SAN DIEGO CHARGERS WIDE RECEIVERS

San Diego Chargers: BEST BET WIDE RECEIVERS IF NO VINCENT JACKSON

News out of the San Diego Chargers camp has to be gut wrenching for Vincent Jackson fantasy football owners. The problem centers around a new contract Jackson is seeking. Chargers GM A.J. Smith expects Jackson to hold out well into the regular season. Missing the first 10 games is a possibility, according to some experts close to the situation, and a trade to a new team is not out of the question.

The Chargers have eleven other wide receivers to look at. They have five veterans and six rookies in camp. They could still add a free agent wide receiver or receive a wide receiver as part of a deal for Jackson.

If the Chargers do in fact trade Vincent Jackson or he decides to hold out for a long period of time, their receiving corps will present more questions than answers in the aerial attack.  We don’t think tight end Antonio Gates will see additional targets. He was targeted 114 times in 2009. Over the last two years, tight end Gates and wide receiver Jackson combined to be the top two receiving threats for the Chargers. They received 414 targets (71%), to 167 total targets (29%) for Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee, and Craig (Buster) Davis.

Looking at the veterans we expect to be around in 2010, we want to know how many of the remaining 167 targets, not thrown to Gates and Jackson over the last two years, were throw to the other three receivers. Malcom Floyd garnered 113 looks from quarterback Philip Rivers for 68%. That easily out distanced Legedu Naanee's 40 targets for 24% and Buster Davis' 14 targets for 8%. Chargers management signed thirty year old free agent wide receiver, Josh Reed, from Buffalo. Reed has played eight NFL seasons, all with the Bills. Head Coach Norv Turner said he has studied Reed’s game film and likes what he can do in certain situations. Turner noted that Reed has averaged 40 receptions and 400 yards during his eight year career in Buffalo.

Expect Malcom Floyd to easily be the top wide receiver for the Chargers this year. Legedu Naanee could have a coming out party as well and I expect as much. Naanee should win the battle for the number two wide receiver job with the often injured Davis and aging Josh Reed as his only legitimate competition. Malcom Floyd and quarterback Philip Rivers have developed very good chemistry working together over the last two years and Naanee showed signs last year of getting into sync with the Chargers signal caller. Coach Turner would like very much to get Buster Davis racing down field under some of Rivers deep throws. After getting a hefty five year 11 million dollar rookie contract, Davis showed a lot of promise during his 2007 rookie season. After playing in only the first four games in 2008, due to an injury, Davis failed to get it going in 2009. If Buster can crank it up in 2010 the Chargers could have three big time wide receivers for Philip Rivers to throw to this year and in the future. We projected Davis on the low end until he shows us his past injury is history.

VETERANS

NAME	YEARS EXPERIENCE	GAMES	TARGETS	REC	TOT YD	YPC	TDS	TARGETS 2010	REC 2010	TOT YD 2010	TDS 2010
Buster Davis	3 SDC	19	42	30	299	10	1	40	27	266	2
Malcom Floyd	5 SDC	51	157	97	1597	16.5	9	100	63	1050	8
Legedu Naanee	3 SDC	44	55	40	375	9.4	2	60	43	473	5
Josh Reed	8 BUF	115	527	311	3575	11.5	10	34	23	230	1
Gary Banks	1 SDC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

ROOKIES COLLEGE

NAME	SCHOOL	YEARS	CATCHES	TOT YD	YPC	TDS	DRAFTED
Seyi Ajirotutu	Fresno State	4	129	1997	15.5	12	FA, NOT DRAFTED
Richard Goodman	Florida State	4	54	602	11.1	3	FA, NOT DRAFTED
Ernest Smith	Baylor	4	73	837	11.5	4	FA, NOT DRAFTED
Bryan Walters	Cornell	4	144	2032	15.3	12	FA, NOT DRAFTED
Jeremy Williams	Tulane	4	197	2807	14.2	19	FA, NOT DRAFTED
Jordyn Jackson	Eastern Oregon	3	86	1128	13.1	10	FA, NOT DRAFTED

Don’t expect anything from this group of 2010 rookie wide receivers. Coach Turner said Seyi Ajirotutu has been the stand out among the group so far, but neither Turner nor quarterback Philip Rivers would give an endorsement to any of the rookies. Don’t make the mistake of having any of the San Diego Chargers 2010 rookie wide receiver class on your roster in any league format.

Article provided by: J. Piatt
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