RADIO
Keaton Mitchell Could Be Worth Stashing Given Backfield Uncertainty
Across six games in 2026, Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has recorded 191 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 42 touches. Coming into the year, the 24-year-old was expected to play a backup role behind fellow Chargers back Omarion Hampton. However, Los Angeles has recently shifted to a three-way backfield committee that features Hampton, Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal. Mitchell saw very minimal usage in the Chargers' final game before their Week 7 bye, recording two carries for four yards in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, the Chargers' uncertain backfield roles could create an opportunity for Mitchell to break through as the team's preferred option. In deeper leagues, Mitchell could be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 8.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Keaton Mitchell is Seeing Less Usage
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell saw his lowest usage of the season during the Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Mitchell carried the ball twice for four yards in the loss. Before this game, Mitchell had seen five or more carries in four straight games. The Chargers are using a three-back committee, and right now, Mitchell might be the weakest option among the three. Fantasy managers seeking help in Week 7 shouldn't be blamed for moving on from Mitchell. The Chargers are on bye this week and Mitchell hasn't done anything lately to warrant holding him. The 24-year-old hasn't surpassed 15 rushing yards in a single game since Week 4. It might be time to move on to someone else.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Omarion Hampton is Unable to Find Success in Week 6
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton continued to struggle on the ground during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He rushed the ball seven times for 18 yards during Sunday's loss. The seven carries were a season-low for Hampton, who has struggled to find consistency this season. Both Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal remained in the mix as well, so this will probably remain a three-back committee going forward. The Chargers are on bye in Week 7, but Hampton might only be a flex option for the Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Keaton Mitchell a Risky Deep-League Flex Option in Week 6 vs. Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has seen his role improve over the last three weeks. The 24-year-old is the PPR RB37 in overall scoring, averaging 6.1 fantasy points per game. Mitchell has nine-plus touches during that stretch and has seen a greater snap percentage than Omarion Hampton over the last two weeks. Mitchell enters Week 6 as RotoBaller's PPR RB36 in a tough matchup against division rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs defense has allowed the third-fewest rushing touchdowns and the sixth-fewest yards per carry this season. The Chiefs' defense has limited big plays on the ground and caps the upside of a big-play running back like Mitchell. In addition, the Chiefs are coming off a bye week, giving them a week of rest and extra time to game plan for a struggling Chargers offense. Mitchell is a risky flex play in deep leagues and should be out of lineups if possible in Week 6.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Will Kimani Vidal be the Chargers' RB1 in Week 6 vs. Chiefs?
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has seen his role grow over the last two weeks. Vidal has seen the same or a higher snap percentage than Omarion Hampton during this stretch. As a result, Vidal has scored 10-plus points and finished inside the top 26 fantasy running backs in back-to-back weeks. The 25-year-old has forced the Chargers into a three-man running back committee, capping the ceiling for all the backs as reliable fantasy options. Vidal enters Week 6 as RotoBaller's PPR RB41 in a tough matchup against division rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs defense has allowed the third-fewest rushing touchdowns and the sixth-fewest yards per carry this season. Additionally, the Chiefs are coming off their bye week, giving them a week of rest and extra time to game plan for a struggling Chargers offense. Vidal might lead the Chargers' backfield in Week 6, but he shouldn't be in fantasy lineups.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Omarion Hampton a Risky Flex Option in Week 6 vs. Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has become a borderline flex starter in all league formats. Over five weeks, Hampton is the PPR RB23 in overall scoring, averaging 9.4 fantasy points per game. The 23-year-old has become a touchdown-dependent fantasy player and has seen his role diminish over the last three weeks. Hampton enters Week 6 as RotoBaller's PPR RB28 in a tough matchup against division rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs defense has allowed the third-fewest rushing touchdowns and the sixth-fewest yards per carry this season. Additionally, the Chiefs are coming off their bye week, giving them a week of rest and extra time to game plan for a struggling Chargers offense. Hampton is a risky flex play and will likely need to find the end zone to be a viable fantasy option in Week 6.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Omarion Hampton's Snap Count "Hard to Predict"
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that it's "hard to predict how many a player is going to get" when asked about running back Omarion Hampton's declining snap count, per Alex Insdorf of the Guilty As Charged podcast. Across five games so far in 2026, Hampton has recorded 73 carries for 231 yards and three touchdowns. However, his workload has decreased in recent weeks as the Chargers have gotten fellow running backs Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell more involved in the team's offense. After leading the team in running back snaps in each of the first three weeks, Hampton has now played the same number of snaps as, or fewer than, both Vidal and Mitchell in two straight contests. Between his uncertain workload and the Chargers' overall issues on offense this season, Hampton is becoming increasingly difficult for fantasy managers to trust.
