The Los Angeles Chargers host the New York Giants in Week 14, but they may do so without their top two receivers. LA placed Keenan Allen on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday due to a positive test. Fellow wideout Mike Williams followed just two days later after the team deemed him a close contact. Will either WR play this week, and if not, who will step up?
Update 12/10/21: Keenan Allen is officially inactive against the Giants.
Keenan Allen injury update
Before we continue, it is important to remember that these athletes are human beings with loved ones. Don’t get lost in your fantasy leagues and fandom — a player’s health comes before both. According to NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti, Allen is vaccinated. Meanwhile, reports state Williams is unvaccinated. The NFL’s COVID protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated players are different, as are those for positive tests and close contacts.
For Allen, a vaccinated player with a positive test, he had to provide negative tests at least 24 hours apart leading up to Sunday. Additionally, he needed to be asymptomatic for 48 hours. Williams, an unvaccinated player considered a close contact, will embark on a five-day quarantine period from the date Allen tested positive. So, if Williams continues to test negative up until Friday, the Chargers can activate him from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
LA just dealt with a similar situation two weeks ago. Star edge rusher Joey Bosa hit the COVID list as an unvaccinated close contact to a player who tested positive. However, Bosa never tested positive, provided multiple negative tests, and was able to play on Sunday.
While Williams should play barring a positive test, the Chargers officially ruled Allen out on Friday.
Who will start with Allen out?
If Williams is ruled out as well, QB Justin Herbert may struggle to move the ball through the air. Allen has hauled in 86 of 120 targets (third-most in the NFL) for 929 yards (ninth-most) and 4 touchdowns. Williams has been a big-play threat for the offense, catching 55 of 88 targets for 854 yards and 7 TDs.
Williams is averaging 4.7 more yards per reception than Allen and an average depth of target (aDOT) 3 more yards downfield. Both receivers have struggled with drops this year, but their ability to move the chains more than makes up for it. RB Austin Ekeler and TE Jared Cook will take on bigger roles with Allen gone, and even larger ones if Williams misses too.
At receiver, Jalen Guyton will step into Allen’s slot-heavy position, with Josh Palmer lining up out wide for Williams. The only other healthy WR on the roster is Andre Roberts. LA will presumably bring KJ Hill Jr. up from the practice squad to add depth.
The Chargers primarily run out of 11 (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) and 12 (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs) personnel, but it’s logical to expect more 12 this week. In that case, the skyscraper that is the 6’8″, 260-pound Donald Parham Jr. will receive more snaps.
Los Angeles doesn’t need the offense at 100% this week
While the offense may sputter, the Chargers aren’t facing world-beaters in the 4-8 Giants. Furthermore, the G-Men will likely be without starting QB Daniel Jones, meaning either Mike Glennon or the newly signed Jake Fromm will get the nod. Glennon is a career backup who led the Giants to a measly 9 points last week, and Fromm has yet to play a down in an NFL regular-season game. Sheesh. LA’s defense shouldn’t have a difficult task at hand, so Herbet and Co. won’t have much pressure to produce.