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If healthy, Chargers can win AFC West

SAN DIEGO – This week has been a busy one at Chargers Park, as Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn and the rest of the coaching staff kicks into high gear with the draft in the rear-view mirror.

Among the many things on the plate for Lynn is preparation for the team’s rookie minicamp on May 12-14, following the start of organized team activities on May 16. Traditionally, rookie minicamp serves as an introductory session to show the first-year players how the team operates before joining the veterans the following week.

Rookies also chose numbers this week. First-round selection Mike Williams will stick with his college No. 7 for now, but will have to switch to a new number before the season starts. NFL WRs can wear only 10-19 or 80-89 in the regular season.

Second-round pick Forrest Lamp will wear No. 77, and third-round selection Dan Feeney will wear No. 66.

Fourth-round selection Rayshawn Jenkins was assigned No. 33, while fifth-round selection Desmond King will wear No. 36. Sixth-rounder Sam Tevi will wear No. 69, and seventh-round selection Isaac Rochell was assigned No. 98.

Undrafted rookie kicker Younghoe Koo will wear No. 9, while Jacksonville State quarterback Eli Jenkins was assigned No. 5 and undrafted rookie running back Austin Ekeler will wear No. 3.

You can view all of the rookie numbers here. Now let’s get to this week’s questions:

@eric_d_williams: It’s an interesting question. After the schedule release in April I predicted the Chargers will have a bounce-back season and finish 9-7.

With the addition of receiver Mike Williams and three young offensive linemen headlining this year’s draft, the added talent I feel bolsters that prediction but doesn’t make me want to add to the win total.

The Chargers are favored in only five games according to the sharps in Vegas and have a projected win total of eight games according to Football Outsiders. So my 9-7 prediction is already on the sunnier side if you look at the numbers from some of the people who make their living predicting the outcome of games.

And although the organization is not using it as an excuse, dealing with relocation could play a factor in how the team performs on the field.

Apparently, my colleagues at ESPN NFL Nation are factoring that into their predictions for the upcoming season. According to ESPN NFL Nation game-by-game predictions by opposing team reporters, the Chargers will serve as the homecoming opponent in 2017, finishing with a 4 -12 record.

The final record for the Chargers probably will land somewhere in the middle of my 9-7 prediction and that 4-12 record predicted by the rest of the NFL Nation reporters.

However, it’s not outlandish to believe the Chargers can win the AFC West if they can figure out a way to stay healthy -- something the team has not done the past two years.

Derek Carr had an amazing season last year. But he’s also coming off a broken leg that ended his 2016 campaign, so Philip Rivers is the most talented quarterback in the division that’s healthy.

And with the return of Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Brandon Mebane and Jason Verrett, the Chargers should be even better on defense.

Lastly, the Chargers lost six games in the fourth quarter last season in which they held a lead. At some point continually losing games in the fourth quarter has to flip in the team’s favor.

But as the old cliché goes, that’s why they play the games.

@eric_d_williams: Drafting a running back was on the team’s radar this year, but I also understand why the Chargers stood pat.

Melvin Gordon proved last season that he could be a workhorse running back. Gordon improved as an early-down runner but also was surprisingly effective in the passing game. So the Wisconsin product should continue to get the lion’s share of the touches out of the backfield.

Branden Oliver and Kenjon Barner should compete for the job left vacant by Danny Woodhead signing with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. Oliver finished the last two seasons on the injured reserve but led the Chargers in rushing as a rookie in 2014 with 582 yards and totaled 271 receiving yards on 36 receptions -- so the talent his there.

And in Andre Williams, the Chargers have a bruising running back to spell Gordon. Williams totaled 87 rushing yards in the final game last season against the Kansas City Chiefs playing for an injured Gordon.

From what I’ve been told from people inside the organization, Williams’ performance was not a fluke, as he gave the Chargers’ defense fits during practice all year.