Jacoby Jones, WR

The Chargers signed Jones in early March after the Baltimore Ravens released him in February, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter:

Jacoby Jones two year deal with Chargers, per a source

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 6, 2015

Jones will only contribute on special teams in 2015, barring a calamity at wide receiver.

Austin Pettis, WR

San Diego picked up Pettis in January, according to Wilson:

Chargers signed Austin Pettis

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) January 9, 2015

The 2011 third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams will find it difficult to get playing time ahead of an already-stacked lineup of wide receivers: Dontrelle Inman, Malcom Floyd, Stevie Johnson and Keenan Allen.

Consider him a speculative reserve in deep-dynasty leagues if he makes the team.

Donald Brown, RB

Brown started three games for the Chargers’ injury-plagued unit of running backs but failed to deliver notable numbers. His 7.3 yards per reception marked the second-worst average of his six-year career, and his 2.6 yards per carry were the worst by far.

He’ll have a place in San Diego’s running back committee as it is currently comprised, but it will be behind Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver, save for injuries to either or both.  

Mike McCoy acknowledged the Chargers underutilized Green in 2014, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken on Twitter:

Ladarius Green had 19 catches in 2014. Lack of involvement in “11” personnel limited his snaps. Mike McCoy: “We need to use him more.”

— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) March 24, 2015

The 2012 fourth-rounder out of Louisiana-Lafayette has the size—6’6”, 240—and skills—ranked 19th among tight ends, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription needed)—just not the opportunity.

Expecting the backup tight end to surge in his contract year will prove as foolish as similar expectations did in years past. Green can’t succeed as a fantasy performer without Gates out of the way, which isn’t likely to happen in 2015.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 25 receptions, 350 yards and two touchdowns.

San Diego hardly used the former star of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts before Inman leapfrogged Seyi Ajirotutu on the depth chart in a Week 15 breakout against the San Francisco 49ers. Frank Reich expected Inman to shine when given the change, according to Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

I asked [Argonauts head coach Scott Milanovich], ‘What do you think of him?’ His response was, ‘If I had 42 players like Dontrelle, we’d never lose a game.’ That’s about the greatest compliment a coach can give a player. Right from day one, I’ve had a lot of confidence in this guy. He certainly proved it on Saturday.

The 6’3”, 205-pound Virginia Cavaliers product managed just a brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in 2011. His emergence allowed Tom Telesco the luxury to watch Ajirotutu and Eddie Royal sign free-agent deals with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, respectively.

The wide receiver position is a crowded one in San Diego, but Mike McCoy and Philip Rivers know how to spread the love. The Chargers were the only team with four pass-catchers topping 778 yards and four touchdowns in 2014, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com.

Plug Inman into your dynasty roster with confidence, following his progress as his playing time increases in 2015. He’ll be worthy of a spot in re-draft leagues if any of San Diego’s top-three wideouts misses significant time due to injury.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 25 receptions for 325 yards and two touchdowns.

Floyd returned as a full-time starter in 2014 after missing most of 2013 with a major neck injury. The 10-year veteran reprised his role as San Diego’s field-stretching wideout, leading the team with 16.5 yards per catch on 52 receptions.

The 33-year-old proved touchdown-dependent in the second half of 2014, peaking with 85 yards in a Week 13 matchup at the Baltimore Ravens. He finished a respectable 29th in fantasy scoring among wide receivers, averaging 7.3 points per game.

Floyd is entering the final year of what could be his last NFL contract, based on a report from The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken during the 2014 offseason.

“I’m really taking advantage of the time I have with my teammates,” Floyd said I’m getting older, too. I’m probably going to finish out this contract, and then that’s it. I don’t have much time. I’m really taking this time seriously and just trying to enjoy it while I can.”

San Diego vigorously pursued Andre Johnson in free agency before settling on Stevie Johnson (see Johnson’s slide). That indicates the Chargers take Floyd at his word and are preparing for his eventual departure.

Fantasy owners should plan accordingly, and expect Floyd to be the odd man out in a hungry receiving rotation including Johnson, Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 45 receptions, 775 yards and five touchdowns.

Woodhead is recovering ahead of schedule from a leg injury that cost him most of the 2014 season, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken on Twitter.

Chargers missed CB Jason Verrett (shoulder), RB Danny Woodhead (leg) last season. Both ahead of schedule. Making full recovery.

— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) March 7, 2015

The six-year veteran emerged as a reliable points-per-reception running back in his first season with San Diego. He caught more passes in 2013 (76) than in any two seasons during his three-year run with the Patriots.

He finished one catch short of first place in receptions among running backs behind Pierre Thomas.

