Week 2 Fantasy Football Start/Sit: How Does Ladd McConkey Compare to Marvin Harrison Jr., Demarcus Robinson, Calvin Ridley and A.J. Brown?

Comparing the Chargers' rookie against other questionable fantasy football receivers.

Chargers’ rookie receiver Ladd McConkey started his career by leading his team in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. The numbers were modest (five catches, 39 yards, one touchdown), but it’s telling that he was the top guy in the pecking order.

Our FantasySP start/sit tool shows some of the most popular decisions fantasy owners are trying to make and gives you the chance to compare your own players. McConkey is showing up a lot, meaning he’s a hot fantasy topic heading into Sunday’s games.

Let’s run through some of the guys McConkey is commonly being compared against and see who the better starting options are. A lot depends on who scores a touchdown; that’s tough to predict. This is more about who will get more usage and/or has the better matchup.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams

Let’s get this one out of the way quickly: Harrison is a weekly starter. He was anonymous in Week 1, but that was one game against a good defense. Let’s give Harrison a minute to show what he can do.

Fantasy Advice: Start Harrison over McConkey

Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals

Now this one is interesting: Robinson is getting fantasy love because of the injury to Puka Nacua, a malady that will keep him out at least four weeks. I’m not counting on Robinson to suddenly break out, though. In seven full seasons, he has never hit 50 receptions or 500 yards.

A lot of that time was spent with the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce were there gobbling up targets, but I’d bet the best quarterback in football would have found Robinson more often if he was getting open.

The usual rules of “targets available” don’t apply here because of the presence of Cooper Kupp: Kupp had 21 targets in Week 1, catching 14 passes. Twenty-one targets; 21. That’s a ton of volume, and something that could continue with Kupp as the clear WR1 (though he won't get 20 targets every game).

Robinson and fellow receiver Tyler Johnson tied for second on the team with seven targets apiece, and Johnson outplayed Robinson (five catches, 79 yards for Johnson; four and 42 for Robinson). Tight end Colby Parkinson also had the best game of his career in Week 1 (a modest four catches for 47 yards), so there are players around to make up for Puka’s absence.

With Robinson not guaranteed to pick up the slack, I have to favor McConkey here. The latter will likely lead his team in targets again.

Fantasy Advice: Start McConkey over Robinson

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets

The biggest issue for Ridley is his opponent in this one. The Jets were third in passing yards allowed and fourth in yards per attempt allowed in 2023. They were one of the best pass defenses in football.

The 49ers did some damage against New York in Week 1, gaining 231 yards through the air with both Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel Sr. gaining over 50 yards. The Titans aren’t the 49ers, though. Ridley, as skilled as he is, isn’t Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk. Will Levis isn’t Brock Purdy, and that’s without considering the worst pass of Levis' career so far.

A good-not-great receiver with a below-average quarterback against a top-line pass defense doesn’t sound like success. Ridley is a player to bench unless you don’t have any other options.

Fantasy Advice: Start McConkey over Ridley

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons

This is just like the Harrison argument: Brown is a superstar receiver. Like, a no-doubt WR1. He needs to be in your fantasy lineup every week.

Fantasy Advice: Start Brown over McConkey

Conclusion

McConkey is a player to consider against other WR3/flex types, but he shouldn’t be starting over stars, even if they began the season slow. The Chargers are expected to rely on the run, limiting the pass attempts of Justin Herbert. That means less for the receivers.

McConkey is probably the top receiver on his team, though, and will get targets every week. That makes him more valuable than a fill-in player like Robinson, especially with a volume hog like Kupp on board with the veteran.

McConkey will be a guy to consider every week. Some matchups are going to be tough, like his two (potential) games against Kansas City. McConkey will be a must-sit player those weeks.

Against a team like the Panthers, though, who he matches up with in Week 2, McConkey has a chance at high-value targets in the red zone if the pathetic Panthers continue their moribund ways.

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