October 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey handled a heavy workload in the team's loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, leading the Bolts in targets for the second consecutive week with 15. McConkey leads the league in total routes run (278) and posted an impressive 28.2% targets per route run last week. He now faces a tough Minnesota Vikings secondary that allows just 26.9 PPR points per game to wide receivers. However, McConkey's reliable and quick routes are an effective counter to the Vikings' blitz-heavy defense, providing
Justin Herbert with an immediate outlet under pressure. His three red-zone targets last week also highlight his growing importance near the goal line. RotoBaller ranks McConkey as WR17. His target share and versatile role make him a solid mid-range WR2 start in all league formats.
--Don FanelliSource: RotoBaller
October 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal was limited in Week 7, rushing for only 20 yards on nine carries as the Bolts faced a negative game script for most of the day, throwing the ball 55 times. However, he remains the clear lead back, especially since backup running back
Hassan Haskins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday. This week, Vidal faces a Minnesota Vikings run defense that is middle-of-the-pack but showed strength last week by holding Philadelphia Eagles running back
Saquon Barkley to just 2.4 yards per carry. With Haskins out, Vidal is expected to get nearly all the early-down work and see more red-zone opportunities. The Chargers might also focus more on the run game to help reduce the pressure on
Justin Herbert. RotoBaller projects Vidal as RB23, making him a reliable low-end RB2/FLEX option based on volume and potential red zone touches.
--Don FanelliSource: RotoBaller
October 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert is coming off a career-best performance with 420 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, he faced pressure 35 times, highlighting the ongoing pressure he's been under behind a battered offensive line for most of the season. Herbert now faces a top-five Minnesota Vikings pass defense on a short week, which poses an immediate risk because the Vikings run the second-highest blitz rate in the NFL. Still, volume matters: Herbert is the most-blitzed QB in the league and just threw 55 passes. Additionally, the Vikings recently allowed 326 yards and three touchdowns to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Jalen Hurts. Key offensive linemen Joe Alt (ankle), Trey Pipkins (knee), and Jamaree Salyer (knee) all practiced in some capacity this week and are listed as questionable for Thursday's game. If they play, protection could improve enough to let Herbert continue airing it out in a must-win situation. RotoBaller projects Herbert as QB11. He remains a locked-in QB1 due to his high passing volume and playmaking ability.
--Don FanelliSource: RotoBaller
October 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Hassan Haskins (hamstring) has been officially ruled out for the Thursday night game in Week 8 against the visiting Minnesota Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Haskins suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and won't be able to suit up on a short week. With the 25-year-old sidelined and with rookie first-rounder
Omarion Hampton (ankle) still on Injured Reserve, the Bolts are expected to elevate veteran
Nyheim Hines to the 53-man active roster to serve as
Kimani Vidal's backup against Minnesota.
Trayveon Williams could also come up from the practice squad to serve as backfield depth on a short week. Haskins' next chance to suit up will come in Week 9 on Sunday, Nov. 2, against his former team, the Tennessee Titans. In the RB2 role with Hampton on IR, Haskins has minimal fantasy value and has been dropped in most leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
October 22, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end
Oronde Gadsden broke out in Week 7 against the Colts, recording seven catches for 164 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Gadsden's snap count has increased each week this season as he's worked his way into a full-time role at tight end. Over the last two games, he's run 69.2% of routes and caught seven of eight targets for 68 yards in Week 6 before upping that to a season-high 78.7% in Sunday's breakout performance. There's plenty of competition for targets in the Chargers' offense, but
Quentin Johnston's return in Week 7 after missing Week 6 with a hamstring injury didn't cut into Gadsden's role, as Johnston had his quietest game of the season with just two catches on six targets for 30 yards. Gadsden is a good option to start on Thursday night against the Vikings.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 21, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Tuesday that running back
Hassan Haskins (hamstring) is doubtful to play on Thursday night against the visiting Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium in Week 8, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Haskins injured his hamstring in the Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and was estimated as a non-participant on Monday's injury report. The 25-year-old has played second fiddle to
Kimani Vidal in the Chargers' backfield in two games since rookie first-rounder
Omarion Hampton (ankle) landed on Injured Reserve, leaving him little fantasy value. With Haskins now likely sidelined on a short week, expect L.A. to bring veteran pass-catching back
Nyheim Hines up from the practice squad to serve as Vidal's backup on Thursday against Minnesota. In the last two games with Hampton sidelined, Haskins has a combined seven carries for 17 yards while catching all three of his targets for 11 yards.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
October 20, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Hassan Haskins (hamstring) is listed as a non-participant on his team's Monday injury report due to a hamstring injury. The Chargers did not actually practice on Monday, so this is an estimation of Haskins' status ahead of the team's Week 8 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. In two games since Chargers RB1
Omarion Hampton (ankle) was placed on Injured Reserve, Haskins has split backfield work in Los Angeles with
Kimani Vidal. Vidal has been the clear lead back, as Haskins has recorded 28 yards from scrimmage on 10 total touches over the last two weeks. If Haskins is unable to play on Thursday, Vidal would likely dominate backfield work for the Chargers even further. Veteran back
Nyheim Hines could also play a role on passing downs.