Durability will be a concern in 2015, as the 5’8” 200-pounder enters his seventh season at age 30. Redundancy in San Diego’s backfield is also an issue, because Donald Brown and Branden Oliver essentially share the same skill set.

Woodhead isn’t likely to repeat the success of 2013, and he should only be owned as a flex at best in PPR leagues.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 75 carries for 300 yards and three touchdowns, plus 40 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns.

Oliver came out of nowhere as the last man standing in an injury-depleted Chargers backfield in 2014. He assumed the feature-back role after Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown left the field with injuries in consecutive weeks.

All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates showered praise after Oliver thrashed the then-No. 1-ranked rushing defense of the New York Jets, according to Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

“He reminds me so much of [Darren] Sproles,” Gates said. “And I played with Sproles so many years. It’s crazy. He’s Sproles, with a little bit more power.”

Oliver returned to a third-down back role when Mathews recovered, but Mathews signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in March, leaving Oliver alone atop San Diego’s depth chart.

The undrafted free agent from the Buffalo Bulls finished second only to Malcom Floyd (856) in yards from scrimmage (853) for the Chargers in 2014.  

While the 5’8”, 208-pound rookie exploded in Weeks 5 and 6—he averaged 23.5 fantasy points—the league figured Oliver out and held him to 4.5 points per game the rest of the season.

Mike McCoy hinted San Diego’s backfield figures to be a committee in 2015 if nothing changes after the draft, according to Gehlken.

“We could win with the three guys we have right now; I believe that,” McCoy said. “We’re going to play them all. They’re all going to play in their own way. We’ll see what happens through the draft and the rest of free agency with what’s available.”

Oliver will be a fantasy reserve at most in the Chargers’ current arrangement at running back.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 175 carries for 625 yards, plus 40 receptions for 275 yards and four combined touchdowns.

San Diego stole Johnson from the New England Patriots in free agency, according to NBC Washington’s Dianna Marie Russini on Twitter:

Stevie Johnson will sign with Chargers per sources.

— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) March 17, 2015

Russini tweeted Johnson was “very likely” to sign with the Patriots just a day earlier.

Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reported Mike McCoy consulted three coaches on the Chargers’ staff that worked for the Buffalo Bills during Johnson’s time there: tight ends coach Pete Metzelaars, offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris and assistant O-line coach Andrew Dees. Here’s what McCoy had to say:

Obviously they’re not coaching the receivers. But they talked about what type of guy he was there and the success he had. Watching the film, it speaks for itself. Now, I know he didn’t have the production that he wanted to have last year in San Francisco, but he’s a very explosive player. I think he can do a lot of things that we would want another receiver to do in a unique role.

He made a fine consolation prize for Tom Telesco after the Chargers missed out on Andre Johnson as free agency kicked off, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken on Twitter:

Source on Chargers’ push for WR Andre Johnson: “They were all in. Close as you can get.”

— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) March 11, 2015

Although Johnson’s stats dipped dramatically with the San Francisco 49ers in 2014—35 catches, 435 yards and four touchdowns—he graded 17th in receiving, according to Pro Football Focus. When healthy, he strung together three-straight seasons of over 1,000-yards receiving (2010-12) in an otherwise mediocre offense under Chan Gailey in Buffalo.

The seven-year veteran is in the right situation to rebound and top 1,000 yards again, especially if the Chargers don’t address the deficiencies in the backfield. He should easily pass Malcom Floyd and challenge Keenan Allen on the depth chart.

Johnson barely rates on draft boards currently, but his stock should rise quickly as fantasy prognosticators reassess his new environment. If you can sneak him onto your roster in year-round dynasty formats, buy low immediately for the best value.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 65 receptions, 850 yards and six touchdowns.

Gordon is projected to land with San Diego at pick No. 17 in the upcoming NFL draft, according to an expert mock-draft database compiled by Bolts from the Blue’s Richard Wade of SB Nation. The Wisconsin Badger running back is favored by 23 percent of the 26 experts canvassed.

He’s a pure rusher who must develop the pass-blocking and catching aspects of his game, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

Angular, talented open-field runner who combines outstanding burst with a long stride to gain separation and hit the home run.

Not trustworthy enough to be a three-down back, but his pass-catching improved enough to utilize him out of backfield as a receiver.

Gordon ran wild in his junior campaign, following up a 1,609-yard sophomore effort with 2,587 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Only Barry Sanders rushed for more yardage in one season—2,628 with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 1988—and just five players scored more touchdowns.

He briefly held the NCAA single-game rushing record (408 yards) before Oklahoma Sooners freshman Samaje Perine broke it the following week with 427 yards, according to the Associated Press.

The 6’1”, 215-pound lead back finished second in Heisman Trophy voting and won the 2014 Doak Walker award, given annually to the nation’s most outstanding running back.

