#Project32 provides in-depth breakdowns, projections, and rankings of all 32 teams coupled with promotion of some charitable organizations (a ‘My Clause My Cleats’ charity from some of your favorite fantasy players on each team)
In support of the Austin Ekeler Foundation, the 2021 ‘My Cause My Cleats’ pick of known Fantasy Football aficionado Austin Ekeler.
The Austin Ekeler Foundation seeks to provide opportunities to those in need by bringing reusable resources to communities across the nation that can be utilized by a large number of people for many years to come. That is the mission of the Austin Ekeler Foundation: to help create opportunities for people to fulfill their passions and ultimately their lives.
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- Division: AFC West
- 2021 Finish: 9-8
- Divisional Record: 3-3
- 2022 Projected Finish: 11-6
- 2022 Strength of Schedule: 20th
Los Angeles Chargers Offense
Play Caller: Joe Lombardi
Joe Lombardi spent several years under Sean Payton in New Orleans, working with future Hall of Famer, Drew Brees in a West Coast offense that specialized in getting the ball out quick while utilizing a power run game to set up play-action. There were some concerns that this may not be the best approach with a strong-armed quarterback like Justin Herbert who had just lit the NFL on fire his rookie season on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. It took some time, but as the season went on you could see Lombardi mixing his West Coast principles with a more vertical passing game. Herbert would throw for 1,515 yards through the last five games of the season for an average of 303 yards/game, which was up from his 273.8 yards through the first 12 games. The Chargers will continue to play with pace and stretch defenses with more vertical concepts and crossing routes to take advantage of their talented skill players. They will have to if they want to come out on top in the AFC West.
2021 By the Numbers
- Points Scored: 474 (5th)
- Total Yards: 6,634 (4th)
- Total Plays: 1,128 (7th)
- Yards Per Play: 5.9 (T-5th)
- 1st Downs: 401 (3rd), Pass 256 (3rd), Run 112 (16th)
- Scoring Rate: 45.7% (4th)
- Turnover Rate: 12% (16th)
- Offensive Plays/Game: 66.4 (5th)
- Pace of Play: 27.6 Seconds Per Play (6th)
- Passing Ratio: 53% (2nd)
- Neutral Game Script: 61% (4th)
- RPO: 138 Snaps (9th) – 35.8% Success Rate
- Motion: 418 Plays (20th) – 39.5% Success Rate
- No Huddle: 76 Plays (20th) – 47.4% Success Rate
- Play Action: 204 Plays (5th) – 48% Success Rate
2021 Target Distribution
WRs: 390 Targets (5th)
RBs: 131 Targets (6th)
TEs: 137 Targets (9th)
2021 Personnel Groupings
11 Personnel: 714 Plays
OVR: 64% (50% Success Rate)
Pass Rate: 74% (50% Success Rate)
Run Rate: 26% (52% Success Rate)
12 Personnel: 292 Plays
OVR: 26% (54% Success Rate)
Pass Rate: 40% (56% Success Rate)
Run Rate: 60% (52% Success Rate)
Offensive Line Projected Starters
LT: #70 Rashawn Slater
Age: 23 HT: 6’4 WT: 315 College: Northwestern Draft: RD1 Pick 13
OVR PFF: 83.6 Pass: 80.3 Run: 80.2 (1,116 Snaps)
Contract: 3 years / $4,157,940 per year (28th at position) – Expires 2025 – 5th year option available
LG: #71 Matt Feiler
Age: 30 HT: 6’6 WT: 330 College: Bloomsburg Draft: UDFA
OVR PFF: 74.0 Pass: 62.2 Run: 78.5 (1,119 Snaps)
Contract: 2 years / $7,000,000 per year (7th at position) – Expires 2024
C: #63 Corey Linsley
Age: 30 HT: 6’3 WT: 301 College: Ohio State Draft: RD5 Pick 161
OVR PFF: 85.7 Pass: 84.9 Run: 84.6 (1,076 Snaps)
Contract: 4 years / $12,500,000 per year (4th at position) – Expires 2026
RG: #77 Zion Johnson
Age: 22 HT: 6’3 WT: 316 College: Boston College Draft: RD1 Pick 17
OVR PFF: No Grades Available (Rookie)
Contract: 4 years / $3,686,670 per year (16th at position) – Expires 2026
RT: #79 Trey Pipkins III
Age: 25 HT: 6’6 WT: 307 College: Sioux Falls Draft: RD3 Pick 91
OVR PFF: 68.5 Pass: 78.4 Run: 63.7
Contract: 1 year / $901,894 per year (76th at position) – Expires 2023
“It’s wheels up in Los Angeles and Justin Herbert is about to go nuclear”
QB Room
#10 Justin Herbert
Age: 24 HT: 6’6 WT: 236 College: Oregon Draft: RD1 Pick 6
Contract: 2 years / $6,644,689 per year (27th at position) – Expires 2024 – 5th year option available
Justin Herbert became just the second quarterback (Dan Marino) in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in just his second season in the NFL. He would throw 38 touchdowns on the season and complete more than 65% of his passes for the second consecutive year. He spent his first two seasons under two different head coaches and two different offensive coordinators. He enters his third season with some continuity as they return all their skill players at both the running back and wide receiver positions. They have also upgraded the tight end position with the addition of Gerald Everett, giving Herbert even more weapons. The offensive line was upgraded with the addition of Zion Johnson via the NFL Draft. It’s wheels up in Los Angeles and Justin Herbert is about to go nuclear.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Passing: 664 Attempts, 66.9% Comp Rate, 5,060 Yards (7.6 YPA), 43 Touchdowns
Rushing: 15% Rush Share, 61 Attempts, 281 Yards (4.6 YPC), 4 Touchdowns
PROJECTIONS TEMPLATE – GET NOW!
