Denzel Boston or Ladd McConkey: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start McConkey — the consensus rank and projection edges are too wide to ignore.
Ladd McConkey is the higher consensus play (WR19 to WR59) and projects 13.6 to Boston's 11.3. Boston's edge is snap share, 93% to 48%. The gap is comfortable.
Denzel Boston
7.29.211.3 Projected Points
Ladd McConkey
8.511.013.6 Projected Points
Denzel Boston’s market
Ladd McConkey’s market
Why Denzel Boston
StartRookie WR starting in the third receiver spot. Big-bodied contested-catch X with red-zone appeal; no NFL sample.
Start — WR59 consensus, projects WR35 this week: 19.0 implied team total caps the ceiling, 21% target share.
- CAR ranks 14 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 2-game sample).
- Vegas implies 19.0 team points as 1.5-point underdogs.
- Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 93% snap share.
Latest on Boston
Denzel Boston recorded five receptions for 95 receiving yards and one touchdown in Week 2.
Denzel Boston nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 2clevelandbrowns.com · Sep 22, 2026Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Ladd McConkey
StartWR1 and primary target. Elite separator from the slot or outside with precise route running.
Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR19: BUF is the 7th-softest matchup vs WRs, 19% target share.
- BUF ranks 26 of 32 against WRs (one of the softer matchups, 2-game sample).
- Vegas implies 22.8 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
- Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 48% snap share.
Latest on McConkey
McConkey was questionable for Week 2 with a cracked rib suffered in Week 1, missed practice Wednesday/Thursday and was limited Friday, but ultimately played through the injury (possibly with a flak jacket) against the Raiders.
SI.com (OnSI) · Sep 21, 2026Here is who won't play Sunday for the Chargers against Las Vegas
Take a look at the Chargers Injury Report ahead of Week 2 against the Raiders
McConkey did not practice Wednesday or Thursday for the Chargers
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Denzel Boston | Ladd McConkey |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 7.29.211.3 | 8.511.013.6 |
| Consensus rank | WR59 | WR19 |
| Opponent vs position | CAR · 14 of 322-game sample | BUF · 26 of 322-game sample |
| Receptions | 25 of 32 | 26 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 16 of 32 | 28 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 6 of 32 | 23 of 32 |
| Targets | 16 of 32 | 30 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 6 of 32 | 23 of 32 |
| Target share | 21% | 19% |
| Reception share | 18% | 25% |
| Implied total · spread | 19.0+1.5 | 22.8+3.0 |
| Depth chart | WR1 | WR1 |
| Snap share | 93% | 48% |
Recent form
Denzel Boston — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs TB | 15.518.020.5 |
| Week 1 | vs JAX | 11.912.913.9 |
Ladd McConkey — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs LV | 3.55.06.5 |
| Week 1 | vs ARI | 14.216.719.2 |
Signal breakdown
- 11.3 vs 13.6 projected PPR pointsLadd McConkey +
- Rank 59 vs 19Ladd McConkey +
- Opponent DvP rank 14 vs 26 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 19.0 vs 22.8 team pointsLadd McConkey +
- No injury designationseven
- 93% vs 48% snap shareDenzel Boston +
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