David Njoku — Week 1: Five for Five, and Three Yards Short
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 14
Njoku caught all five of his targets for 58 yards and three first downs, second on the Chargers in receiving yards behind Ladd McConkey's 82. The last was 15 yards on fourth and 18 from the Chargers 23 with 4:17 left, three short, a turnover on downs; the one before it was 12 yards on third and 30, in a 26–14 loss to the Cardinals.
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23 to 14, Cardinals, four 17 left in the fourth quarter, fourth and 18 at the Chargers 23. Justin Herbert threw short right to David Njoku, who got 15 yards to the 38, three short, with an offensive pass interference on Njoku declined. −2.0 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and −1.1 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it; by expected points it was the third-worst pass play the Chargers had, behind the fourth-down sack at the three and the interception. His biggest came in the second quarter: first and 10 at the Arizona 42, 14 oh eight left, tied seven to seven, short right and pushed out of bounds at the 30 for 12, +0.7 and 4.6 points of win probability. Omarion Hampton fumbled two plays later.
The line: five targets, five catches, 58 yards, no touchdowns, three first downs, −0.3 expected points on the targets, longest 15. Two targets before halftime for 18 yards, three after for 40. The catches: the 12; six yards short middle on second and two from the Arizona 13 with three 35 left in the half, to the seven, on the drive that ended with the sack; 13 short middle from the Chargers 27 with 10 33 left in the fourth, the play before Herbert's interception; 12 on third and 30 from the 11 with four 24 left; and the 15 on fourth and 18. Five catches on five throws, and the last two went 27 yards against 48 needed.
Five targets were fourth on the team: seven to Ladd McConkey, six each to Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris, five to Njoku, two to Oronde Gadsden, one to Derius Davis, none without a receiver. Between the tight ends it was Njoku five for five and 58, Gadsden two for two and 32, and his 58 yards were second on the team to McConkey's 82. The Chargers threw 10 pass plays before halftime and 20 after, and three of his five came after.
Back in June the preview made no call on Njoku — the 20-fourth tight end at pick one 80 after a knee-shadowed season that finished 20-fifth per game, a price that matched a one-year contract with under a million guaranteed, with the beat's read giving Oronde Gadsden the inside track and Njoku the two-tight-end partner's job. The things to watch were the alignment battle with Gadsden and the red-zone rotation. Sunday the targets went five to two Njoku's way, and the one throw to a tight end inside the 20 was his six-yarder to the seven. One game is one game, and the one that was supposed to tilt against him tilted toward him. The Chargers are home to the Raiders on Sunday the twentieth.
_Data via nflverse._
When David Njoku's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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