Quentin Johnston, LA Chargers' 2023 first-rounder and a go-to deep target, left the preseason game against the Rams on the opening series after a big hit, carted off but later able to sit up. He finished last season as the team's top TD getter with eight grabs for 711 yards on 55 receptions, highlighting his big-play upside. KeAndre Lambert-Smith, a rookie, also exited with an injury, further thinning a Chargers receiving corps that already endured a rough camp and is without Rashawn Slater for the year after a torn patellar tendon. LA rolled out most starters despite health concerns on defense with Derwin James and Khalil Mack watching from the sideline. The Rams tested depth behind a lineup that keeps Herbert under center, while Johnston’s status looms large for immediate fantasy impact.

The injuries underscore how quickly a WR corps can shift in the NFL’s ongoing ladder of depth, with Johnston and Lambert-Smith as the primary names to monitor. Slater’s season-long absence leaves a palpable void on the line, salting the potential for pressure and affecting both Herbert’s timing and pass efficiency. In a preseason where top players rested, the Chargers emphasized evaluation of backups and role players, making immediate production from Johnson’s and Lambert-Smith’s replacements critical for fantasy managers in PPR formats.