Top 5 San Diego Chargers To Target In Fantasy Football

San Diego Chargers Top Fantasy Players

The San Diego Chargers head into the 2013 season with more questions than answers this year. Typically a good place to find fantasy football players for your team, this year it’s going to be harder to find the fantasy value in San Diego.

Harder, but not impossible. New offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is in the process of installing a system that will feature more short throws for quarterback Philip Rivers, which should help alleviate the problems that the weak Chargers offensive line caused last year.

Rivers has had a couple of down years, but is looking to get back to his previous form this season. If he does that should bring value to the San Diego receivers, including tight end Antonio Gates. They also bolstered that receiving corps in this year's draft when they took Keenan Allen from the nearby University of California.

The running game is another story. Ryan Mathews was supposed to be the franchise back for the Chargers, but at this point it’s a better bet he’ll end up on the injury report then in the end zone. That opens the door for other backs to step it up this year.

Overall, it’s going to be an interesting year in San Diego. A team that has been considered a contender the last few years, they have a lot to prove in 2013. But they also have the players on the roster, especially on offense, that will have them scoring points both in real life and on your fantasy team.

These are the top five players to target for your fantasy football team this year.

Ben Sullivan is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bensullivan52, "Like" him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.

5. Danny Woodhead

Diminutive third down back Danny Woodhead comes over from the New England Patriots this year. A quick, shifty back, Woodhead excels in the passing game.

But with the Chargers, I’d bet he’ll be the guy who ends up getting the most carries this season. I know the depth chart will say that Ryan Mathews is that guy, but I won’t believe he can be a steady contributor until I see it.

Woodhead will have value this year in the San Diego backfield, especially if you play in a PPR league.

4. Antonio Gates

Once upon a time Antonio Gates was the clear cut number one fantasy option at tight end. Those days are gone now, but he’s still a serviceable option.

Injuries will probably again keep him from being an every week start for you, but if you’re just looking for a guy who can put up a few big games in spot starts, he’s still good for that.

Tight end is a deep position after you get past the first couple of guys, so if you can’t get Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez or even Rob Gronkowski, just let everyone else waste early picks on other tight ends and take Gates late for good value.

3. Keenan Allen

Now things start to get interesting for San Diego. They took Allen in the third round of the draft this past spring in hopes that he can make his way up the San Diego depth chart and be the number one guy for Rivers and the Chargers.

Chances are he won’t get there this year though, mostly because rookie receivers have a hard time staying healthy and productive for a full year.

He’s got talent and is a good late round value pick, especially in keeper leagues.

2. Malcom Floyd

Malcom Floyd has been on the verge of a breakout season for a while now. Mostly he’s been derailed because Philip Rivers has digressed and couldn’t get him the ball down the field.

This year the offense will feature more short throws, which should bring Floyd back into the offense more. He’ll get tons of targets on a team that doesn’t have a lot of other options at receiver, and if he can turn some of those into touchdowns, he could have a big fantasy year.

1. Philip Rivers

Oh, Philip Rivers. Just two years ago we had someone in my fantasy league take him in the second round of a keeper league draft. True story, and the crazy thing is that it wasn’t a bad pick at the time.

Today things are different. Rivers is no longer a top tier option at quarterback in fantasy leagues. He hasn’t had a good year in the last couple, but this year he gets a new offensive coordinator and a new offensive system.

That system will feature more short throws and timing patterns, a big change from the Norv Turner offense that called for deep drop backs and lots of time for the defense to get pressure on Rivers.

Look for Rivers to have a bounce back year in 2013. Maybe not all the way back to where he was just a few years ago, but back to being a good value pick.