Los Angeles Chargers: Meet Their Breakout Player of 2018
By Erik Lambert
The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2018 season with high expectations. Many believe they’re ready to take on the AFC for a shot at the Super Bowl.
For that to happen they need their young roster they’ve spent long hours assembling over the past couple years to take the next step. Many on the defensive side have already done this, as did Keenan Allen at wide receiver. However, who should be considered their breakout man of this year? All things being considered, that nod must go to tight end Hunter Henry.
The former 2nd round pick has already established himself as a consistent, dependable role player for Philip Rivers. However, some felt he was being held back as the team continued trying to cater to longtime veteran Antonio Gates. This is often a problem that young players run into. The hard part in these situations is staying patient and just finding ways to contribute.
Henry did that. Now Gates is gone. The position and the feature role at tight belong to him.
Henry is ready to be the guy for the Chargers at tight end
For an idea why Henry is the breakout candidate, one must merely look at the allocation of resources in the Chargers offense last year. Henry was targeted 62 times over the course of the season. That might seem like a lot until one sees Gates was targeted a further 52 times. That means the tight ends were targeted 114 times last year. With Gates no longer around to chew into that total, it almost certainly means Henry is going to see more balls thrown his way.
People talk about Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski being so great but a big part of why is because they get featured roles in the offense. Kelce was targeted 122 times by Kansas City last year. Gronkowski saw 105 (in 14 games). Virgil Green is not going to threaten Henry in terms of looks in the passing game. Not anywhere near the level Gates did. Henry is the guy now.
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If he stays healthy this should be a big year for him what with so much attention having to be allocated by defenses towards Melvin Gordon and the wide receivers. Don’t be surprised if he tops the 1,000-yard mark by the time the regular season is over.