Ladd McConkey fantasy football outlook for 2024: Is Chargers WR a safe pick this year?

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Ladd McConkey as the 34th overall choice in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He is one example of the franchise's new-look offensive this season, following significant offseason changes. This involves moving on from offensive starters and putting in a new head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

This makes McConkey an interesting option in fantasy football drafts this season. While rookies often carry more risk than most other players, the Chargers rookie will also bring more upside than the majority of players in his class. Here's where his fantasy football outlook currently stands ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Breaking down Ladd McConkey's fantasy football outlook for 2024

Ladd McConkey

Ladd McConkey spent his entire college football career with the Georgia Bulldogs. He was a key part of their offense and won two consecutive National Championship games. In three seasons, he posted 1,903 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns, despite playing in a run-first style of offense.

While McConkey may not have the elite talent of some of the other wide receivers that were selected before him in the 2024 NFL Draft, his situation with the Los Angeles Chargers puts him among the rookies with the highest upside this year.

He will get the opportunity to play with elite passer Justin Herbert in an offense that has a ton of targets available.

The Chargers shockingly moved on from Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Gerald Everett during the offseason. They were all starters last season, so McConkey has a realistic chance to earn a major role in their offensive scheme.

If he can capitalize on it, he could be one of the biggest sleepers in the 2024 fantasy football season.

Where should you draft Ladd McConkey this year?

A legitimate case can be made that Ladd McConkey ranks among the top five rookie wide receivers in fantasy football this year. This makes him an attractive target in Dynasty leagues, while his current situation with the Chargers also gives him plenty of value in traditional season-long formats. He makes for an ideal mid-round target with more upside than many other similar options.

Managers considering taking McConkey in their upcoming fantasy drafts should reference Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool. This will help them compare his fantasy projections to those of other relevant players in real-time when they are on the clock during their drafts.