The Los Angeles Charges have many questions going into the 2017 season, but one thing is for certain, they have one of the best wide receiving groups in the NFL.
The Chargers 2017 campaign could potentially be a great one but just like every other team, there are questions and concerns. Is the offensive line reliable enough to keep Philip Rivers upright? Can the defense take the next step and become a force? Is Melvin Gordon going to become truly an elite running back? Most importantly, can the Chargers avoid the injury bug?
One aspect of the Chargers does not have questions or doubts. That is Los Angeles’ receiving corps.
Tyrell Williams was a huge surprise for the Bolts last year and a solid impact on the field. After the injury to Keenan Allen week one, he became Philip Rivers main target on the outside. He finished the season with 69 catches and 1,059 yards. Look for him to continue his stellar play this year with a combination of speed, size and big play ability.
Dontrelle Inman is no slouch either and he looks to improve every year. He finished with 810 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad for a third or fourth option. From a guy who was an undrafted free-agent from the Jacksonville Jaguars, he has become a solid weapon for the Chargers offense.
You can’t forget about Speedy-Gonzalez himself, Travis Benjamin. He had some great games in the beginning of the season before his knee injury in Week 9. If he comes back healthy, Benjamin can be a game-breaking target for Rivers, who loves throwing the deep ball.
Those are three solid receivers but these next receivers are guys who can make this group even more dynamic.
If Keenan Allen wasn’t consistently hurt, he would be recognized as a top five receiver in the NFL. With his combination of ball skills, route running and quickness he is still one of the best in the business. His 2016 season was cut short because of a torn ACL in week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was already recovering from a lacerated kidney injury in 2015 as he was looking for that campaign to become a breakout year for him. It’s so unfortunate for a guy with his talent to be consistently on a sideline. But 2017 can be the year Keenan Allen can finally put his name into the elite receiver company. He is unquestionably Philip Rivers’s main target when he is on the field and makes the team even more respectable on offense.
With all these good receivers, the Chargers drafted Mike Williams as the 7th overall pick from Clemson. It seemed like a great pick at the time. Williams is a tremendous specimen with star potential as a receiver. But it looks Williams won’t be available until October with a back injury. Nevertheless, when Williams returns the Chargers add another dynamic talent to their receiving corps.
I see a lot of potential in the Los Angeles Chargers receiving corps. With Tyrell Williams and Dontrelle Inman coming out of breakout years, combined with Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin and Mike Williams coming off injuries it could be a great year to be a receiver in Los Angeles. You can’t forget about the future Hall of Famer in Antonio Gates and young stud Hunter Henry at the tight end position adding more options to the offense. Chargers have some much talent and depth at the receiving position. Yards and touchdowns should be at a premium this year. But health and availability is the only thing that could disrupt this dynamic group.
Let’s hope for the best.
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