Team Profile
Los Angeles Chargers
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7.5% 12thOff DVOA
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32.8% 8thPassing DVOA
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-10.5% 21stRushing DVOA
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-5% 9thDef DVOA
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-2.2% 6thDef Passing DVOA
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-9.2% 17thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For23.6 12th
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Points Against17.7 1st
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Yards Per Game324.0 20th
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Yards Allowed Per Game325.0 11th
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston will look to end his disappointing rookie season on a high note in a Week 18 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnston, the Chargers first-round pick, has just 36 catches for 414 yards and two touchdowns. He'll have a key role with Keenan Allen (heel) likely out and Joshua Palmer (concussion) possibly limited. Johnston doesn't have much upside even against Chiefs backups. He'll be a WR4.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick is not a recommended fantasy option for a Week 18 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Stick has likely struggled his way out of the QB2 position for next season, but he'll get one more start to wrap up this season for the Chargers, Going up against the Chiefs defense, Stick is unlikely to be able to do much with a thoroughly decimated Los Angeles offense. He's outside of the top-20 fantasy quarterbacks this week, even with several teams resting their starters.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (foot) was able to log a full practice session after being limited by a foot injury on Wednesday. With Jonathan Mingo (foot) now on injured reserve, a healthy Chark would operate as a clear number two behind Adam Thielen against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers soft pass defense in Week 18. When the teams last squared off in Week 13, Chark came up with three catches on four targets for 53 yards. Even in a plus matchup, it will be hard to trust Chark to produce fantasy-relevant numbers, given that Carolina's offense has generated the fewest yards per game and second-fewest points per game in the league.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (concussion) was limited in practice on Wednesday and could have a shot to play in Week 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs after missing the Week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos due to a concussion he suffered in Week 16. The 24-year-old was on the field for the majority of the snaps in his last game played and caught five of his eight targets for 47 yards. Keenan Allen (heel) is likely to close out the year missing his fourth straight game, so if Palmer gains clearance to play this weekend against a Chiefs team likely to rest a lot of their starters, he could be a DFS sleeper that pays off. In the two games that Palmer has played in Weeks 15 and 16 with Allen sidelined, he caught nine of 12 targets for 160 yards and one touchdown.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Chark (foot) is listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a foot injury. The 27-year-old had his best showing of the season in Week 16, catching six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. However, he posted just one catch for 18 yards in Week 17. Despite Jonathan Mingo (foot) landing on Injured Reserve and a favorable matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on deck, it's tough to trust any Panthers' pass-catcher in fantasy football at this point. Chark can be utilized as a cheap boom-or-bust DFS option, but he should be nowhere near starting fantasy lineups in Week 18.