May 26, 2026, 3:26 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton showed flashes of high upside at times during his rookie season but was unable to fully match preseason expectations. Hampton began the season operating as the "1B" in the offense alongside Najee Harris, but after Harris suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 3, Hampton was set up for a heavy workload. Unfortunately, a fractured ankle kept the former North Carolina standout on the shelf for eight straight weeks. However, when on the field, Hampton was quite effective, averaging 15.1 PPR points per game over his first nine NFL contests with a solid 4.4 YPC. He punched in five scores with four of them coming on the ground and was a reliable option in the passing game, drawing 3.9 targets per game. Hampton showed promising underlying metrics, averaging 3.1 yards after contact despite playing behind a Chargers offensive line that was battling several injuries to key contributors. In the offseason, the Chargers added some depth to the backfield with Keaton Mitchell joining Kimani Vidal as the No. 2 and No. 3 options behind the former 22nd overall pick. However, the key factor driving a potential breakout season is the addition of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Even though his time in Miami did not end on a high note, he spearheaded the Miami offense in 2022 and 2023, which finished in the top six in yards and at least the top 11 in total points. This improved play-calling and scheme should help this offense reach a new level in 2026 after averaging a modest 21.6 points per game last fall. While Mitchell and Vidal could occasionally draw opportunities away from Hampton, the 23-year-old projects to see a large workload in one of the game's top offensive units. He is a prime breakout pick going off the boards at pick 17 on Sleeper, making him a low-end RB1 with potential league-winning upside.--Andy Smith