Fantasy Football Daily - 2022 Franchise Focus: Los Angeles Chargers

Episode Date: July 11, 2022

Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) invites Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) of the LA Daily News & OC Register to discuss the upcoming season for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Franchise Focus Podcast series is brought to you by Underdog Fantasy (@UnderdogFantasy). New users can sign up to Underdog using promo code FANTASYPTS for up to $100 in bonus cash on their first deposit. Visit fantasypoints.com/underdog for more info. The podcast series is also sponsored by Evan's Sports Cards & Collectibles (@evanscards). Follow @EvansCards on Twitter for weekly updates and card releases, Like on Facebook, and head to evanssportsnj.com for more info, including the always-updated eBay store. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fantasy-points-podcast/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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From numbers to the film room with a single. goal to help you score more fantasy points. Welcome back to the franchise focus series of podcasts here at fantasy points.com. My name is Joe Dolan and today we're talking yet another Super Bowl candidate. The other day we talked the Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams with Jordan Roderick. Today we're talking the other LA team and certainly another Super Bowl contender, that being the Los Angeles Chargers and we are talking them with a great guy.

I'm talking to him for the first time, but our friend Jorge Martin, he recommended Gilbert Mancano very, very highly. You can follow Gilbert at G. Mancano 24 on Twitter. That's Manzano, M-A-N-Z-A-N-O. He is the Chargers, NFL, and Boxing Reporter for the Orange County Register and the SoCal News Group. And he is the co-host of Compas on the beat. Gilbert, thank you so much. Welcome to the podcast.

It's great to finally talk to you. Thank you, Joe. That was a great intro. You pronounced Compa perfectly. And my last name, Manzano. So I appreciate the plug. and shout out to Jorge. He's an original OG compas. I love that guy. Yeah. So he did, I have to ask you, I'm trying to make this podcast quick.

But I have to ask you. He told me to ask you about guacamole. For those of you who don't listen to your podcast, you are decidedly not a fan. Yeah, I do not like, you know, I'll say this. I dislike heavily avocados. I could tolerate I could tolerate Guacamole because with guac you put a bunch of you know I love hot sauce hot sauce lime just get the taste out of there

avocados I can't do but you know I know I get people it's a hot take for people people don't like me for that but I save money at Chipotle I save money everywhere I'm not getting charged 250 for for avocados and guac so I feel like I'm making the right choice here

yeah 250 is quite a bit the guacamole there kind of mid anyway, right? Like I wouldn't exactly call that the best stuff. Anyway, we're going to get talking about the Chargers very shortly, but I have to let you know that the franchise-focused series of podcasts is brought to you by Evans Sports Cards and Collectibles, the best place for cards, collectibles, autographs, and more. All of our memorabilia giveaways at fantasy points are from Evans' cards.

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fantasy points.com sent you. Gilbert, you know, coming into a lot of these podcasts, I've been sitting down and I have an endless list of questions to ask people. You know, teams that have new coaches and new players, new acquisitions, and I'm sitting here thinking, I think I said it to you off air. The Chargers really have one of the most stable offenses

in the entire NFL. And, I mean, I think that's probably a good thing, given Justin Herbert was in his second year with a new system. but what is your opinion on that? Do they think there's a place this offense can go in 2022 that it hasn't gone already? Yeah, you know, the thing with the charges, maybe you don't think about it,

or maybe you do because Justin Herbert's on the team and he's great, he's lights out, he makes his offense go. But I don't think they've gotten that reputation yet of being an offensive juggernaut. But if you look at all the kind of the analytics and the numbers, DVOA and all that, they were like top five last year.

They were great. They're fantastic efficient. Maybe in the fantasy world, they weren't explosive enough. They weren't scoring enough points. They had trouble in the red zone earlier on in the year. But that was the first year of an offense with Joe Lombardi. It was just a number of second year. So there was a lot of learning and getting used to each other.