--Will BradySource: Los Angeles Chargers
October 20, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal couldn't capitalize on last week's breakout, rushing nine times for only 20 yards and adding four catches for 15 yards in Sunday's 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. A negative game script forced the Chargers to abandon the run early, giving Vidal little room to operate. With a short week ahead against the Minnesota Vikings, the Bolts may need to rely more on the ground game to balance their offense. The Vikings are much more vulnerable against the run than the pass, providing Vidal a potential opportunity for rebound, but only if the Chargers can keep the game close. He remains the clear RB1 until
Omarion Hampton (ankle) returns from IR.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
October 20, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey saw a heavy workload in Week 7, catching nine of 15 targets for 67 yards in the team's 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He led the team in targets for the second straight week, continuing to earn Herbert's trust on short and intermediate routes, although he didn't score after back-to-back games with a touchdown. In Week 8, the Bolts face a tough Minnesota Vikings secondary allowing just 26.9 PPR points per game to wide receivers. With a short week and tired legs, McConkey's ceiling might be limited, but his growing role and target share keep him in the FLEX/WR3 consideration for most leagues.
--Don FanelliSource: NFL
October 20, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Oronde Gadsden exploded in Week 7 against the Colts with seven catches (nine targets) for 164 yards and a touchdown. Gadsden had been working his way into a full-time role at tight end in Los Angeles, and it's all come together over the past two weeks. He's logged a route on 77% of dropbacks in each of those games and should maintain a consistent role in the offense moving forward after a performance like this. The 2025 fifth-round pick was winning at all levels of the field and had an unreal catch and run for 53 yards early in the third quarter. His 164 yards were the most in a game by a rookie tight end since Kyle Pitts in 2021. Gadsden should be the priority waiver add in all formats this week.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
October 19, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Keenan Allen had a huge day in his team's Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, recording 11 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Allen was one of the beneficiaries of the Chargers' high-volume passing day, as Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert attempted 55 passes. The 33-year-old Allen has now hauled in 44 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns on 65 targets across seven games this season. With Los Angeles currently playing without its top running back,
Omarion Hampton (ankle), the team could continue to find itself in pass-heavy game scripts. That would be a recipe for fantasy success for Allen and the rest of the Chargers' pass-catchers. Los Angeles will have a short week in Week 8, as they play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
October 19, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end
Oronde Gadsden caught seven of his nine targets for 164 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The highlight of his game was a 53-yard catch on the second play of the third quarter, but his 15-yard touchdown was impressive, too. The rookie has broken out recently, catching 14 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown over his last two contests. He is the overall TE1 in PPR leagues over the last two weeks. Although that's a relatively small sample size to assess, Sunday's big game showed that Gadsden's sudden success is no fluke. He should continue to operate as a primary target for
Justin Herbert, giving him high-end TE2 appeal with TE1 upside.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 19, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert completed 37 of his 55 pass attempts for 420 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions during Sunday's Week 7 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. He also took three sacks and led the team with 31 rushing yards. Herbert turned in his best fantasy performance of the season thanks to his extremely high yardage total and three touchdowns, but the two picks -- plus Los Angeles' struggles running the football and Indianapolis' strong offense -- made it tough for the Bolts to overcome an early deficit. Herbert remains a mid-range QB1 in fantasy football, though, and he should continue to be started heading into Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 18, 2025
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Los Angeles Chargers activated linebacker Denzel Perryman (ankle) ahead of the Week 7 matchup with the Colts. The 32-year-old played sparingly this season, suffering an ankle injury during the Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. Unfortunately, that landed him on the Injured Reserve list. Perryman has an impressive resume. While he is nowhere near what he was back in 2021, when he made the Pro Bowl as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, his anticipated presence isn't an ideal scenario for the 5-1 Colts, especially since Khalil Mack (elbow) was also activated off the IR. For now, Perryman remains questionable, but it appears he's trending toward being active in Week 7.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Adam Schefter
October 17, 2025
The Los Angeles Chargers D/ST faces a tough challenge against the Indianapolis Colts, who have the league's top-scoring offense (32.3 PPG) and the most rushing touchdowns per game (2.2), led by fantasy RB1
Jonathan Taylor. Although the Chargers rank second in Opponent Red Zone Scoring (42.86%), their weakness against the run (28th in opponents' yards allowed per rush) creates a significant mismatch against the Colts' run-heavy approach. While the potential return of Khalil Mack (elbow), who was designated to return from IR this week, provides some boost for their pass rush, the likely game script of a high-scoring offensive battle hinders defensive points. RotoBaller has moved the D/ST down to D/ST22. It's better to consider other D/ST options this week.
--Don FanelliSource: RotoBaller
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