Los Angeles Chargers Sunday Mailbag: Philip Rivers underrated in fantasy?

From fantasy Philip Rivers to “sleeper” roster players, the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday Mailbag has all your questions and topics covered!

Hey Los Angeles Chargers fans! Thanks for your questions and submissions. I think I’m going to stick to two to four questions per mailbag, cutting down repeat ones and trying to only discuss new questions or topics.

It’s the offseason, so I’m looking for any kind of creative and unique questions to fill the mailbag until the season starts.

You can (and should) get them in via one of these three ways:

1. Post in the comments section
2. On Twitter to @tjscooter30
3. By email (for longer submissions or multiple questions) at lacbag18@gmail.com

There isn’t a ton to talk about this week, but there were still some great questions sent in. Let me know what you think below. Enjoy!

Question 1: I’ve read a lot of articles this offseason and in other seasons about Rivers being a “sleeper” fantasy pick. Yet, he’s always one of the best quarterbacks who usually puts up good numbers. Why is he always a sleeper and not in the top tier? Thanks and keep the articles coming. -Jeff

There are three kinds of quarterbacks that get the most hype during fantasy football drafts: The elite touchdown machines, the runners and the up-and-comers. Philip Rivers, for all his great football skill and intelligence, is really none of those.

Fantasy football is all about touchdowns and yards, and sometimes someone looking to draft a quarterback wants a guy that can explode multiple times during the season. Rivers had four games of three or more touchdowns, but guys regularly drafted ahead of him like Tom Brady or Russell Wilson, for example, had six such games.

If you’ve been a Chargers fan for more than a half of football, you know Rivers is never going to win you the game by rushing the ball. He presents no value in that regard, nor is he a rookie talent whose legs can maybe carry him into the end zone a few times each year.

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I am, however, still a little surprised at where he ranks on most lists heading into the 2018 year. Coming off a stellar 28-to-10 touchdown to interception ratio, he’s listed on ESPN’s rankings at 12 behind names like Andrew Luck, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees. Even with his lowest touchdown total since 2012, Rivers still beat all of them in terms of total fantasy scoring last year.

In my own leagues, I tend to draft him as my quarterback in later rounds and have won three fantasy titles in seven years because of it. He will likely never shoot up into the “elite level” of fantasy points, but he’s truly undervalued on the seasonal and weekly rankings and should be someone you look to pick up every year.

Question 2: Coach Lynn said that Isaac Rochell was looking good and really healthy this year in terms of weight. Do you expect him to have much of an impact, and are there any other smaller-name players on the roster you’re excited about? -bolt98sd4

Here’s a tidbit per Chargers.com regarding Rochell, from an interview with Anthony Lynn:

"“A lot of growth in that young man,” said Head Coach Anthony Lynn, whose eyes grew wide when asked about the former seventh-round pick. “He’s different. He’s not even the same guy. I give our position coach Giff Smith a lot of credit. John Lott and Jonathan (Brooks). His weight is down, he’s leaner, he’s quicker. I’m really excited about Isaac.”"

This is someone that also caught the eye of Lynn last season, stepping in to play well against the New York Jets to pick up his first career sack. Coming in last year as a seventh-round draft selection, Rochell was bounced around the practice squad for much of the season. One of his biggest attributes coming out of college was his effort and motor, and clearly his determination to improve mentally and physically has caught the eye of the coaches more than once.

It’s hard to envision a big role for him this year (barring injury), but I would love to see him work in more and more snaps in a way like Darius Philon does for the middle of the defensive line. If he’s earned it, let him take those plays.

In 2018, I’m looking at a couple of lesser-known players to make a difference. Rochell is one of them. Tony Brown, the UDFA from Alabama, has ridiculous 4.35-second 40-yard dash speed with tons of athletic talents and is another one to keep an eye on. I don’t predict him making the team based on his defense, but could be a fun player on special teams as a gunner. I would even go as far as to say that he should look to take returning duties from someone and try and get the team some hidden yardage.

Next: NFL 2018: Biggest offseason mistake for each team

The last player I am looking at to make a small but necessary impact for this team is defensive end Chris Landrum. I believe there is a really good spot as the fourth pass rusher on this team, and he at one point had all the tools and talent to do it.

If not for an untimely injury in 2017, Landrum could very well have taken Chris McCain’s role as that third guy. I would love a rotation of a constant Bosa-Ingram nightmare, followed by another round of high-quality rotational guys like Uchenna Nwosu, the aforementioned Rochell, and Landrum to just beat up linemen and quarterbacks.