Terry McLaurin
vs Ladd McConkey

“Terry McLaurin is the WR37 in fantasy points per game, with his best showing of the season last week as the WR14 in weekly scoring. McLaurin is tied for the team lead with a 22% target share, 1.40 YPRR, two red zone targets, four deep targets, and a 28.4% first-read share (leads the team). This week, McLaurin faces an Indy pass defense that has utilized single high at the ninth-highest rate (57.1%).”

“McLaurin: Targets and share held roughly flat (27.0% adjusted → 28.1% adjusted), continuing as Washington’s clear passing-game priority — but for the second straight week, a real, meaningful gain of his was taken away by replay review (see Replay Reversal above).”

“McLaurin was a favorite of mine at cost this offseason, as despite his down performance in 2025, his underlying metrics were still good. McLaurin’s playing style and archetype, as primarily a downfield player, mean his production will always have a bit of variance to it, but you should start him as a fringe WR2 moving forward. Drake Maye’s Awful Start Drake Maye ‘s sophomore season in 2025 was incredible, as he finished first among quarterbacks in adjusted yards per attempt and Expected Points Added (EPA).”

“Against two high, McLaurin has had a 24% target-per-route-run rate, but he has produced only 1.12 YPRR. Even if the coverage structure leaned in McLaurin’s favor, I wouldn’t expect much from him against a secondary that has allowed the fourth-fewest yards per target and fantasy points per target to perimeter wide receivers this season. Sit McLaurin this week, if possible.”

“Terry McLaurin has also struggled to start the season, but his outlook for the near future is not as bright as Jamo’s. Jayden Daniels ’ elbow injury makes McLaurin a shaky flex play until he returns. Carnell Tate might end up being a product of a bad situation with Cam Ward struggling so far, and he can stay on your bench until something changes.”

“Though he led the Commanders in targets (9) and receiving yards (50), McLaurin’s season-long outlook is concerning because of the rise of Stefon Diggs and the nasty, dislocated elbow injury Jayden Daniels suffered. We don’t yet have a timeline for how long Daniels will be out, but I expect this injury to cost him several weeks, and veteran Marcus Mariota will fill in his stead. The major thought I had going through this weekend: if McLaurin isn’t able to have a big game against the Dallas secondary, what will it take?”

“Going back to the Commanders’ offense, Terry McLaurin had a scary bad game for a 31-year-old receiver in the late stages of his career. He finished the afternoon with just two receptions on four targets for 14 receiving yards. He managed just an 11% target share and 0.40 yards per route run (YPRR), basically just running cardio the entire game.”

“Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) Both Finish as Wide Receiver Twos The prediction: both receivers finish this season as at least a top-24 fantasy option. Diggs isn’t washed the way public perception might suggest. He averaged a respectable points-per-game clip last year and ranked top 10 in yards per route run among receivers with 100-plus routes, along with a 90th-percentile mark in targets per route run.”

“Terry McLaurin set career highs across the board in Jayden Daniels ‘ rookie season. If Daniels can stay healthy, McLaurin is set up for another big year.”

“Ladd McConkey has been borderline unplayable this season, but that’s exactly why you should buy low on him. If you can get him right now, he’ll likely be extremely cheap. He’s third on the Chargers in target share at just 12.3%, catching 12 passes on 17 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown through four games.”

“McConkey could lead the team in targets this week, or he could be the third option in the passing progressions. Who knows. I do know that I don’t want to plug him into a lineup this week against a secondary that has allowed the fourth-fewest yards per target and the tenth-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to perimeter wide receivers.”

“Jason thinks Ladd McConkey ’s injury was the final straw for the Chargers’ offense through their first two games but expects them to “bounce forward,” but not all the way back. Andy is more pessimistic about their rest-of-season outlook. The Chargers are the second team in NFL history to lose back-to-back games by double digits with both coming at home against teams that had a sub-.200 win pct the previous season.”

“McConkey played only 45.2% of the snaps last week and saw an 11.1% target share while dealing with a rib injury, which helps explain why we are getting him at just 6.34% pOwn. Add on the Chargers are the NFL’s biggest letdown in 2026, and there is reason for concern. The matchup is the reason to buy the dip, as BUF has allowed the sixth-most yards per target and eighth-most fantasy points per target to slot WRs.”

“Through two games, Ladd McConkey has been underwhelming. Yes, his rib injury is part of the entire equation, but the entire Chargers offense has been a rollercoaster so far. Last week, despite having a 45.2% snap share, he had a 67.7% route share.”

“Ladd McConkey hasn’t been a factor since Week 3, but a foot injury was largely to blame, and then McConkey played only eight snaps on Sunday before being concussed. Hold McConkey through the Chargers’ Week 7 bye and hope that better health returns him to more characteristic form.”