RB Room
#30 Austin Ekeler
Age: 27 HT: 5’10 WT: 200 College: West Colorado Draft: UDFA
Contract: 2 years / $6,125,000 per year (13th at position) – Expires 2024
Austin Ekeler proved he can handle a true RB1 workload in 2021. He finished with a career-high 206 rush attempts for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns, proving he could not only run between the tackles consistently but also in short yardage and goal line situations. As a receiver, he totalled 70 receptions on 94 targets for 647 yards and eight more touchdowns. That’s 276 total touches for 1,558 yards and 20 touchdowns. Ekeler led all running backs in targets while finishing second in red zone touches (63), third in target share (15.1%), second in routes run (393), and third in yards created (940). He enters the 2022 season at 27 years old, but he’s coming off of his first season with over 200 rush attempts. There is some tread left on the tires so don’t give up on him just yet.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 15% Target Share, 100 Targets, 79 Receptions, 677 yards, 7 Touchdowns
Rushing: 51% Rush Share, 208 Attempts, 934 Yards (4.5 YPC), 7 Touchdowns
#28 Isaiah Spiller
Age: HT: 6’1 WT: 215 College: Texas A&M Draft: RD4 Pick 123
Contract: 4 years / $1,099,238 per year (79th at position) – Expires 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers took advantage of the dip when it comes to Isaiah Spiller. After a poor outing at the NFL Combine, he fell on draft boards and the Chargers took advantage. Spiller ran for almost 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns while also showing some versatility as a pass-catcher. He hauled in 74 receptions for another 585 yards during his three seasons with the Aggies. Unfortunately, he ran a 4.69 in the 40-yard dash and his speed score and burst score didn’t do him any favors either. However, depending on who you talk to, some scouts felt his film against SEC competition was more than worthy of a fourth-round selection in the draft. Spiller should be the clear RB2 in Los Angeles as Joshua Kelley and Larry Roundtree III did next to nothing when given the opportunity. In Spiller’s case, the landing spot matters.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 5% Target Share, 33 Targets, 25 Receptions, 184 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Rushing: 22% Rush Share, 90 Attempts, 367 Yards (4.1 YPC), 2 Touchdowns
WR Room
#13 Keenan Allen
Age: 30 HT: 6’2 WT: 211 College: California Draft: RD3 Pick 76
Contract: 3 years / $20,025,000 per year (9th at position) – Expires 2025
Keenan Allen has been the definition of consistency as a wide receiver in the NFL. He’s quietly become one of the best possession receivers in the league and someone that Herbert knows will always be in the right spot at the right time. He’s a master of his craft and a technician in route-running. Over the last five seasons, he’s averaged 150 targets, 101 receptions, 1,184 yards, and 6.4 touchdowns. With Mike Williams stretching the field vertically, there should be plenty of room for Allen to work the short to intermediate areas of the field again.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 22% Target Share, 146 Targets, 99 Receptions, 1,053 Yards, 8 Touchdowns
“The question now is whether he’s ready to take over as the WR1 in Los Angeles?”
#81 Mike Williams
Age: 27 HT: 6’4 WT: 218 College: Clemson Draft: RD1 Pick 7
Contract: 3 years / $20,000,000 per year (10th at position) – Expires 2025
Mike Williams had his best season of his five-year NFL career in 2021. He set career highs in targets (129), receptions (76), and receiving yards (1,146), while averaging 15 yards per reception and scoring nine touchdowns. He had four games with ten targets or more including the final game of the season, where he converted 17 targets into nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. Herbert is the quarterback Mike Williams needed. The question now is whether he’s ready to take over as the WR1 in Los Angeles?
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 19% Target Share, 126 Targets, 78 Receptions, 1,220 Yards, 12 Touchdowns
#5 Joshua Palmer
Age: 22 HT: 6’1 WT: 210 College: Tennessee Draft: RD3 Pick 77
Contract: 3 years / $1,258,014 per year (116th at position) – Expires 2025
Josh Palmer was not an exciting pick in last year’s NFL Draft, as many scouts and fantasy managers did not have him projected as a Day 2 selection. However, he started five games in his rookie season and put up a respectable 49 targets, 33 receptions, and four touchdowns with most of his play coming later in the season. Early reports indicate that Palmer is locked in as the WR3 over Jalen Guyton in an offense that could throw the ball close to 700 times. If either Allen or Williams miss any significant time, Palmer has earned the respect of the coaching staff and his Pro Bowl quarterback.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 13% Target Share, 86 Targets, 56 Receptions, 623 Yards, 5 Touchdowns
TE Room
#7 Gerald Everett
Age: 28 HT: 6’3 WT: 240 College: South Alabama Draft: RD2 Pick 44
Contract: 2 years / $6,000,000 per year (20th at position) – Expires 2024
Gerald Everett is set up for what could be a career year as he returns to Los Angeles. Only this time, he’ll be suiting up for the Chargers and not the Rams. Everett spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Rams before playing last season with the Seattle Seahawks. With Seattle last season, he finished with 48 receptions on 63 targets for 478 yards and four touchdowns. He set career highs in all four categories in an offense that only threw the ball 495 times compared to the Chargers, who aired it out 674 times. Everett led all tight ends in juke rate (25%) last season and was second in contested catch rate (71.4%). I expect Everett to set new career highs in 2022.
2022 Fantasy Outlook:
Receiving: 11% Target Share, 80 Targets, 56 Receptions, 647 Yards, 5 Touchdowns
**Advanced Stats & Metrics provided by Yards Per Fantasy, Player Profiler, Sharp Football Analysis, Fantasy Pros, Team Rankings, Pro Football Focus, Over the Cap, and Pro Football Reference**
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