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Mike Williams

10-TD man anticipating expanded role

The Chargers should have one of the league's better offenses, and they've got some targets to fill with Tyrell Williams gone to the Raiders. That, and his success in his second season, has some expecting great things from third-year wideout Mike Williams.

"I feel I’m going to get a lot more opportunities than I did last year," Williams says in a story at the team website. "A lot more balls coming my way. I’m looking forward to it.”

Williams had an injury-riddled rookie season, but was a lot better in year 2. He went for 664 yards and 10 TDs. That puts him in a fairly select group of first-rounders this century. Only 16 other wideouts drafted that early have scored 10 TDs in any of their first three seasons.

1ST-ROUND WRS, 10 TDS ANY OF FIRST THREE YEARS, 2000-PRESENT
YearPkPlayerYds(1)TD(1)Yds(2)TD(2)Yds(3)TD(3)
201826Calvin Ridley, Atl.82110????
20177Mike Williams, LAC95066410??
20147Mike Evans, T.B.10511212063132112
201412Odell Beckham Jr., NYG130512145013136710
201327DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.802212106152111
20138Tavon Austin, St.L.4186242347310
20114A.J. Green, Cin.10577135011142611
20116Julio Jones, Atl.95981198105802
201024Dez Bryant, Dall.56189289138212
201022Demaryius Thomas, Den.28325514143410
200929Hakeem Nicks, NYG790610521111927
200919Jeremy Maclin, Phil.7734964108595
20072Calvin Johnson, Det.75651331129845
20053Braylon Edwards, Clev.51238846128916
20043Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.78081409109466
200220Javon Walker, G.B.31917169138212
200116Santana Moss, NYJ4004336110510

Not that all of those players have turned out great (Tavon Austin), but most have. Note that Calvin Ridley is also in that fairly small group since 2000.

Williams isn't a sure thing. The Chargers have plenty of other targets, including the running backs, and they're getting Hunter Henry back from injury.

But he should be the clear No. 2 wideout, and he's working with one of the game's best quarterbacks. Good chance he builds on last year's strong season.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index