Ladd McConkey vs Xavier Worthy: Who Should You Start?
Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 PPG across 16 games with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Xavier Worthy posted 6.3 PPG in 14 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.
A 2.9-PPG gap gives Ladd McConkey the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. Ladd McConkey saw 106 targets in 2025, while Xavier Worthy drew 73. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ladd McConkey, even in weeks where Xavier Worthy posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Ladd McConkey sits Week 5 while Xavier Worthy is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
