Ladd McConkey — Week 3: Nineteen Yards on Third and Fifteen
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
McConkey caught 4 of 5 targets for 66 yards and three first downs, and his targets were worth plus 5.0 expected points, the most of any Charger. The 19-yard catch on third and 15 to the Buffalo 6 with 9:31 left in the third, tied 10–10, was the Chargers' largest win-probability gain, in a 24–16 loss to the Bills.
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10 to 10, nine 31 left in the third quarter, third and 15 at the Buffalo 25. Two penalties on the Chargers had pushed a second and six back to second and 26, and a Keaton Mitchell run had made it third and 15. One of the flags had wiped out a McConkey run. Justin Herbert threw deep left to Ladd McConkey, who ran out of bounds at the Buffalo six, 19 yards and the first down. +2.9 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and +10.8 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it, the largest gain on any Chargers pass or run. The drive still stalled at the three and ended in a field goal, 13 to 10.
The line: five targets, four catches, 66 yards, three first downs, +5.0 expected points on the targets, the most of any Charger. The catches went seven, 11, 19 29. The seven came on the Chargers' second possession; the 11, second and eight with 12 27 left in the third, came on the field-goal drive; the 29 was deep right with two 36 left in the game, down 24 to 13, to the Buffalo 18, on the drive that ended in the last field goal. The one incompletion was deep right on third and three at the Buffalo 27 in the second quarter, and the 45-yard field goal after it went wide left. Two targets before halftime, three after. Two third-down targets, one caught and converted.
Five targets was third on the team behind seven to Tre Harris and six to Quentin Johnston. Herbert threw 34 times.
Back in June the preview made no call on McConkey, and named the things to watch: health first, then a target share north of 20 percent. Week 1 had the share and a chest injury in the third quarter, per ProFootballTalk. Week 2 had the health and three targets. Sunday was five of 34. Three games: 15 targets of 88 throws, 17 percent, 12 catches, a hundred 83 yards. In all three games his targets have been the most valuable on the team, and the share is still under the line. Three games settle little. The Chargers are at the Seahawks on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
When Ladd McConkey's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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