So I could definitely see them getting better than that. And definitely when you think about the NFL, I could see them, you know, when you say the bills and the chiefs and the Rams and the charge are not that behind. So the Buccaneers, all these great offenses, I think the charge can. definitely be in the mix for that. But as you know, Joe in the fantasy world, when you're loaded, there's a lot of mouths to feed so that could be an issue. But when you have Justin Herbert, you know, controlling the keys, he is, you know, one thing I'll say about him that doesn't get enough credit. He is great at getting everybody, everybody involved. That's why you saw Mike Williams, Keene Allen, Austin Echler, have great years in 2021. So obviously, Austin Echler is where this

fantasy team starts. You play fantasy. You understand the guy's a high first round pick. touchdowns last year, though. You feel like it's going to come down there for Eckler. Do they still feel comfortable in his role, though? You know, obviously he's not like a Naji Harris level Belkow, but he's out there catching a ton of passes. He's the goal line back. Do they feel like he can keep that up?

Yeah, it's tough for any running might take a 20 touchdown and repeat it for a second year. Oh, yeah, you have to take the under on that. I don't care who you are. But I mean, the role is what's important, right? Yeah, definitely. The role is still going to be there, but it might sound weird to say, but expect the carries and the snaps to go down, but I still expect the kind of the same efficiency numbers because, you know, I remember this guy had like maybe 12 touches in Jacksonville in 2019 and had 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards. So Austin Necker doesn't need enough touches to make it work and be productive. But he's been begging the charges for the last year to get some help because his body is, you know, 5 foot 10, 185 pounds.

He's not a workhorse back, like you mentioned, Najee Harris or Derek Henry. His body cannot withstand the wear and tear. So he knows that. And that's where they drafted a guy like Isaiah Spiller. But don't freak out about Austin Eckler. He's still for sure a first-round pick. And the great thing by Austin Eckler, you know, he had eight touchdowns receiving. So it's not like he needs to go-line carry the one-yard kind of running back, you know, and take it into the touchdowns.

He knows how to be productive in many ways. I've seen him, you know, take wheel rats for 20 yards. yards and get a touchdown, slant rats for like a 40 yarder. So he can contribute so many ways. So yeah, the touches and the snaps are going to go down. People might freak out. But this guy is so efficient. He takes pride in being efficient and doing the most he can every time the ball touches

his hand. So don't worry about Austin Eccler. You know, I think it's funny that you said he's been begging for help, maybe kind of that bigger compliment. And it's not for lack of trying. Like the last three years, Joshua Kelly comes in. He's a fourth round pick, not so hot. They draft Larry Roundtree last year as a sixth.

round pick. And now finally, Isaiah Spiller, he's the fourth round pick. Actually, you know, maybe based on his combine testing, maybe dropped a little farther in the draft than than people might have expected. What's the reason to believe? Why do the Chargers believe this is now the guy who can be that kind of power compliment Austin, Eccl. Yeah, Isaiah Spiller was kind of a surprise to be there in the fourth round out of Texas A&M. I think a guy like Dan and Jeremiah was surprised that he was still available. He was like top three in his rankings. That's the same thing with, Dan Bruegler from the Athletic. So they saw a lot of value in a guy.

And the biggest thing that the charges say for why they believe in Isaiah Spiller, and like you mentioned, they already, you know, they've already used draft picks. And you shouldn't use that many draft picks on running backs three years in a row, Joshua Kelly, Larry Roundtree. It just didn't work out. But the biggest thing with Isaiah Spiller that they say, Brandon Staley specifically, is he played in a Jimbo Fisher pro-style offense. He's going to have a great transition to the pro game because he was in that.

He was not just in that. He was productive back-to-back years of 1,000 rushing yards. And he also showed some versatility as a past catcher running back. It was in a high number, but he did it at Texas A&M. But the biggest thing for Isaiah Spilert, to get his opportunity is to block for Justin Herbert. That was the thing Joshua Kelly and Larry Rauncher could not figure out to stay on the field is block. If he could figure that out, the touches, the carries will be there because, again, Austin Echler is begging for help. So if Isaiah could figure that part out, which is the hardest part, I think, for rookie running backs,

NFL is to block and know your assignments, he'll be okay. He's a big body running back. I know people are trying to plug him into the short yardage kind of running back, but the charges are talking like push Austin Echler, be a number one running back, be a threat here and do a little bit of everything, just kind of be like Austin Echler. So the ceiling is really high for Isaiah Spiller. I don't expect him to be kind of a spellback or take a breather, Austin. I definitely expect him to be in the mix and have a very productive one-two punch.

if he could figure out the whole the rookie kind of growing pains for him. And speaking of rookies blocking for Justin Herbert, Zion Johnson, you expect to come in. What position? Like, I think everybody kind of had him pegged as a right guard. But do you think there's a chance he plays another position or is he just going to be right guard day one, one of those foundational pieces up front alongside with John Slater? Yeah, the plan for Ryan has to be a right guard. He played some tackle.

