The Los Angeles Chargers offense has struggled at points over the 2023 season with consistency. One significant cause of that has been their inability to get their trio of elite receivers healthy over the course of the season. Up-and-coming receiver Mike Williams only played three games this season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear against the Minnesota Vikings. Luckily, the Chargers will still field their best receiver against the Patriots in Week 13.
Los Angeles Chargers number one not 100% in Week 13
The Chargers offense has certainly been shaky this season but as of now, it looks like they will still have their number one option at wide receiver. Per Adam Schefter, Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Keenan Allen has been listed as questionable with a quadriceps injury. Despite the designation, Allen is expected to play against the Patriots.
Chargers’ WR Keenan Allen, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a quad injury, is expected to play vs. the Patriots, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 3, 2023
Allen has been a lifeline for the Los Angeles Chargers offense this season. If the wide receiver weren’t to play, it would major a detriment to the offense as a whole. Allen leads the league in receptions (97) and is third in the league in receiving yards (1,117). Quarterback Justin Herbert had plenty of praise for his favorite target when asked at a press conference this week.
“Two of the best receivers, certainly, that I’ve ever been exposed to, in any way or seen in the NFL. Every player is different, but Keenan [Allen] just has a phenomenal way. He has a great presence, great awareness.

Maybe there’s a hope for Brandon Staley
There is a long list of coaches who should fear for their job as we approach the end of the scene and arguably first on that list is Los Angeles Chargers head Coach Brandon Staley. Staley has failed to take this team riddled with talent anywhere in his first two years as head coach and now may struggle to keep his job amid a disappointing 4-7 start to the season.

If he were to figure out a positive run of form to close out the season and maybe earn the Chargers a playoff birth, Keenan Allen would certainly play a major role.
Fantasy Implications

In the world that we live in, gambling and fantasy has become just as important as the product on the field. While Allen may be able to play with a quadriceps injury, that will certainly cause him some issue getting in and out of routes. Look to Allen to put up lighter numbers than usual (I would estimate 8 points based on volume) and quarterback Justin Herbert’s numbers to take a pretty severe hit. That being said, expect a slight uptick in rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston’s yardage as the rookie will be relied upon heavily today to produce with Allen not 100%.

Any prediction in regard to fantasy should always come with a major disclaimer though because the human element plays such a substantial role in the game. Will Keenan Allen’s desperate desire for a playoff birth cause him to go out and score 2 touchdowns and pull down 110 yards receiving: maybe. Did anyone ever expect a flu-ridden Michael Jordan to be capable of what he did in the 1997 NBA finals. Certainly not and the same level of skepticism should be applied to any injury regarding expectations.