The Cowboys’ loss is the Chargers’ gain. The L.A. offense is set to go thermonuclear this season with Kellen Moore at the helm, and they added three fantasy football-eligible players in the draft this year. Let’s dive into the trio of TCU Horned Frogs headed out west to L.A.
FULL 2023 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS DRAFT RESULTS
| Rnd. | Pick No. | Player | Pos. | College |
| 1 | 21 | Quentin Johnston | WR | TCU |
| 2 | 54 | Tuli Tuipulotu | OLB | USC |
| 3 | 85 | Daiyan Henley | ILB | Washington State |
| 4 | 125 | Derius Davis | WR | TCU |
| 5 | 156 | Jordan McFadden | OG | Clemson |
| 6 | 200 | Scott Matlock | DT | Boise State |
| 7 | 239 | Max Duggan | QB | TCU |
Round 1, Pick 21 Overall: Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, TCU (6’3” 208 pounds)
WR Depth Chart
WR1 Keenan Allen
WR2 Mike Williams
WR3 Quentin Johnston
WR4 Jalen Guyton
WR5 Joshua Palmer
WR6 Derius Davis
TALENT
Johnston is too big to be this fast, or too fast to be this big. Either way, he was a bully at TCU, overpowering defenders with his unique blend of speed and size (and with his long arms!). He played like he was the biggest kid on the playground, just imposing his will on defenses. This is both good and bad, as his athleticism made him dominant in college, but also made him less-than-stellar at the finer points of the position. He’s a sloppy route runner, and he rounds off a lot. He also lets defenders body him by failing to get his feet set properly on 50/50 balls, leading smaller opponents to leverage against him. All-in-all, his freak athleticism, speed, and size will play in the league as long as he does not let opposing defenders make him play smaller than he actually is. He might struggle out of the gate, but he should end up with at least one All-Pro season under his belt.
2023 OPPORTUNITY
Johnston will undoubtedly start the 2023 season as the Chargers’ #3 wide receiver, but he can quickly find his way into a more relevant spot, with Mike Williams turning 29 this season, and Keenan Allen having just turned 31. They’ve also started to get increasingly banged up in recent seasons. Not to the point where they both missed significant games, but Allen missed seven games last season, and he & Mike Williams always feel as though they are nursing hamstring issues. If or when—and let’s be clear, it’s when—one of them misses time, then that will be Johnston’s opportunity to shine.
The Chargers will run a new-look offense under Kellen Moore in 2023, and the Chargers should be able to maximize their talents. In his four years in Dallas, Moore ranked first in total yards twice, and finished inside the top-six in total points in all three seasons wherein Dak Prescott’s foot didn’t try to detach from his body. The Chargers are going to feast this season on offense, and Johnston will get to be a crucial part of that, even if it takes the guys ahead of him going down to injury to get him there. As a first-round pick, he’s tied to one of the league’s best quarterbacks and one of the league’s best offensive coordinators. It would be silly to think that he’s going to do anything but cook the moment he gets his opportunity.
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
I don’t know any better way to put this: draft Quentin Johnston. He’s WR47 by 4for4 consensus ADP and is going as a tenth-round pick in twelve-team leagues. Do that. He has a chance to be an incredible receiver right off the bat, as a first-round pick going to Justin Herbert & Kellen Moore. He has a great chance to be one of the 20% of receivers who finish inside the top-36 at wide receiver in their rookie years. For that reason alone, you should make sure that you’re the one taking him in round ten, or even round nine… If you want to play it safe.
TALENT
2023 OPPORTUNITY
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Round 4, Pick 125 Overall: Derius Davis, Wide Receiver, TCU (5’8” 165 pounds)
WR Depth Chart
WR1 Keenan Allen
WR2 Mike Williams
WR3 Quentin Johnston
WR4 Jalen Guyton
WR5 Joshua Palmer
WR6 Derius Davis
TALENT
Derius Davis was vastly overdrafted by the Chargers. As in, I have no idea what the Chargers were doing taking Derius Davis in the fourth round. In a draft full of tiny players, Derius Davis stands out as a particularly small receiver, as well as one who isn’t good at tracking the football, who doesn’t run good routes, or get good separation, or really do much of anything well as a receiver. He’s basically a gadget player in the NFL, a return specialist who will get a couple of pop passes here and there this season. His best talents are on special teams, and he isn’t anyone that will have any fantasy football relevance at any point in his NFL career.
2023 OPPORTUNITY
Do I have to explain it to you? The Chargers took a kick returner in the fourth round. With pick 125! That’s bonkers.
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
If you got this far and you think you should draft him then go for it. Just don’t come crying to me.
TALENT
2023 OPPORTUNITY
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Round 7, Pick 239 Overall: Max Duggan, Quarterback, TCU (6’2” 209 pounds)
Depth Chart:
QB1 Justin Herbert
QB2 Easton Stick
QB3 Max Duggan
TALENT
What happens if Taysom Hill and Gardner Minshew had a baby? You get Max Duggan. Duggan redefines chaos agent, as he is equally likely to rush for 20 yards, throw for 50 yards, or cough up the football doing a completely unnecessary spin move for some reason. He rocks, but not in a way that actually means that he’s any good at football. I feel it in my soul that even if Sean Payton doesn’t draft him, he desperately wants to. He’s good at throwing on the run and is a patient and strong runner with a cannon. He just has a cantaloupe where his brain should be and plays the quarterback position like I play Madden: YOLO baby. I wanted to compare him to an athletic Sexy Rexy Grossman, but Taysom Hill & Gardner Minshew after doing the Fusion Dance works well for me.
2023 OPPORTUNITY
While I love the goofiness that Max Duggan presents, I do not believe that he is in the short, or long-term plans in any meaningful sense for the Chargers. Unless Justin Herbert struggles, that is…
Of course I’m kidding. Or am I? Oh, for sure. Unless…?
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Don’t do it to yourself.
TALENT
2023 OPPORTUNITY
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
