How ‘mighty’ Ladd McConkey has become WR1 for playoff-bound Chargers

Editor’s note: This is the 17th installment of a season-long series on a breakout star from the past week of NFL action. The Week 17 winner: Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey .

Ladd McConkey can’t pinpoint a specific moment that showed him he could be a 1,000-yard receiver. The idea developed over time, starting in OTAs. But the chatter grew louder as the Chargers rookie approached the milestone. 

One of those people talking was teammate Derwin James Jr., who’d been keeping track of McConkey's race to the mark all season. The star safety even reminded the 6-foot, 185-pound receiver of the milestone ahead of Los Angeles' Week 17 game against the Patriots. 

"Don’t try to force anything, [like] ‘Oh, I need this, I need that,’" McConkey said of his approach. "Let it come to you, and that’s how I’ve always played. It’s done well for me." 

Well enough for him to not only reach the milestone, but also etch his name in franchise history.

McConkey set Chargers rookie records for both receptions and receiving yards in Sunday’s 40-7 rout of New England, which secured L.A.'s playoff spot. With a team-high eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the game, McConkey is up to 77 receptions for 1,054 yards for the year with one regular-season game left, surpassing Keenan Allen’s franchise rookie records of 71 catches for 1,046 yards that were set in 2013. 

The 34th overall pick, McConkey has quickly become quarterback Justin Herbert's favorite target this season. He's the Chargers' leading receiver by 470 yards. Along with Brock Bowers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., he's one of four rookies who have reached 1,000 receiving yards this year, a first in NFL history.

McConkey has had 50-plus receiving