Chargers WR Quentin Johnston (ankle) did not practice all week and is doubtful for Monday night's game vs. the Cardinals. WR Ladd McConkey (hip) is listed as questionable after a limited week of practice. WRs D.J. Chark (groin), Derius Davis (hamstring), and Simi Fehoko (shoulder, groin) are also officially questionable. Josh Palmer and Brendan Rice are the only healthy WRs on the active roster. We'll see if the Chargers make a promotion from the practice squad ahead of kickoff. McConkey has been the only fantasy-viable WR here for most of the season. If you were hoping to start him this week, make sure you have a backup plan from the Chargers, Cardinals, Bucs, or Ravens rostered in case the rookie ends up inactive on Monday night.
The Chargers selected USC WR Brenden Rice in Round 7 of the NFL Draft. Rice spent his first two seasons at Colorado, where low pass volume led to light usage. That changed upon transferring to USC in 2022. Paired with top QB Caleb Williams, Rice set career highs in catches (39), yards (611), and TDs (4). His production reached another level last fall with Jordan Addison off to the NFL. The 6’2 Rice posted a 45-791-12 line -- enough to rank first among Trojans in TDs; second in catches and yards. He posted a strong 2.75 yards per route run while playing most of his snaps out wide. The 22-year-old also flashed reliable hands, dropping only 2 balls (4.3% drop rate). No surprise there, as Brenden is the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice. Note: While not a burner, Rice’s size and physicality allow him to win in contested and red zone situations. (His 2023 TD rate was an absurd 26.6%.) Although the seventh-round draft capital is a major red flag, Rice at least joins a Chargers WR corps with snaps up for grabs. The rookie is not worth a pick in early best-ball drafts but is a fine flier in Round 4 or 5 of dynasty rookie drafts.
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