DJ

Chark

Chark is now five years removed from his lone 1,000-yard season. The 28-year-old is past his prime and a setback stemming from his August hip injury certainly did not help. The Chargers are still trying to establish their long-term receiving corps personnel so re-upping for another season may be Chark’s best bet.

Chark played a full-time role but only managed one grab in the season-ending loss to Houston. Chark — a one-time 1,000-yard wideout — managed just four catches for 31 scoreless yards in seven regular season games. An unrestricted free agent entering his age-29 season, Chark’s NFL prospects are dim headed into 2025.

It was just his fourth catch as a Charger and his first touchdown with the team. Chark has played sparingly in LA even when healthy, but the loss of Josh Palmer put him in a more prominent role this week. Both he and Derius Davis saw some extra reps sans Palmer, who is dealing with a heel injury. If Palmer isn’t ready for the playoffs, Chark will have some single-game DFS appeal versus Houston.

“Simple. No underlying meanings. It is what it is. It’s a meritocracy out there,” Harbaugh added. If there were any deep-league Chark believers left out there, we think you can let go of the rope.

Not that we think there were a lot of long-term Chark believers out there still, but it doesn’t appear he’s going to emerge in the Chargers’ receiver pecking order without injuries ahead of him. Chark is droppable in all but the deepest of leagues at this point.

He was deactivated despite being activated off injured reserve on Saturday and warming up with Justin Herbert, which certainly isn’t a great sign for whatever deep league value he might have. Herbert will have Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip) today alongside Josh Palmer. Also inactive for the Chargers are CB Kristian Fulton, TE Stone Smartt, OL Brenden Jaimes, DL Justin Eboigbe, OL Jordan McFadden, and third quarterback Easton Stick.

The veteran wide receiver will make his season debut for the Chargers in Week 9 against the Browns. The team also gets back wide receiver Quentin Johnston and tight end Hayden Hurst, making Week 9 the healthiest their pass-catching corps has been since the start of the season.

Chark practiced in full twice this week. He should be removed from injured reserve over the weekend. With Quentin Johnston off the injury report, Chark will likely play a minor role in his first game back.

Chark was able to get in a limited session Wednesday, and was upgrade to a full participant Thursday. The 28-year-old has a chance to return in Week 9 against the Browns, but fantasy managers who are considering him — few as there may be — should wait to see what happens Friday.

Chark remains on injured reserve while recovering from the groin injury he suffered just before the start of the season. With Quentin Johnston unlikely to play, Chark could earn a starting if activated over the weekend. Chark could run a bunch of routes on a Justin Herbert offense, but it’s too early for fantasy managers to spend a roster spot on him.