Chargers Lose Quentin Johnston and Derwin James vs. Broncos
Seven Chargers are out Sunday, gutting the receiver room and leaving Justin Herbert behind a line that could start four rookies.
Gutted receiver room and a patchwork line make this a tough matchup.
- 7 Chargers ruled out vs. Broncos on Sunday
- Derwin James misses second straight game
- Herbert: 57 PPR pts through 4 games (2026)
- O-line could start four rookies at tackle/guard/center
- Johnston and Brenen Thompson both out at WR
The Chargers walk into their Broncos matchup with a seven-man scratch list, and the receiver room took the biggest hit. Quentin Johnston is out, and so is rookie Brenen Thompson, who managed just 1 catch for 13 yards across two games this season (2026). Add in a limited Ladd McConkey, and the pass-catching depth chart looks thin heading into Sunday.
It gets worse up front. Safety Derwin James will miss his second consecutive game, Tony Jefferson draws another start, and the offensive line is a genuine problem. Right tackle Joe Alt is out, opening the door for rookie Travis Burke to make his first NFL start, and if guard Branson Taylor can't go, the Bolts could line up four rookies across tackle, guard, and center in front of Justin Herbert.
Guards Kayode Awosika and Trevor Penning join the inactive list, along with cornerback Donte Jackson. The silver lining: tight end Charlie Kolar is questionable and could return, which would give Herbert a reliable short-area target. Kolar has 3 catches for 21 yards over two games this season (2026), so he's not a fantasy difference-maker, but his blocking and chain-moving role matters here.
What It Means For Herbert
With Johnston and Thompson gone, Herbert leans on McConkey, Tre' Harris, Derius Davis, and Marquez Valdez-Scantling to carry the passing game. Davis has one catch for 6 yards across four games this season (2026) — depth, not firepower. Herbert sits at QB18 overall (QB8 at the position) in our rankings with 57 PPR points through four games this season (2026), but his last five games are running three fantasy points below his season average.
That form trend isn't shocking when you look at the context. A banged-up line and a diminished receiver corps is a recipe for pressure and check-downs. If Taylor returns at left guard, it at least gives Herbert a second-year presence protecting his blindside instead of an all-rookie wall.
Fantasy managers: this is a SIT week for Herbert if you have a healthier alternative. The matchup against Denver's front, combined with a decimated supporting cast and a shaky line, caps his ceiling. Davis, Valdez-Scantling, and even Kolar are waiver-depth only — don't chase the vacated Johnston targets expecting a feast. Hold McConkey and Harris, but temper expectations until the Chargers get bodies back.
