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Oronde Gadsden Now the Chargers' Clear TE1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had a promising first year in the NFL in 2025, catching 49 of his 69 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games played, but his fantasy stock tumbled going into 2026 when the Chargers added competition at the position in Charlie Kolar (forearm) and David Njoku (leg). In the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Gadsden caught both of his targets for 32 yards, and he had just two catches for 18 yards in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, but he managed to find the end zone for the first time this year. The key for Gadsden going forward is that both Kolar and Njoku suffered injuries on Sunday that are expected to knock them out for multiple weeks -- Njoku is on Injured Reserve, and Kolar has already been ruled out for Week 3 at the Buffalo Bills. With the Chargers in need of reliable pass-catchers during a very difficult opening stretch of games in 2026, Gadsden could step up with both Kolar and Njoku out, and he will be an interesting TE2 streamer this weekend in Buffalo. He is only rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Charlie Kolar Will be Placed on Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) will be placed on Injured Reserve after he suffered a forearm injury on Sunday in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti. The 27-year-old was spotted in the clubhouse wearing a sling on his left arm after Sunday's game, and he will now have to miss at least the next four games. Kolar drew some training camp buzz for his role in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme before not being targeted in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The former fourth-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 from Iowa State caught all three of his targets for 21 yards on Sunday against the Raiders before getting injured. With fellow TE David Njoku (leg) also going on IR this week, Oronde Gadsden will now have an excellent opportunity as L.A.'s primary pass-catching tight end, and he should be a popular waiver-wire addition going into the Chargers' Week 3 game against the Buffalo Bills.
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
David Njoku Headed to Injured Reserve With Fibula Injury
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end David Njoku (leg) will go on Injured Reserve with a fibula injury that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, according to Taylor Bisciotti of the NFL Network. The 30-year-old veteran was carted off the field on Sunday with what was initially being described as a knee injury. Later on, tight end Charlie Kolar left with a forearm injury, and he, too, will head to IR, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the Chargers' clear No. 1 tight end going forward. Njoku was a waiver-wire option following his performance in the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, in which he caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. He caught one of his three targets for nine yards on Sunday before suffering his injury. At the very least, Njoku will have to miss the next four games, but it is unclear yet if his fibula injury is more serious than that. Fantasy managers looking for depth at TE should definitely set their sights on Gadsden going into Week 3.
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
Charlie Kolar Seen Wearing a Sling
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) was wearing a sling on his left arm after he was injured in Sunday's Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. Head coach Jim Harbaugh did not have any further updates on Kolar's status on Monday. Before getting hurt on Sunday, Kolar caught all three of his targets for 21 yards while playing 40 offensive snaps. Fellow tight end David Njoku also injured his knee in the same contest and was ruled out, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the Chargers' primary pass-catching TE. Gadsden caught both of his targets for just 18 yards, but he also found the end zone for the first time this season. With both Kolar and Njoku banged up heading into Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills on the road, Gadsden will be a speculative waiver-wire target for fantasy managers who are already looking for depth at the position. Kolar drew some buzz during training camp this summer, but through two games in 2026, he has taken a back seat to both Gadsden and Njoku.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Oronde Gadsden Gains Waiver Appeal After Tight End Injuries
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden has become a much more interesting Week 3 waiver option after injuries thinned out the position Sunday. David Njoku was carted off with a knee injury and did not return, while Charlie Kolar later left with a forearm injury and was also unable to come back. Gadsden caught both of his targets for 18 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert. The volume was still modest, so this is not a must-add situation in every league yet. The opportunity could change quickly, though. Gadsden caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last season, and he could move into a much larger role if Njoku or Kolar misses time. Through two games, he has caught all four of his targets for 50 yards and a score. Gadsden is a strong add in 12-team leagues, with his Week 3 value depending heavily on the injury updates ahead of him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Oronde Gadsden Finds the End Zone in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden caught his two targets for 18 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 23-year-old salvages his Week 2 outing by catching Justin Herbert's lone passing touchdown. However, Gadsden could see a slight bump in his fantasy value if David Njoku (knee) and Charlie Kolar (forearm) miss time. Both tight ends left the game early with their injuries and did not return. The severity of the injuries for Njoku and Kolar is something to monitor over the next few days. Through two games, Gadsden has caught all four of his targets for 50 yards and one touchdown. Gadsden has had a slow start to his sophomore campaign due to limited targets in a crowded offense. Gadsden and the Chargers will head on the road for the first time this season to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
David Njoku Leaves Game Against Raiders with Knee Injury
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (knee) was carted off the field in the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and did not return to the game. Njoku finished the 26-14 loss to the Raiders with one catch on three targets for nine yards. Following the game, Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh said he did not have an update on Njoku, according to Alex Insdorf of Bolts Breakdown. Fellow L.A. tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) also exited the game with a forearm injury after recording three receptions for 21 yards. Meanwhile, Oronde Gadsden caught each of his two targets for 18 yards. The severity of the injuries to Njoku and Kolar is something to monitor.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Charlie Kolar Suffers Forearm Injury in Loss to Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) suffered a forearm injury in the second half of a 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and was deemed questionable to return. It did not appear that Kolar was able to return. He finished the game with three receptions for 21 yards. In Week 1, Kolar did not record an offensive statistic despite playing 30 offensive snaps. The Chargers also lost fellow tight end David Njoku (knee), who was carted off the field, to a knee injury earlier on Sunday. If Kolar and Njoku both miss time, tight end Oronde Gadsden could see more targets coming his way. L.A.'s tight end situation is one to monitor closely. UPDATE: Kolar was seen wearing a sling around his left arm after Sunday's loss to the Raiders, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
David Njoku Questionable to Return After Being Carted Off the Field
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (knee) is questionable to return for Sunday's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team reported via the X platform. The veteran had to be carted off the field on Sunday and couldn't put weight on his right leg. Njoku had one reception for nine yards before exiting the game in the first half.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
David Njoku A Risky Play in Week 2 Matchup vs. Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku appears to be the Chargers' lead tight end heading into Sunday's home matchup against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Njoku led the position group in targets, catches, and receiving yards in the home opener last week. The 30-year-old enters Week 2 as RotoBaller's PPR TE24 against a shaky Raiders secondary. The Raiders defense allowed 220 passing yards to an inexperienced Miami Dolphins passing game last week. Njoku will receive a slight bump in value if Ladd McConkey (ribs) is unable to play, but will still have to compete with Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden for snaps. McConkey exited Week 1 after taking a big hit and was held out of practice until participating in a limited amount on Friday. Njoku is a touchdown-dependent tight end and should remain off fantasy radars heading into Week 2.
