WR6 range. At tight end, it feels like Dissly will be the highest performer, but I have him outside the Top 25.

Prediction

The Chargers struggled in 2023 and seem to be in the midst of a philosophical and personnel rebuild in 2024. So, another tough season? Perhaps, but I think they’ll make some progress. I still like Herbert, who is a better starter than the Broncos or Raiders can offer. I think the Chargers can get to six or seven wins, which could leave them as second in a down division.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.