Keenan Allen

Allen is the picture of consistency, with 2021 marking five consecutive seasons catching at least 97 passes for 992 yards and six touchdowns. Of course, he hasn't gone far beyond those numbers, apart from 2017 when had 1,393 yards at a clip of 13.7 per catch. He's otherwise lingered around 10-12 yards per reception, relying on high catch rates (67.5 percent or higher four consecutive seasons) to make up for the lack of deep targets. In fact, Allen has been more focused on short and intermediate routes since Justin Herbert took over at quarterback in Los Angeles, even as the young QB has excelled throwing downfield (Allen's aDOT was shallower the last two years than in each of the previous three seasons pre-Herbert — 7.2 yards in 2020 before rebounding some to 8.4 yards last year). That's not necessarily a criticism, given that Allen ran a 4.58 40 coming out of Cal ... nine years ago. The Chargers have him do what he does best, running crisp routes within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage while Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer and Jalen Guyton work downfield. Williams seemed to challenge Allen for No. 1 status early last season, but the 6-4 wideout faded while his teammate finished strong, and Allen ultimately drew 28 more targets on the year. Maybe this is the year where Williams finally overtakes Allen, for real, but even that scenario wouldn't necessarily be a disaster for Allen if Herbert continues to improve.

Allen had an interesting year post Philip Rivers last season. Despite missing two and a half games, he extended his streak of 97 or more catches to a fourth consecutive year and scored a career-high eight times, but his per-play numbers — 9.9 YPC, 6.7 YPT — cratered with Justin Herbert at quarterback. Even though Herbert has an arm-cannon compared to the shot-putting Rivers, he targeted Allen mostly on short routes — Allen’s aDOT (7.0) was 32nd among the league’s 35 100-target wideouts. As a result, Allen had only 10 catches of 20-plus yards, none for 40-plus and failed to clear 1,000 yards on 100 catches. At 29, Allen is probably a little past his prime, and he’s never been fast, even in his early 20s. But Allen has good size (6-2, 211), runs impeccable routes, has great hands and reliably gets open. Allen saw decent red-zone work (17 targets in 13.5 games) but wasn’t used much closer to the goal line (six targets inside the 10). Bottom line, Allen is a possession receiver with modest upside in standard formats, but that he saw 147 targets despite missing the better part of three games gives him a high floor in PPR. And with a rising star in Herbert under center, there should be sufficient red-zone opportunities, especially with TE Hunter Henry leaving in free agency.

One of the steadiest producers in the league, the once injury-prone Allen has now played three consecutive 16-game seasons. Last year, he had his usual 100-catch, 1,200-yard, six-TD effort, though at the cost of some efficiency, likely due to an aging Philip Rivers. This year, Rivers is gone, and the Chargers are going with rookie Justin Herbert and veteran Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. Taylor is an elite scrambler and rarely turns the ball over, but aside from 14 games in 2015, has never cracked 7.0 YPA. Herbert's a good athlete with a big frame, but he was inconsistent at Oregon and likely will have some adjusting to do during his first exposure to the NFL. At 6-2, 211, Allen has good size, but he's never been much of a red-zone presence, and with both Hunter Henry and Mike Williams around, that's not likely to change in 2020. Allen isn't fast or even especially quick, but he runs excellent routes, has good hands and knows how to get open. Bottom line, Allen should remain the team's top target out wide, but with Taylor/Herbert at quarterback and Shane Steichen calling plays, this could be one of the more run-heavy teams in the league. Mike Williams is still the big-play option, and both Williams and Henry are better suited to see goalline work. Throw in Austin Ekeler as an elite receiver out of the backfield, and Allen's set-up is the worst of his career.

In many ways, Allen's 2018 season mirrored his previous one with 8.8 YPT, six scores and nearly 100 receptions in both. But the shape of Allen's output was different. In 2017, he had four catches of 40-plus yards; last year, he had only one. The efficiency remained constant thanks to an improved catch rate - 71.3 percent last year compared to 64.3 in 2017. In other words, like many receivers in the NFL, Allen became more of a short-pass catcher with an 8.6-yard average depth of target. Allen's volume also dropped off, even though he was healthy for the second straight year. The emergence of second-year man Mike Williams (66 targets) likely had an effect, as did the Chargers' overall improvement - Philip Rivers attempted only 508 passes in 2018 after slinging the rock 575 times the previous year. At 6-2, 211, and with only average speed, Allen makes his living with crisp route running, excellent hands and a tight rapport with Rivers. Allen's red-zone usage declined steeply last year, thanks in part to the 6-4, 220-pound Williams' emergence as a threat in that area, and it's unlikely to rebound in 2019 with Williams taking on a bigger role and tight end Hunter Henry set to return. The departure of Tyrell Williams (65 targets) to Oakland clears some space, but the personnel changes are likely to be neutral for Allen at best.

After missing 23 of his last 32 games with various injuries, Allen stayed healthy for 16 games in 2017 and had a career year. He finished fifth in the league in targets (159), fourth in catches (102) and third in receiving yards (1,393). Allen's per-play numbers were also solid - 8.8 YPT (9th), though he had only 13.7 YPC (15th among the league's 27 100-target WR). At 6-2, 211, Allen has good size, but only average speed - he's almost certainly faster than his 4.71 40 run at the combine on an injured foot - but he's had only five catches of 40-plus yards in his entire career (though four of those came last year). Allen is a superb route runner, has great hands and is Philip Rivers' first look. Despite his size, Allen was ineffective in the red zone. Even though he had 24 looks there (1st), 15 inside the 10-yard line (1st) and seven inside the five (T-1st), he converted only four for touchdowns. As a result, he scored only six TDs on the year. The red-zone numbers cut both ways, though, as they show the Chargers were willing to look his way, something that should result in more TDs if that trend persists in 2018. Allen is healthy heading into 2018, and while the Chargers should have good complementary options in a presumably healthy Mike Williams, Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin, Allen, who turns 26 in April, is the team's unquestioned No. 1 target.