Source: Chargers.com
Source: Chargers.com
Charlie Kolar Off the Fantasy Radar Entirely
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar handled a respectable 55% snap share in the season-opening loss last Sunday, but he remains off the fantasy radar after finishing that game without a target. Kolar was used primarily as a blocker, sharing the bulk of his snaps with David Njoku. Oronde Gadsden II was a distant third in terms of tight end snaps on the team. So far, it doesn't look like any of the Chargers' tight ends are going to be top-tier fantasy options, but Njoku presumably has the highest floor of the group after finishing Week 1 with five catches for 58 yards. Meanwhile, Kolar will continue to occupy a blocking role. That's similar to what we saw from him in Baltimore. Over four years with the Ravens, he caught just 30 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns. We don't see a clear path to fantasy relevance for Kolar. He can be avoided in all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Oronde Gadsden Expected to See More Work
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden should see more work in Week 2 after barely being part of the offense in the opener. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel told Kris Rhim that Gadsden "isn't doing anything wrong" and added, "I'd expect to see more of him." Gadsden played 10 offensive snaps against Arizona but still caught both of his targets for 32 yards, including a 26-yard gain. David Njoku and Charlie Kolar each played 30 offensive snaps, so there is still plenty standing between Gadsden and a full-time role. The encouraging part is that McDaniel doesn't sound like the small Week 1 workload was punishment for poor play. Gadsden caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, and Los Angeles clearly still has use for that receiving ability. He remains more of a deeper-league option for now, but Thursday's comments make the Week 2 snap count worth watching closely.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
Oronde Gadsden an Impact Playmaker with Streaming Potential
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had a relatively quiet Week 1 showing, but the track record from his rookie season in 2025 suggests that he could be a key waiver-wire target for managers this year. Gadsden ranked as the TE15 in PPR leagues with 49 catches, 664 yards, and three touchdowns last year, and most of that production came in Week 6 or later. However, there's a new obstacle in his path this year, and it's the depth chart. Gadsden fell to second in the tight end pecking order after the Chargers signed David Njoku in free agency. Njoku played a modest 55% of snaps in Week 1, but Gadsden's snap share was even lower at just 18%. The 23-year-old needs one domino to fall in his favor, and there's a chance that's the injury to Ladd McConkey (chest). The veteran wide receiver went down last week, leading to a void in the passing game. Gadsden has a great opportunity to step up with more volume in Week 2, ranking as a TE2 for fantasy purposes. He's definitely a riskier target, but the Syracuse product is a proven player who knows what it takes to produce at the NFL level. There's some deep-league streamer appeal here for Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders, especially if McConkey doesn't end up playing.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Njoku Deserves Waiver Consideration After Five-Catch Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku came to the Chargers in the offseason to little fanfare and was considered the TE3 going into the Bolts' Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Njoku surprisingly led the Chargers' tight ends in the 26-14 loss by catching all five of his targets for 58 yards in his first game with the team. His 58 receiving yards were second on the team, behind only receiver Ladd McConkey's (rib) 82 yards. The 30-year-old played the same number of offensive snaps (30) as Charlie Kolar, who was talked up all summer during training camp as a potential TE sleeper in his first season in L.A. Njoku fell out of favor with the Cleveland Browns last year due to the immediate emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr., catching 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler will have competition for targets all year from Kolar and Oronde Gadsden, but Njoku has by far the most pass-catching experience in his 10-year NFL career, racking up over 4,000 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. With McConkey up in the air to play in Week 2 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, Njoku should definitely be on the waiver-wire radar for fantasy managers in need of depth at the TE position.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
David Njoku Sees Five Targets in Week 1 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku caught all five of his targets for 58 yards in Sunday's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old tied for the team high in catches and had the second-most receiving yards among Chargers pass-catchers. Additionally, he was the team's most impactful tight end in the passing game, as Oronde Gadsden and Charlie Kolar combined for two catches. Njoku appears to be the Chargers' tight end to roster for fantasy football as of now. However, it remains a murky room and should remain out of fantasy lineups next week. The Chargers will host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 as they try to find their way into the win column.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
