RADIO
Trey Lance Placed on Injured Reserve with Groin Injury
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Trey Lance (groin) has been placed on injured reserve, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Lance had already been listed as doubtful to play in Week 5. His placement on IR not only rules him out for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, but it will also keep him sidelined through Week 9 at the earliest. The 26-year-old quarterback had yet to play a snap this year, and he finished last season with just 57 pass attempts, 17 rushing attempts, and four games played. His absence clears the way for DJ Uiagalelei, who had been a healthy scratch through the first four games, to suit up as Los Angeles' backup quarterback behind Justin Herbert.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Justin Herbert a Low-Ceiling Superflex Option in Week 5 vs. Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has become a superflex-only fantasy option for managers after a disastrous start to the season. He has posted a 2:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and hasn't thrown multiple touchdowns in a game this season. As a result, Herbert is QB23 in overall scoring, averaging 12.4 points per game, and hasn't scored over 15 points in a contest. Herbert enters Week 5 as RotoBaller's QB23 in a matchup against division rival Denver Broncos. The Broncos defense has allowed the 13th-most passing yards and the 14th-most passing touchdowns through four weeks. In addition, the Broncos will be without their top 2 cornerbacks, Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss. However, Herbert should remain out of lineups in single-quarterback leagues despite going against an injured secondary. Herbert should be viewed as a borderline QB2 with a low ceiling heading into Week 5.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Joe Alt Not Expected to Play in Week 5 Against Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt (neck) is expected to miss Sunday's Week 5 contest against the Denver Broncos, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Alt initially suffered the injury in last weekend's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and although he won't be placed on injured reserve, the star lineman will miss at least a little time. This is brutal news for the Chargers, who have endured an ugly 0-4 start and cannot afford to lose their Pro Bowl right tackle for any amount of time. Quarterback Justin Herbert took a season-high four sacks last week, and he could endure even worse protection this week with Alt sidelined. His absence will presumably bump fourth-round rookie Travis Burke, a Memphis product, into the starting right tackle role against Denver.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Justin Herbert Nightmare Season Could Get Worse in Week 4 vs. Seahawks
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has had a rough start to his 2026 campaign and will face his toughest defense yet on Sunday. In three games, Herbert has yet to throw for over 250 passing yards or multiple touchdown passes in a single game. Herbert and the Chargers will head to Seattle to face the reigning Super Bowl champions, who have the league's most feared defense. The Seahawks' defense has allowed the fewest passing yards while forcing the most interceptions (4) this season. As a result, Herbert enters Week 4 as RotoBaller's QB26 and shouldn't be in fantasy lineups. Herbert has yet to surpass 15 fantasy points in a game this year and has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes. The 28-year-old is a risky superflex play at best, and better quarterback streaming options are available on the waiver wire in Week 4.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Jim Harbaugh Says Justin Herbert Needs to "Be Better"
When asked about quarterback Justin Herbert's decision-making after the team's third straight loss to start the season on Sunday on the road against the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said, "Be better," according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. Harbaugh has typically gone out of his way to defend Herbert since taking the head-coaching job in L.A. in 2023, but he is now calling the struggling signal-caller out to step up his game after the tough start. Last week, Harbaugh said he "wouldn't change a thing about Justin." Herbert has not looked like himself in coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense through three games. He threw for 226 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, but he could have had three if Bills defenders did not drop two of them. It is still early, but so far, Herbert is not remotely close to a potential breakout fantasy QB in McDaniel's scheme like many were hoping for. It does not get any easier for Herbert, either, as he will face the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and their strong defense in Week 4.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Chargers Not Planning to Replace OC Mike McDaniel
When asked if he would intervene in the offense if they continue to struggle, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said, "No. We trust Mike. We believe in Mike," according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. The Chargers have lost their first three games of the 2026 season, and Mike McDaniel's offense has not lived up to expectations in the early going. After McDaniel, the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, gave quarterback Justin Herbert glowing reviews in training camp this summer, the 28-year-old signal-caller has not looked comfortable running McDaniel's scheme through the first three weeks. Herbert has completed only 59.1% of his pass attempts for 627 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. Harbaugh is giving McDaniel plenty of rope, but things will not get easier for L.A.'s offense, as their next four games are against the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams. After three games, the Chargers have scored 14.7 points per game (fourth-fewest) and are averaging just over 300 total yards per game.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Is Justin Herbert Only Startable in Superflex Leagues in Week 3 vs. Bills?
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is off to the slowest start of his NFL career as he travels to Buffalo to face the Bills in Week 3. Herbert and the Chargers were expected to be one of the league's most explosive offenses in 2026, but have the ninth-fewest passing yards and the third-fewest 20-plus-yard passes (3). The 28-year-old enters Week 3 as RotoBaller's QB16 in an intriguing matchup. The Bills defense has allowed the 3rd-most 20-plus-yard passes (9) and the 5th-most passing yards. In addition, the Bills defense ranks near the bottom of the league in EPA and has given up too many highly valuable plays. The Chargers offense and the Bills defense both rank near the bottom of their league in their respective categories. We'll see on Sunday which side gives and can get right. Herbert should be viewed only as a start in superflex league formats as he travels across the country in Week 3.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Justin Herbert Could be Trade Bait if Season Goes South?
