One of the biggest offseason moves among coaches was the Los Angeles Chargers announcing the hiring of Kellen Moore as the new offensive coordinator.
Moore was very good during his time with the Dallas Cowboys, as they consistently were one of the best offenses in the league. With Moore coming to Los Angeles, the expectation is the already talented Chargers offense is going to take it to another level.
With Justin Herbert leading the way, the Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, he is also blessed with two proven weapons on the outside, as Mike Williams and Keenan Allen have been a terrific duo for the Chargers over the past few years.
However, while they are a great duo, you wouldn’t want both of them on your fantasy football roster. So, with that being said, should you choose Allen or Williams in Week 1?
Keenan Allen’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
When Allen is playing at his best, he is one of the very best receivers in the NFL. In his 10 seasons, he has had at least 1,046 yards in five seasons and had another season with 992 yards.
Last season was the first he has struggled to be on the field since 2015 and 2016, as he played in only nine games in those two years. In 2022, he played in 10 games, ending up with his fewest receiving yards and touchdowns since 2016.
From 2017-2021, he had anywhere from 97 to 106 catches in each campaign. He is a reliable wide receiver who Herbert looks for in third-down situations and when the game is on the line.
If Allen could get away from the injuries that hampered him last year, then he could be back to being a great receiver for the Chargers.
While Allen is the consistent, reliable receiver, Williams is the guy Herbert looks for to go up and make a play.
Mike Williams’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
When the Chargers need a play, Herbert is going to put the ball in the air and let Williams go snatch it.
Among all active receivers, Williams’ 15.7 yards per catch ranks second, trailing only A.J. Brown (16.5).
At 6’4″, 218 pounds, Williams is a physically imposing receiver who can go up and catch the 50/50 ball as well as anybody in the league.
The matchup against the Dolphins is a very good one for Williams. Miami will be missing Jalen Ramsey as he is on the injured reserve, and the other cornerbacks on the Dolphins’ roster are 6’1″ or shorter.
Which of the Chargers Wide Receivers Should You Start?
With Moore in as the offensive coordinator, look for the Chargers to start to throw the ball downfield more. Last year, running back Austin Ekeler had 107 catches as Herbert dumped the ball to him on checkdowns.
Moore looks to get the ball downfield and take the top off the defense. This is a perfect combination for Williams, who thrives when he is allowed to get down the field and make the plays.
MORE: Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer
The Chargers have a lot of weapons on offense, so they may have a different leading receiver each game. However, in this matchup against the Dolphins, Williams is your guy.
He is a big mismatch in this game for the Dolphins and could put up numbers that warrant him as a WR2 on your roster.
The Dolphins especially struggled in the red zone, as they were the 10th-worst red-zone defense. Look for Herbert to find Williams early and often in this game.