This article is part of our Team Previews series.
Los Angeles Chargers 
The much-maligned Brandon Staley era saw its inevitable end late in what was an unmitigated injury-filled disaster of a 2023 campaign. New head coach Jim Harbaugh will have plenty of time to course correct a franchise that has made the postseason just twice in the last decade, but the former Michigan shot caller hasn't taken all that long to build winning programs. Expect the team's success to depend on the health and strength of the offensive line, aided by No. 5 overall selection, tackle Joe Alt.
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Vital Information
- Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (Year 1)
- Offensive Coordinator: Greg Roman (Year 1) – West Coast offense
- Defensive Coordinator: Jesse Minter (Year 1) – 3-4 scheme
- Bye Week: 5
Full 2024 Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart
Full 2023 Los Angeles Chargers Stats
Stats to Know for the Los Angeles Chargers
- 2023 Record: 5-12
- 2023 Strength of Schedule: .529 (T-7th)
- 2023 Point Differential: -52 (T-23rd)
- 2023 Pass-Play Rate: 65% (6th)
- 2023 PROE: -0.7% (7th)
- 2023 PFF O-Line Rating: 16th
| 2023 Stats | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Plays | 1,106 (8th) | 1,113 (29th) |
| Points | 346 (21st) | 398 (24th) |
| Turnovers | 21 (16th) | 21 (21st) |
| Yards | 5,599 (18th) | 6,170 (28th) |
| Rush Yards | 1,642 (25th) | 1,924 (17th) |
| Pass Yards | 3,957 (13th) | 4,246 (30th) |
| Drives | 190 (13th) | 189 (21st) |
| Yards per Drive | 29.4 (18th) | 32.6 (25th) |
| Points per Drive | 1.78 (22nd) | 2.01 (24th) |
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Key Transactions
Skill Positions
| QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Veteran Additions | None | Gus Edwards | DJ Chark | Will Dissly |
| J.K. Dobbins | Hayden Hurst | |||
| Veteran Departures | None | Austin Ekeler | Keenan Allen | Gerald Everett |
| Joshua Kelley | Mike Williams | Nick Vannett | ||
| Alex Erickson | ||||
| Jalen Guyton | ||||
| Keelan Doss |
Defense
| DL | LB | DB | |
| Veteran Additions | Poona Ford | Denzel Perryman | Kristian Fulton |
| Nick Niemann | Tony Jefferson | ||
| Troy Dye | |||
| Veteran Departures | Austin Johnson | Eric Kendricks | Michael Davis |
| Nick Williams | Kenneth Murray | Dean Marlowe | |
| Essang Bassey |
Draft Picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position |
| 1 | 5 | Joe Alt | T |
| 2 | 34 | Ladd McConkey | WR |
| 3 | 69 | Junior Colson | LB |
| 4 | 105 | Justin Eboigbe | DT |
| 5 | 137 | Tarheeb Still | CB |
| 5 | 140 | Cam Hart | CB |
| 6 | 181 | Kimani Vidal | RB |
| 7 | 225 | Brenden Rice | WR |
| 7 | 253 | Cornelius Johnson | WR |
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Top Fantasy Story
Despite having arguably one of the better young signal-callers in the league in Justin Herbert, the Chargers offense faces an awful lot of uncertainty. New offensive coordinator Greg Roman has found success in the NFL with mobile quarterbacks such as Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson, and it's fair to assume that Jim Harbaugh will want to implement a run-first offensive system that echoed Michigan's collegiate dominance over the last few years. It might be difficult to pull off either of those offensive styles given Herbert lacks the same sort of mobility as the aforementioned QB rushing threats, and the imported Baltimore duo of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins hardly has been consistent enough – due to injuries or otherwise – to warrant such a primary offensive focus.
But after losing long-time veteran receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the passing attack doesn't look like it has an obvious offensive identity, either. The Chargers did add promising Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey early in the second round and bring back 2023 first-round disappointment Quentin Johnston to go along with the reliable Joshua Palmer, but the trio hardly resemble a group capable of consistently dominating an opposing secondary. Perhaps the majesty of Herbert will rise the tide of Los Angeles' offense, but for now there's more fantasy questions than answers.
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Sleepers
⬆️ Sleeper: WR Joshua Palmer
The arrival of the second-round pick Ladd McConkey has kept Palmer's early-summer ADP in check, but the 2021 third-rounder has quietly been a reliable target for Justin Herbert. Palmer has tallied 26 receptions for 354 yards and a TD in five games without Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, and he also turned into a big-play threat with nine receptions of 20-plus yards in 2023 after 10 combined in his previous two campaigns.
😴 Super Sleeper: RB Kimani Vidal
Vidal might be a bit on the small size for a prototypical NFL bell cow (5-8, 213), but he was an absolute monster at Troy, tallying 3,494 rushing yards throughout his three collegiate seasons including 1,661 rushing yards to lead the Sun Belt conference in 2023. If Gus Edwards or J.K. Dobbins were to miss time due to injury, the rookie sixth-round pick could fit seamlessly into a critical role within the offense.
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Team Futures
- Chargers Super Bowl 59 odds: 40-1 (17th) via FanDuel Sportsbook
- Jim Harbaugh 2024 Coach of the Year odds: 10-1 (2nd) via BetMGM Sportsbook
- 2024 Projected Over/Under Win Total: 8.5 (T-15th) via FanDuel Sportsbook
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Player Futures
- Justin Herbert 2024 NFL MVP odds: 22-1 (12th) via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Ladd McConkey 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds: 30-1 (T-9th) via FanDuel Sportsbook
- Gus Edwards 2024 Over/Under Rushing Yards: 625.5 (31st) via BetRivers Sportsbook
Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff (ET) |
| 1 | Sep 8 | Las Vegas Raiders | 4:05 PM |
| 2 | Sep 15 | at Carolina Panthers | 1:00 PM |
| 3 | Sep 22 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM |
| 4 | Sep 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4:25 PM |
| 5 | Bye | ||
| 6 | Oct 13 | at Denver Broncos | 4:05 PM |
| 7 | Oct 21 | at Arizona Cardinals | 9:00 PM |
| 8 | Oct 27 | New Orleans Saints | 4:05 PM |
| 9 | Nov 3 | at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM |
| 10 | Nov 10 | Tennessee Titans | 4:05 PM |
| 11 | Nov 17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 4:25 PM |
| 12 | Nov 25 | Baltimore Ravens | 8:15 PM |
| 13 | Dec 1 | at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM |
| 14 | Dec 8 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:20 PM |
| 15 | Dec 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4:25 PM |
| 16 | Dec 22 | Denver Broncos | 4:05 PM |
| 17 | TBD | at New England Patriots | TBD |
| 18 | TBD | at Las Vegas Raiders | TBD |
