At PFN, we’ve researched more than 350 fantasy football players, trying to identify which ones are overrated, underrated, and priced right. With that in mind, here is Los Angeles Chargers TE Gerald Everett’s fantasy outlook for 2023.
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Gerald Everett’s 2023 Fantasy Outlook
There’s a voice inside many managers’ heads that — when a receiving corps is depleted by injuries — says, “Well, someone has to catch it.” Because, of course, in the next-man-up NFL, guys who’ve been waiting in the wings can step up and become fantasy heroes.
But in 2022, Gerald Everett largely defied that logic. In games Keenan Allen missed (when Mike Williams played), Everett averaged only 8.8 fantasy points. He averaged 10.4 in games Williams missed (when Allen played). And when both star wideouts were absent, Everett netted only 6.5 per contest.
On paper, Everett looked pretty strong, with a career-high 8.7 points per game. But that was good for merely 16th-best among fantasy TEs, and he clearly failed to capitalize when injuries hit the team’s top receivers.
Last year was Everett’s chance to prove he could be a franchise-elevating TE — and, by extension, a tight end who could elevate fantasy teams. Notably, he endured a career-high nine drops. For context, he didn’t drop his first pass until his third professional season.
It’s not all his fault, obviously. Playing on his third team in three years, Everett had to adjust to yet another new QB. He was more of a short-yardage guy who had to do a lot more than usual with his legs, as evidenced by his most-ever yards after the catch vs. his lowest career yards-before-catch average.
Still, when you’re the league’s eighth-most-targeted TE, one would expect bigger numbers. More looks didn’t translate into more touchdowns, despite being No. 2 on the Chargers in red-zone targets (15), which he converted into only two scores.
And heading into 2023, things will get a bit more dicey for Everett. All the key playmakers are returning, of course. But added to the mix is potential rookie sensation Quentin Johnston. In two years, Johnston might be Herbert’s No. 1 WR. For now, he might be one of the league’s best No. 3 WRs — or at least, he might fill that niche by midseason.
Everett should continue to have a meaningful role. The question, then, is whether he peaked last season in an injury-ravaged aerial attack that sometimes featured Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter. The 30-year-old Carter is trying to keep his career going in Vegas, while Palmer is now merely the No. 4 WR in a loaded offense.
In other words, with everyone healthy, Everett probably won’t be more than the No. 5 offensive option, and he could fall to No. 6 if drops persist.
On the bright side, I firmly believe Justin Herbert will enjoy a monster season. If anyone breaks Peyton Manning’s single-season passing record this year, I’m betting it’ll be him.
In a high-tide-lifts-all-boats scenario, a dominant Herbert could feed three or four guys per game, much like Manning did in his record-setting 2013 campaign.
But even at best, Everett is too TD-dependent to be more than a top 10-12 option. Perhaps he’ll hit the top eight or nine. More realistically, he’ll remain outside the top 12, making him a bye-week streamer rather than a fully rosterable TE.