Chargers News: Gerald Everett Gets A Sobering Fantasy Appraisal From Reporter

Talent ≠ Fantasy Value

One of fantasy football's top sleepers ahead of the 2023 season was your Chargers' TE Gerald Everett.  

The South Alabama product is in his second campaign as a Charger, finishing with 555 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games in the 2022 campaign. 

With Kellen Moore joining the fold as the Bolts' new offensive coordinator, the expectation was that Everett's role would increase. 

Sep 25, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (7) carries the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This was rationalized by Moore's tight ends in Dallas having integral roles in his scheme, as former Cowboy (now Texan) Dalton Schultz, for example, enjoyed a breakout 2021 campaign where he put up 808 yards and eight touchdowns while starting just 15 of 17 games. 

Unfortunately, as much sense as it made, this logic has failed to translate to Everrett. 

As described by Pro Football Network: 

"For a player with a 92.9% catch rate, it’s shocking that Everett has yet to finish a week better than TE19 this season. TE Donald Parham has been the end zone target, and while I think Everett’s role “between the 20s” is encouraging, without much scoring equity, he has little hope of returning top-12 value any given week.You could do worse than Everett in a matchup where Herbert may have to get rid of the ball in a hurry, but just be aware that the touchdown equity is low."

Ultimately, Everett undoubtedly has a role, but with fantasy points being structured such that, in conventional leagues, each yard is 0.1 points, and each touchdown is 6 points, putting up 60 receiving yards is as impressive as a singular touchdown. 

Thus, even if Everett were as productive as possible out of the Bolts' TE spot, he'd need touchdown production to be worth much in fantasy. 

Looking at tight ends on teams with worse overall weapons than the Chargers or that have QBs with worse arms and have a lower average depth of target (aDOT) is more practical for fantasy. 

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