Don’t Expect Jim Harbaugh to Help Your Fantasy Football Team

The new Chargers coach has a history of winning, but his track record doesn’t indicate huge numbers for Justin Herbert.

The Los Angeles Chargers made a huge splash in the head coaching department, inking former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. This move could have big implications in the world of fantasy football, as the Bolts are loaded with statistical stars.

At least, right now.

The Chargers are up against it in terms of the salary cap, as Spotrac has them at $44,023,735 over at this point in time. In order to get into a better place in terms of the books, Harbaugh might be forced to part ways with veteran wideout Keenan Allen (potential opt out) and free agents Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett.

Jim Harbaugh, who won a national championship with Michigan this year, took the 49ers to the Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick as his quarterback :: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

Such moves would obviously increase the value of Mike Williams, who is coming off an injured knee, Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer. Some already speculate that their first-round pick could be used on a wide receiver. SI’s Luke Easterling has them taking LSU’s Mailk Nabers with the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. L.A. could also decide to draft a running back to pair with Isaiah Spiller in a committee.

Maybe the most important decision Harbaugh will make, at least from a fantasy football standpoint, is who will run the Chargers’ offense. Greg Roman, who is currently available, was his offensive coordinator for all four years in San Francisco. Whether or not he fits the current roster in Los Angeles, however, is a question.

Roman has coached “running” field generals more often than not, including Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor and Lamar Jackson. Justin Herbert runs when pressured, but no coordinator will be calling designed runs for him like with Kaepernick, Taylor and Jackson. Roman also leans on the run, and Herbert is an obvious thrower.

That was evident in San Francisco, where no quarterback had more than 478 pass attempts in four years under Harbaugh and Roman. Herbert has thrown the ball 672 or more times in his two full NFL seasons, and he was on pace for 596 last year.

Jim Harbaugh Leaves Michigan for Chargers Head-Coaching Job

The Niners also fielded a top-15 fantasy wideout just twice in those four years. That was Michael Crabtree, who was 15th in 2012 and Anquan Boldin, who ranked 15th in 2013. Crabtree also finished 27th (2011) and Boldin was 18th (2014), but that’s not the level of production we expect from Los Angeles with Allen and Williams.

On the ground, Frank Gore finished 18th, 10th, 18th and 21st under Harbaugh and Roman. Not bad, but not great. And with Ekeler’s status with the team in question, no one knows who might be the lead back or share work with Spiller next season.

The Harbaugh hiring is an exciting one for the Chargers and their entire fan base, but it might not be as exciting for those of us in the fantasy football world. That remains to be seen, with important player and coaching moves on the horizon.

Stay tuned, fantasy fans.