Source: Guilty As Charged Podcast - Alex Insdorf
Source: Guilty As Charged Podcast - Alex Insdorf
Kimani Vidal a Stash-Worthy Waiver Target Whose Role Continues to Expand
After a Week 4 touchdown reception against the Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal recorded his first score on the ground in a Week 5 loss to the Broncos, and he has legitimate stash appeal on this week's waiver wire. For the second week in a row, the Chargers deployed a near-even three-way split between Vidal, Omarion Hampton, and Keaton Mitchell, with Vidal actually leading the group with 28 offensive snaps. His 42-yard touchdown run helped him to finish with 57 rushing yards and a 7.1-yard-per-carry average on his eight attempts. While he still isn't seeing enough work to be a reliable weekly start, Vidal has been the team's most efficient runner on a limited sample size, racking up yards after contact. With Hampton disappointing through five weeks, and Vidal possessing multiple potential paths to an expanded workload, he's become a player worthy of an end-of-bench stash in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Keaton Mitchell Remains a Long-term Stash Despite a Quiet Week
Despite modest results in a Week 5 loss to the Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell remains heavily involved in what has been arguably the league's most disappointing offense, pointing to potentially brighter days ahead. For the second week in a row, the Chargers leaned on a three-way backfield split, with Mitchell, Omarion Hampton, and Kimani Vidal all seeing the field for at least 20 snaps, and each seeing at least nine opportunities. Vidal, while still the least utilized, has been the team's most efficient runner, but Mitchell remains the designated passing back, with his 14 targets through five weeks more than doubling the combined total of the other two. While the current split makes none of the Chargers' backs a reliable weekly start, Mitchell's big-play ability, coupled with multiple paths to an expanded workload, makes him a must-roster player and a waiver stash to target wherever he's still available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Omarion Hampton Inefficient, Out-Snapped by Backfield Mates
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton had an inefficient effort in a 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 5. Hampton carried the ball 14 times for 33 yards (2.4 yards per carry) and recorded one catch for six yards. He did not find the end zone. While Hampton led the Chargers in rushing attempts, he was third on the team in rushing yards behind running back Kimani Vidal (57) and quarterback Justin Herbert (54). More discouraging for Hampton was the fact that both Vidal (27) and Keaton Mitchell (23) played more offensive snaps than Hampton (20). The Chargers have now fallen to 0-5 on the 2026 season, and their running back by committee remains difficult to figure out.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kimani Vidal Off Fantasy Radar in Week 5 vs. Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has seen more work in the run and pass game over the last two weeks. The 25-year-old has seen six carries and six targets over that stretch. Vidal is coming off an 11.6 PPR performance and had the same snap count percentage as Omarion Hampton. He enters Week 5 as RotoBaller's PPR RB47 in an intriguing matchup against division rival Denver Broncos. Heading into Sunday, the Broncos have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards and sixth-most yards per carry. The Broncos defense also has allowed the second-most 20-plus-yard carries (5). Vidal should remain off fantasy radars heading into Week 5, but might see enough volume to take away fantasy value from Hampton and Keaton Mitchell.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Keaton Mitchell Carries Deep-League Flex Appeal in Week 5 vs. Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell is coming off his busiest workload of the season. In Week 4, Mitchell saw a season-high 10 carries and out-snapped Omarion Hampton for the first time this season. The 24-year-old was one of Mike McDaniel's most wanted players during free agency and could be on the verge of establishing a key role in the offense. Mitchell enters Week 5 as RotoBaller's PPR RB35 in an intriguing matchup against division rival Denver Broncos. Heading into Sunday, the Broncos have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards and sixth-most yards per carry. They have also allowed the second-most 20-plus-yard carries, which favors an explosive running back like Mitchell. Mitchell should be viewed as an RB3 with upside in Week 5 and could be a viable flex option in deep leagues.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Omarion Hampton a Low-Ceiling Flex Play in Week 5 vs. Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has disappointed over the first four games of the 2026 season. Hampton was a favored breakout candidate during the offseason and has returned PPR RB22 production. The 23-year-old is averaging 11.2 PPR points per game despite scoring three touchdowns in four games. Without the touchdowns, Hampton would be RB38 while averaging 6.7 points per game. Hampton enters Week 5 as RotoBaller's PPR RB29 in a matchup against division rival Denver Broncos. Heading into Sunday, the Broncos have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards and sixth-most yards per carry this season. Hampton heads into a favorable matchup on paper, but managers should keep expectations tempered. He's been losing his grip on the Chargers backfield and has seen his team's carry percentage share drop over the last two weeks. Hampton saw a season low in carries (nine) and was outcarried by Keaton Mitchell (10) last week. The former Tar Heel should be viewed as a touchdown-dependent flex play as he enters Week 5.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Kimani Vidal Becoming More Involved in Chargers' Backfield Committee
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal saw five carries for 25 yards and caught two of his three targets for 11 yards and his first touchdown of the 2026 season in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The 25-year-old played 25 offensive snaps, which matched Omarion Hampton, while Keaton Mitchell handled 26 snaps. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said that the Chargers have not lost faith in Hampton, a former first-rounder who is the RB1 on the team's RB depth chart. L.A. is trying anything they can to try to pick up their first win of the season, and Vidal, Hampton, and Mitchell will all continue to be involved in some capacity as long as they are all healthy. Going into Week 4, Vidal had just one rushing attempt for six yards and one reception for a 14-yard gain in the first three games of the season. Vidal's fantasy arrow is pointing slightly up after his involvement last week, but he still is not close to having standalone value going into a Week 5 tilt against the division-rival Denver Broncos.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Chargers Haven't Lost Faith in Omarion Hampton
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said running back Omarion Hampton's decrease in snaps over the last two weeks is not because of a lack of faith, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. "I don't see any change in terms of the depth chart at all. I felt I was underutilizing a strength. I can't make the statement more emphatic: it's not because I lost any faith in O at all," McDaniel said. After seeing 35 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season, Hampton has had 24 rushing attempts for 101 yards and one touchdown over the last two weeks. The second-year back from North Carolina had a season-low nine carries for 45 yards in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but he was able to salvage his final fantasy line by scoring his third rushing touchdown. Hampton should lead L.A.'s backfield when all is said and done in 2026 if he stays healthy, but the presence of both Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal will keep him as more of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex for fantasy lineups going into a Week 5 divisional tilt against the visiting Denver Broncos this Sunday. McDaniel also added: "I see Omarion Hampton as the starter but I see the RB room as a strength. If you don't disperse carries, it's very rare that guys are available every week. I don't see any change in the depth chart at all."
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