He kind of played a little bit of everything at Boston College. But the planet is right guard. I think the charges really value, you know, continuity and chemistry and being comfortable. That's why they really refused to move Matt Filer last year from left guard to, you know, right tackle. So, you know, you already have your trio of Roshan Slater, which was a home run pick a year ago. Money well spent accordingly and a value pick in Matt Fowler. You had your trio there. So they wanted to go for a fourth.

You go down the line. I think Zion Johnson will be that guy. But now they got to finish it. It's like you're coloring a page. and you're missing that one spot. And it's the right tackle spot, which could be kind of the keyleys heel for this potential juggernaut offense.

And when you have a weakness as a right tackle, it can make or break your season. So that's the biggest thing is the right tackle. But for Zion Johnson, I expect them to help out. And not just to help out and be reliable. I really expect to see results

in the running game. And it's funny. Like Austin Eckler had 20 touchdowns, but they were not efficient as a rushing tank. When you think about rushing, you do not think about the charges. They were not a top rushing. team a year ago. It was a past heavy offense.

It made it for for that reason because it couldn't block on the right side. And now you don't have to go to that wall on the left side. You could go to the right side if Zion Johnson figures it out quickly, but also you got an issue of right tackle. So, but when that zone game, you're playing a lot inside game and you have Matt Filer at your guard with Zion Johnson, I really expect that to be kind of a benefit for Isaiah Spiller and Austin Neckler. So that's a whole other part of it that I'm glad you kind of brought up with the old line, Joe, because if that running game for blocking is much better, that's better for the running backs.

And I mean, but let's be honest. I mean, Justin Herbert's the quarterback. You have an elite pass protecting left tackle. You have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. This is still going to be a pass first team, right? And one of my questions here is at tight end, Jared Cook might not have done as much as they anticipated last year. Get some flashes from Donald Parham.

They bring in Gerald Everett, though. Do you think Gerald Everett can be the guy. who becomes that reliable third target on off, or at least fourth target behind the top two receivers and Echler? Or are they expecting one of the young guys, maybe Parham or Tray McKinty to take a step forward? Yeah, that's kind of the toughest question I've had this offseason for like, you know, where does Gerald ever fit in and will it be productive from a fantasy kind of standpoint?

I think they like them, you know, for being a versatile tight end. You know, you could contribute in the blocking. You could run that personnel 12 with him, Parham, and, and Tray McKitty. in terms of being a high production tight-end. I don't know. It didn't work out for Gerald Everett in Seattle. I know Russell Wilson wasn't playing much last year. He lost his job with Tyler Higbee with the Rams.

But they like his athleticism. He's still young. Maybe he could figure it out because there was a point with the Rams where you thought, oh, this guy could play. And it just didn't work out with Gerald Everett. The other part of it is like there's too many miles of feet. I just don't know how much they're going to really rely on the tight end to kind of help you out when you have Austin Echler,

King Allen, Mike Williams. and so forth with the wide receivers. But he would definitely have a role. And the biggest thing in fantasy football, if you're the starting tied in, that's a big plus. And he is the starting tied in. I don't think Donald Parham or Tram and Tram and Kit are going to take that.

Because, again, he's versatile. He could do many things. And he's athletic. Everything I've heard about in terms of the passing attack is that he could attack the seams, the middle part of the field. So they're definitely going to try to utilize that. I just don't know how much. But you could definitely say he'll be on the field.

and I expect a higher production than Jury and Cook a year ago. You know, timing can be everything in the NFL with the way moves are made. And the Chargers kind of got aggressive early resigning Mike Williams. And they did so before the market exploded for the wide receivers. I don't know. Do they feel almost kind of fortunate that they were able to do that? And what does that say how they feel about his overall health that they signed him to that extension? Yeah.

