Chargers Week 5 vs. Washington hinges on a reshuffled offensive line as Mekhi Becton remains in concussion protocol and Joe Alt is ruled out, forcing a swap between Austin Deculus and Jamaree Salyer at left tackle for Justin Herbert. Herbert’s protection will shape the game plan, with run-blocking and short-pass concepts likely to carry more weight if the edge is challenged.

Derwin James and Keenan Allen managed veteran rest days, while Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk were limited and Andre James logged a full practice despite a no-contact tag. The shift up front could dictate fantasy output for Herbert and his pass catchers, especially if Washington can pressure the new LT tandem and test the Chargers’ depth.

Week 5's Washington–Los Angeles showdown at SoFi tests depth and playmaking in fantasy terms, with both sides dealing with injuries and big-question matchups. Washington must navigate a banged-up offense and aging star Bobby Wagner while Jayden Daniels returns with a brace. Los Angeles counters with Derwin James’s versatility and a banged offensive line that Washington can target, while Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen loom as top targets. Five marquee battles will largely shape the fantasy upside of this clash.

Expect a high-variance game where rescuers emerge from the depth charts. Washington’s receivers could be limited if Terry McLaurin sits, pushing Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey into larger roles, while the Chargers lean on Herbert’s arm and McConkey’s reliability against a mid-tier Commanders secondary. The Week 5 outcomes hinge on how these five matchups resolve in real time.

Chargers add a bevy of pass-catching options around Justin Herbert, with Keenan Allen anchoring a revamped group alongside Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and a hopeful third-year leap from Quentin Johnston. Rookie Ladd McConkey has shouldered much of the early passing workload, while the tight end room has stalled behind Tyler Conklin and Oronde Gadsden II, who has out-snapped Conklin after Will Dissly’s injury. A Week 4 loss to the Giants exposed gaps, and LA now leans on Herbert’s ceiling as Tuipulotu provides a bright spot and Mack battles back from IR. The fantasy takeaway: expect week-to-week volatility in the receiving corps, with McConkey and Allen offering steady upside and Johnston maturing into a bigger role as the TE situation remains in flux.