Another preseason, another major injury for the Chargers. Safety Derwin James (knee) will undergo surgery and is out for the year. That sticks a fork in the bounce-back appeal of the Chargers Defense in fantasy leagues.
The Chargers have frequently had plenty of defensive talent, and they've hit on a couple of early picks, like Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa and most recently James. With the Ingram-Bosa duo leading the way, the Chargers were a top-6 fantasy defense in 2016 and 2017 (1 point for sacks, 2 for takeaways and 6 for touchdowns).
In 2018, Bosa was the one who was hurt, missing half the season. But James's arrival (and Pro Bowl season) helped the Chargers still have at least an average defense in most categories, above-average in some. They looked on course to be a top defense in 2019, but a foot injury limited James to just 5 games. The Chargers wound up ranking near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories, and last in fantasy defense. Steep declines across the board from one year to the next.
| CHARGERS DEFENSE, 2018-2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
| Sack | 38 | 30 | -8 |
| FR | 7 | 3 | -4 |
| Int | 13 | 11 | -2 |
| Take | 20 | 14 | -6 |
| TD | 3.3 | 1 | -2.3 |
| FF Rk | 18 | 32 | -14 |
The Chargers don't have a great replacement. They could use their sixth-round pick this year, or try Desmond King, who was originally slated for a reserve role. Whatever the case, it's going to be a less-talented defensive backfield, and a less intriguing defense.
--Andy Richardson