They were, it kind of worked out for both parties. They kind of, you know, get that three years, $60 million in contract for Mike Williams because you saw it, Billum. He kind of had the similar contract that Chris Codwin. And then when you look at the rank as wide receivers, you know, it sounds about right for Mike Williams. I know people don't really see him just yet as a consistent kind of top 15 wide receiver. But the charges definitely do. And yeah, he was hurt to start his career. He was inconsistent.

That was the biggest question that got over the years for, for fancy people. Well, Mike Williams finally break out. He finally did it last year. But this team loves Mike Williams. That's why I was not worried about his contract at all. Yeah, it expired to five years. But, you know, he proved himself with a big 20, 21 year. Justin Herbert loves this guy.

And he trusts him so much. And Crunchtime, you remember that game in Las Vegas where it was fourth and ten, five times. They all went to Mike Williams pretty much. So, yeah, I think for him to be consistent for a second year. Like, you see flashes where he has 10 touchdowns but not receiving yards or he has a thousand receiving yards, but not 10 touchdown. You know, he was pretty close to that a year ago. I expect to kind of have high numbers again because he got paid $20 million a year.

He's supposed to be one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, and I think he is. And when it comes to crunch time or just jump, you're throwing a jump ball, he is the best in the game. I feel like when it comes to the jump ball. All right, Gilbert, I have got to wrap this podcast stuff very quickly because I think the Wicked Witch of the West just flew past here in South Carolina. And there's a house about to fall on top of her sister. It is nasty outside, but hopefully I can get this question in before my power goes out.

I've been asking everybody, is there a sleeper on offense you think's got an opportunity to put up some numbers who we might not have talked about already on the podcast? Yeah, I'll definitely go up with Josh Palmer, the second year wide receiver for the Chargers. And this one might be a little, you know, a little tough for Josh Palmer because the way he plays, the roles have been taken. He's a big body receiver. That's Mike Williams. he's a great position wide receiver could get you the first down. They have King Allen for that.

So he's not a burner. Jalen Gidding has a road to contact to top off the defense, deep threat guy, but this guy is reliable. His work ethic is something that Justin Herbert always talks about. Great route runner, good blocker. He's going to find the way to be on the field.

Yeah, there's too many miles of the field with Austin, Eckler, Keenan, and Mike, and he does a lot of things similar to those guys. But this guy, I think, is going to find the row. And when the guy is so reliable like that, he's going to find a way. And he could be a guy, maybe not this year, but down the line, I can see a guy who's, you know,

hovering around 80 catches a season. He's that reliable around the line of scrimmon. So Justin Herbert loves him. He works hard. So I say take a fly on Josh Palmer. I think that's a really interesting point, especially since, you know, Keenan Allen's getting a little bit long in the tooth,

still very productive. And we know Mike Williams has had his injury history, though. And you're saying he could kind of bridge the gap between those two guys. I think that's really interesting. Yeah, definitely. Like last year, he had a game where he started. We all thought he's going to kind of have a mic

Williams Roe, he pretty much took over the Keene-Anon Road, which is a lot to do. And he really resembled up pretty well. So if you can play the Keenan-Roe, which is high production, high-volume, take a flower here for sure. The biggest surprise of the entire day is that I made it through this podcast without my power going out. His name is Gilbert Mancano. You follow him on Twitter at G. Mancano 24. He is a friend of the site. He's a friend of Jorge Martin. He's a friend to me. Thank you so much, Gilbert for doing this and I'm glad we could get through the entire thing and not have to reschedule. Yeah, thank you, Joe. Stay safe out there in Philly. Guys, the franchise focus podcast series is brought to you by Evans Cards. You guys know that.

It is going to continue later this week. We're going to be talking Raiders. We're going to be talking Raiders with Vic Tafer of the athletic. I am just trying right now to wrap this up as men as good. Maybe you heard that Thunder clap right now. Guys, thank you so much. I'm a little flustered right now, but we'll be back later this week with many more franchise-focused podcasts. My name's Joe Dolan. Everybody take it easy. Thanks for tuning in to this edition of the Fantasy Points podcast. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite platform. And come join the roster at FantasyPoint.com.