San Diego makes a great fit for Gordon from a fantasy perspective, because the Chargers desperately lack an RB1 without Ryan Mathews. The only problem is the Chargers offensive line played terribly last year, ranking 29th overall, according to Pro Football Focus.

Tom Telesco and Mike McCoy must improve the O-line in 2015, otherwise Gordon owners will suffer the consequences of his tendencies to “gear down and stutter-step to line, waiting for crease to show itself rather than adjusting on fly and taking what was available,” according to Zierlein.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 900 rushing yards and six touchdowns, plus 100 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Fantasy owners who drafted Allen 18th among wide receivers on average in 2014 were no doubt frustrated with his 48th-place finish in December. The 2013 third-rounder out of Cal caught six more passes (77) than he did in his remarkable rookie debut, but he fell 263 yards and four touchdowns short of the totals—71 catches, 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns—that made him a top-20 wide receiver that season.

The culprit isn’t a sophomore slump, as much as Frank Reich repurposed Allen as a possession receiver after he thrived as a downfield threat for former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt in 2013. Allen’s yards per catch plummeted as a result, from 14.7 to 10.2.

ESPN’s John Clayton predicts Allen will assume the slot role in 2015 that was vacated by Eddie Royal’s free-agency departure to the Chicago Bears.

“Being in the slot isn’t an insult. Philip Rivers loves working the middle of the field.”

As such, Allen’s prospects won’t improve beyond a WR2 in standard leagues, but his PPR value will rise in 2015.

All-To-Early 2015 Projection: 100 receptions for 1,050 yards and five touchdowns.

Pundits foreshadowed Gates’ demise. Frank Reich still can’t believe he’s maintaining All-Pro levels at 34 years old, according to Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

I don’t even understand. I don’t understand how there’s no physical drop-off in his game. None. I mean, I never saw him when he was 25, but what he does off the line of scrimmage, how crafty he is and the physical skill to execute how smoothly he runs—maybe he slowed down, but I just don’t see it. I don’t see any dent in the armor.

Gates returned to the top five in fantasy scoring among tight ends after a three-year hiatus. The 12-year veteran tied Rob Gronkowski and Julius Thomas for the most touchdowns by a tight end with 12. He almost tied his career-best 13 touchdowns in 2004 and finished one shy of 100 for his brilliant career.

The touchdowns came in bunches in 2014, with nine occurring in just four games. The result was a rollercoaster ride for fantasy owners, suffering six points or less seven times. Gates finished fifth among tight ends in receptions (69) and seventh in yards (821).

While Gates proved expectations for his demise were premature, depending on a repeat performance in 2015 is also foolish. He should easily remain in the top 10 of a very weak field of tight ends, but another high-end finish isn’t likely.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 65 receptions for 750 yards and eight touchdowns.  

If the Chargers move to Los Angeles, Rivers probably won’t join them, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune:

What I can control and all I know as of today, I am signed up for one more year. I guess things could change, but with all the uncertainty in many aspects, I don’t see it changing before camp gets here, and when camp gets here I’m even more certain to play it out.

What we’ve established here with my growing family is hard to recreate. It’s hard to up and recreate that. I know that moves are part of life. But that certainly is fair to say that [not being sold on moving to Los Angeles] is part of it. The good thing is I’m not under contract in a year where we’d potentially be in Los Angeles.

Rivers’ admission is jolting for an organization that wants to re-sign him, reported Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com, quoting Tom Telesco.

I still think he has a number of years left. I really do. He keeps himself in great condition. He’s always prepared. And he’s still playing at a high level. Now, anytime you have a star player that’s into his 30s, in my position, you always have your eye on who’s the next guy. But I feel good about where Philip is.

We’re committed to make sure that Philip retires as a Charger.

The 33-year-old struggled down the stretch in 2014 with nagging rib and back injuries, but he still finished 12th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring. Rivers graded seventh among quarterbacks in passing, finishing ahead of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, according to Pro Football Focus.

There’s a lot of uncertainty for Rivers’ future, at least until the draft passes. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported the Tennessee Titans are a possible trade partner—reuniting the Pro Bowler with head coach Ken Whisenhunt, his offensive coordinator in 2013.

Any deal would require “multiple first-round picks,” Rapoport said.

The 11-year veteran holds all the cards heading into a contract year. He projects as a borderline QB1, depending on the size of your league.

It’s extremely doubtful Rivers will appear in any other uniform besides San Diego’s in 2015, which bodes well for his fantasy prospects.

All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 4,775 yards passing and 33 touchdowns.

NFL statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference , fantasy stats provided by ESPN.com, fantasy draft projections courtesy of Fantasy Pros, contract and salary cap information provided by Over the Cap and h/t to Rotoworld for tweets and quotes unless otherwise noted.