The LA Chargers have the tough task of facing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12, with the game set for Monday night at SoFi Stadium. The Ravens are smarting after a frustrating 18-16 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will be looking to bounce back against a 7-4 Chargers who are really starting to find their rhythm of late.
LA is on a four-game winning streak and has broken 25 points in all of the last four games. The Ravens’ secondary has been the topic of much discussion in 2024 for allowing a lot of points (barring Week 11), so the Chargers’ main weapons in fantasy could be in for a good day.
Chargers’ Week 12 Fantasy Outlooks
QB: Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert was a waiver pickup for many last week, following a tough start to the season. Herbert has really picked up form since a bye in Week 5, and after hitting 14 and 15 points, has hit 19-25 in each of the past four games.
Herbert faces a Ravens D that ranks 30th in NFL fantasy against QBs, allowing 20.91 fantasy points per game on average. All signs point to him having a big day and 20 points seems likely.
Justin Herbert’s points range: 10-27; Prediction: 21.5
RBs: J.K. Dobbins & Gus Edwards
J.K. Dobbins has been the star of the Chargers’ running back room in 2024 and is coming off a 2 TD, 18.40-point display (HPPR) against Cincinnati. Week 12 does project to be a tougher matchup for LA RBs, as the Ravens have a better rushing defense.
Dobbins is the RB1 in Los Angeles, and while he is likely to split carries mostly with Gus Edwards, he projects to have good RB2 value against Baltimore. You can’t not start Dobbins unless you have a trio of excellent backs, which is unlikely in most leagues at this stage of the season.
Meanwhile, Gus Edwards has returned from an injury that kept him out for four games but is yet to put up enough numbers to warrant starting him in fantasy football here. The same goes for Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal, who are not fantasy-relevant at this point.
J.K. Dobbins’ points range: 6-25; Prediction: 12
Gus Edwards’ points range: 2-13; Prediction: 5
WRs: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston & Joshua Palmer
Chargers wide receivers are all potentially good streamers in Week 12 against a Ravens defense 32nd against WRs in fantasy football. Baltimore is allowing an average of 42.97 fantasy points per game to WRS, so starting LA WRs seems wise.
Ladd McConkey is the WR1 in LA, however, he is questionable in Week 12. McConkey was an estimated DNP on Thursday, as the Chargers did not hold a session. His shoulder injury is a concern for fantasy managers, especially with the game being on Monday night.
Keep an eye on the injury reports, and if he is cleared to play you should slot him in comfortably. While McConkey’s floor is worryingly low, his ceiling is too high to ignore.
Meanwhile, Quentin Johnston is having a very good sophomore campaign, which has gone somewhat under the radar. Johnston has 6 TDs this season and has broken 10 points in four games (HPPR) and 20 points twice. Rostered in only 23.1% of leagues, picking up Johnston is a smart piece of business, as he could be a great replacement for Ladd McConkey or a high-upside WR2/flex streamer against Baltimore.
Joshua Palmer, however, has only one TD on the season and has broken 10 points solely on that occasion. Palmer could have good WR2 value if McConkey is ruled out, so if you have McConkey, picking up Palmer (rostered in 2.6% of fantasy leagues) would be a wise insurance move.
Ladd McConkey’s points range: 3-27; Prediction: 14
Quentin Johnston’s points range: 1-21; Prediction: 11.5
TE: Will Dissly
Will Dissly came up huge for his fantasy managers in Week 12, recording four catches, 80 yards and a TD for 16 points against the Bengals. That, however, was the second time he has broken 10 points this year, so Dissly does represent risk with a 1.80-point floor.
Tight end is always a difficult position to navigate, made all the more so with the Falcons, Bills, Bengals, Saints, Jets and Jaguars all on bye weeks. If you are in a pinch, Dissly has almost as much upside as anyone, so can be risked.