Since coming into the NFL in 2013, Allen has missed 26 games, including 15 last year due to a torn ACL. That the Chargers took wideout Mike Williams with the seventh overall pick, despite Tyrell Williams' breakout, shows they're also concerned about Allen. When Allen plays he's usually productive in a high-volume possession capacity. Through eight games in 2015, before he lacerated a kidney, Allen was on pace for a whopping 142 catches for 1,577 yards. At 6-2, 211, Allen has good size and runs crisp routes. While his 4.71 40 time at the NFL Combine was run on a bad foot, Allen's never been much of a downfield threat -- only one catch for 40-plus yards in his four-year career, and he's averaged less than 11.0 YPC since his rookie season. The Chargers didn't use him much in the red zone, either, and that shouldn't change with bigger-bodied Tyrell Williams, Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry and rookie Mike Williams around. During the offseason, Allen declared himself "85 percent," before participating in a limited fashion at OTAs. However, he's healthy heading into training camp and the regular season, where he should reprise his role as the team's go-to possession receiver and top target of quarterback Philip Rivers. Allen just turned 25 this spring, so he's still squarely in the prime of his career should be make it all the way back.

The West Coast Julian Edelman was off to a monster start in the first half last year before suffering a lacerated kidney in the team's eighth game, costing him the rest of the season. Prorate Allen's seven full games over 16 and you would get 142 catches for 1,577 yards and seven touchdowns. While Allen once averaged 14.7 YPC and 10.1 YPT as a rookie, the Chargers used him more as a possession receiver last year (10.8 YPC, 8.1 YPT) with no catches of at least 40 yards. At 6-2, 211, Allen actually has more size than most possession receivers, but he's not especially fast - his 4.71 40 time at the Combine was abysmal, though he was hampered by a foot injury at the time. Allen was also not targeted often in the red zone - only seven from that area, and none from inside the 10-yard line. Allen was cleared for the team's offseason training program this spring, so the kidney injury should be behind him. While the Chargers brought in Travis Benjamin as a field-stretcher to replace the retired Malcom Floyd, Allen should still be the team's top option between the 20s, provided he stays in one piece -Allen also missed two games in 2014 with a broken collarbone and played through a shoulder injury his rookie year.

After a stellar rookie year, Allen was one of the bigger disappointments in the league last season before succumbing to a broken collarbone that cost him the final two games. Despite playing with quarterback Philip Rivers in the same system in which he thrived, Allen's per-play efficiency plummeted from 10.1 YPT (5th) in 2013 to 6.4 (38th among the league's 41 100-target WR) last year. As a result, he managed 263 fewer yards and four fewer touchdowns on 18 more targets. In Allen's defense, he played through rib, groin and quad injuries and showed up on the injury report in six of the 14 games for which he suited up. At 6-2, 211, Allen has decent size, is sure-handed and is a good deal faster than his injury-hampered 4.71 Combine time from 2013. Heading into 2015, Allen should again be the team's No. 1 target and figures to see more time in the slot with Eddie Royal gone. Moreover, 35-year-old Antonio Gates isn't likely to repeat last year's 12-TD, 8.4 YPT outburst, and Malcom Floyd, who turns 33 in September, probably won't play 16 games again. (Floyd has only managed 14 or more games three times in his 11-year career.) The Chargers did sign Stevie Johnson, and reserve tight end Ladarius Green should have a bigger role, but Allen's workload should be assured so long as he stays healthy.

Allen became only the fifth rookie receiver this millennium to crack 1,000 yards – and he did it in only 15 games. In fact, he got 1,016 of those yards from Week 4 on as he was hardly used early in the year. At 6-2, 211, Allen is not quite as imposing as the league’s top targets, and while he’s significantly faster than his injury-reduced 4.71 NFL Combine speed, he’s not a downfield burner. Nonetheless, he averaged 14.7 YPC (14th) and 10.1 YPT (5th). Moreover, he was tied for ninth in red-zone looks with 20, despite seeing significant work in only 13 games. Allen is also incredibly sure-handed, dropping only two passes all year. Though Malcom Floyd and slot man Eddie Royal are also in the mix, Allen is the team's clear-cut top wideout. With TE Antonio Gates getting old, and Ladarius Green showing promise, but not fully integrated into the offense, Allen enters 2014 as the clear No. 1 option in Mike McCoy’s and Philip Rivers’ potent passing offense.

Taken in the third round, Allen was at one time considered one of the top receivers the 2012 class until a PCL tear and injury-related 4.71 40 time sank his stock. At 6-2, 206, Allen has good size, and he's uncommonly quick for a bigger receiver. While he lacks top-end speed, he's almost certainly faster than his poor 40 time as he was an effective after-the-catch runner in college. When he was drafted, Allen landed in a good spot, as the Chargers had three injury prone receivers ahead of him in Danario Alexander, Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown, and a quarterback that at one time was among the best in the league. Now that Alexander is out for the season, Allen's chances to make an impact as a rookie have increased.