5 Los Angeles Chargers who need to be great in 2020

3. WR Mike Williams

Williams led the league with an average of 20.4 yards per catch last year, as he topped 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. But his touchdown total fell from 10 in 2018 to just two last year, and he hasn’t gotten to 50 catches in a season yet.

Keenan Allen is the highest volume target in the Chargers’ passing game, and that’s unlikely to change with a change in quarterback. That leaves Williams third or fourth in the pecking order, with tight end Hunter Henry and running back Austin Ekeler also significant targets. Williams’ role to fill is that of a depth threat and red zone target.

Williams’ touchdown decline in 2019 looks to be simple random bad fortune. He has had virtually the same amount of red zone targets each of the last two seasons (14 in 2018, 15 last year), and his share of the team’s red zone targets was also pretty much the same. The difference was a dramatic difference in success rate, though it’s safe to say his 2018 red zone rates were unsustainable.

Inside the 20-yard line: 7 touchdowns on the aforementioned 14 red zone targets
Inside the 10-yard line: 6 touchdowns on 9 targets
Inside the 5-yard line: 4 touchdowns on 4 targets

Somewhere between 2018 and 2019, and probably toward the higher end, is where Williams should settle in via the scoring department this year. Another step in the target and catch departments lines up the possibility of a full breakout, which would be fantastic for the Chargers as they break in a new quarterback and try to reach a new ceiling offensively.