The Ringer's Tom Pelissero said on the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday that if the Los Angeles Chargers' season continues to go south and they start 1-5 or 0-6, they would likely get calls on the availability of quarterback Justin Herbert. The unusual amount of QB injuries around the NFL early in the season could make teams more aggressive on the QB market by midseason of this year. The 28-year-old Herbert was praised for his ability to pick up new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's offensive scheme quickly during training camp, but through two regular-season games, Herbert and the Chargers' offense looks lost. The former sixth overall pick in 2020 from Oregon has completed just 59.3% of his pass attempts for 401 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions while leading the team to an 0-2 start. It has not looked good to this point so far, and L.A.'s extremely difficult schedule is not going to do them any favors, but Herbert and the rest of the offense have plenty of time to get things figured out. You may want to judge the buy-low cost on Herbert in your fantasy league.
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Charlie Kolar Undergoing Forearm Surgery
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) is undergoing surgery to fix a broken forearm that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Kolar plans to make a full return after his four-week stay on short-term Injured Reserve. If Kolar's rehab goes according to plan after surgery, he could be ready to return when he is eligible for the Chargers' game on Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. In the meantime, with David Njoku (knee) also on IR for the Bolts, Oronde Gadsden now has a clear path to the TE1 role in a Chargers offense that is looking for answers after starting 0-2 in 2026. There was a bit of training camp hype for Kolar in Mike McDaniel's offense this year, but it did not come to fruition through two games, with Kolar sharing snaps with Gadsden and Njoku and catching three passes for 21 yards, with all of that coming on Sunday before he was hurt against the Raiders. Kolar still has a chance to make some noise when he returns from his forearm injury, but it is going to be tough in L.A.'s crowded TE room.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Justin Herbert Continues His Struggles in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 15-for-27 for 192 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in his team's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert also had three carries for two yards while putting the ball on the turf three times, but it didn't result in any turnovers. The panic meter has spiked for the Chargers after dropping to 0-2 after being heavy favorites to open the year. To make matters worse, the team is gearing up to face the hardest seven-game stretch and likely will not be the favorite in a matchup until they face the New York Jets in Week 11. Through two weeks, Herbert is 32-for-54 (59%) for 401 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and is outside the top 20 quarterbacks in fantasy points. Herbert and the Chargers will attempt to get their season on track at Buffalo in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Justin Herbert Remains a Solid Option in Week 2 vs. Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert looks to bounce back at home on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert and the Chargers' offense are coming off a letdown Week 1 performance, failing to produce 300 yards of offense and managing only 14 points. The 28-year-old enters Week 2 as RotoBaller's QB8 in a favorable matchup against a Raiders' defense that surrendered 220 passing yards to a shaky Dolphins passing game. However, the Chargers' WR1, Ladd McConkey (ribs), is listed as questionable heading into the game. The Chargers ran a McConkey-centric offense in Week 1 and relied heavily on him to keep the offense moving. With him off the field, the team averaged 3.9 yards per pass and had a -0.61 EPA per play, according to Trevor Sikkema of NFL.com. Herbert can still be plugged into starting lineups in Week 2 but might see a capped upside if McConkey is unable to play.
Source: NFL.com - Trevor Sikkema
Source: NFL.com - Trevor Sikkema
Justin Herbert Throws One Touchdown in Disappointing Loss
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 17-for-27 for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his team's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Herbert also had five carries for 29 rushing yards. The 28-year-old disappointed in the season opener, producing under 15 fantasy points, and will likely finish outside the top 20 scoring quarterbacks in Week 1. Herbert and the Chargers cut the lead to two late in the third quarter after finding Ladd McConkey on an eight-yard touchdown. However, the game spiraled for the Chargers after a punt was blocked and Herbert threw an interception late. Herbert will hope to bounce back at home in a favorable matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Justin Herbert to Unlock New Calls in Playbook?
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has the talent to execute plays that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has never called before, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport noted that McDaniel is an offensive mastermind with several unique plays in his playbook, but he wasn't able to use many of them when he was the head coach in Miami. The report danced around the exact reason why McDaniel hasn't called those plays, but presumably, he didn't have enough confidence in his Dolphins quarterbacks, including Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers. Herbert peaked as a QB2 in his second pro season, but he returned to the top-10 fantasy quarterback range last year. Playing in a McDaniel-led offense could help the Chargers quarterback return to elite form in fantasy football.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Justin Herbert Carries QB1 Upside in Fantasy-Friendly Matchup
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will make his 2026 debut in Mike McDaniel's offense with a favorable home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The 28-year-old is coming off a solid fantasy football campaign, finishing as the QB10 in overall scoring and points per game (18.7) last year. Herbert is expected to get a statistical boost this season with McDaniel's as the offensive coordinator, who has orchestrated one of the league's most explosive offenses and has led the league in passing yards before. The quarterback-coordinator duo will face a Cardinals pass defense that finished near the bottom in most passing stats last year. They allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), 10th-most passing yards (4,128), 11th-highest completion percentage (65.6), and had the third-fewest sacks (30). In addition, the Cardinals will deploy a similar defensive scheme after keeping Nick Rallis as their defensive coordinator and making no big additions on defense this offseason. Herbert is RotoBaller's QB4 in a dream matchup and has it within his realm of outcomes to be the QB1 overall in Week 1.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Justin Herbert Poised for Career Year Following Coaching Changes?
Across 16 games in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 66.4% of his pass attempts for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The 28-year-old also rushed for a career-high 498 yards and two touchdowns on 83 attempts, which helped him finish the year as the fantasy QB10 in both overall and per-game scoring. Entering 2026, there's reason to believe Herbert could be well-positioned to top 4,000 passing yards for the first time since 2022. The Chargers have a new offensive coordinator in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who should help open up the offense with more explosive plays down the field. Herbert also has a much healthier offensive line in front of him and an extremely talented group of offensive weapons to throw the ball to. As long as he stays healthy, Herbert has a chance to put together his most productive statistical season since 2021, when he threw for 5,014 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
