RADIO
Chargers Won't Name Oronde Gadsden the Starter
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden was expected to be the starter heading into this season. According to Alex Insdorf, Gadsden might not have an easy path to the starting gig. On Saturday, Chargers head coach John Harbaugh said the team has four capable options at tight end, and refused to name a starter. The Chargers did bring in Charlie Kolar and David Njoku as competition for Gadsden. His role will likely be reduced with more capable bodies at the tight end spot now. Gadsden posted a strong rookie campaign and should remain an important part of the offense. Although it appears Harbaugh isn't ready to name anyone the starter quite yet.
Source: Alex Insdorf
Source: Alex Insdorf
David Njoku Helping to Unlock Chargers Offense
The Los Angeles Chargers' new-look offense is thriving in the early days of training camp, and one of the reasons, as pointed out by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, is the addition of tight end David Njoku and the improvements made to the position as a whole. Veteran Charlie Kolar was an early free agent signing, and as expected, he has been used primarily as an inline blocking tight end throughout the early days of training camp. With Njoku signing later in the process, there were questions about how his usage would impact second-year player Oronde Gadsden II, and Breer mentions that the former first-round pick of the Browns was brought in to play the F or "move" tight end position. A split between Njoku and Gadsden in that role could make both difficult to consistently trust for fantasy production, making any information coming out of camp all the more important. While that situation has pushed the veteran down to TE24 by current ADP, Gadsden is going around TE18, still in a range where some of the other available options appear to provide more certainty but a lower ceiling.
Source: Albert Breer
Source: Albert Breer
Oronde Gadsden to be Phased Out of Chargers Offense
After a standout rookie season in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden has been pushed to the side by the team's recent additions to the tight end room. Gadsden hauled in 49 of 69 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season as a rookie. However, the team added former Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar to a three-year, $24.3 million contract and former Pro-Bowler David Njoku as well. In training camp, footage has shown Gadsden catching passes from fourth-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, while Kolar and Njoku work with the first team. If this trend continues, fantasy managers will need to pump the brakes on a second-year breakout for the former Syracuse tight end.
Source: Kris Rhim - ESPN
Source: Kris Rhim - ESPN
Charlie Kolar Could be a Big Factor in 2026
Los Angeles Chargers' new tight end, Charlie Kolar, is expected to be a major factor in the team's tight end room in 2026. Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Chargers, marking one of the team's first free-agent moves, well before the addition of former Browns tight end David Njoku. Quarterback Justin Herbert praised both Kolar and Njoku, saying, "I think it's really cool to have Charlie [Kolar] and David [Njoku]." He added that he expects Kolar to have a very good year and is excited to get him the ball. Kolar and Njoku joined Oronde Gadsden II, who had a tremendous rookie season as a receiver but struggled as a blocker. From a fantasy perspective, targeting any tight end in this offense seems risky.
Source: Alex Insdorf - Bolt Beat
Source: Alex Insdorf - Bolt Beat
Oronde Gadsden an Ideal Late-Round Swing for Managers Waiting at Tight End
For a four-week stretch early into his rookie season, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had the appearance of the league's next young superstar. From Weeks 6 through 9, the 2025 fifth-round pick caught 24 of 27 targets for 377 yards and two scores, essentially a full-season pace of 100-1,600-8 that, unsurprisingly, made him the fantasy TE1 over that stretch. While he was unable to maintain that torrid pace the rest of the way, catching only 17 passes for 211 yards and one score over his final eight games, there is plenty to be excited about heading into his second season, especially now that he finds himself in Mike McDaniel's quick-game-heavy offense. While the free agent acquisitions of David Njoku and Charlie Kolar add a level of competition that was not present in 2025, Gadsden is still the safest bet to lead the position group in targets, and with veteran receiver Keenan Allen no longer under contract, he could step into an important role as one of the team's primary chain-movers. Currently ranked as RotoBaller's TE16, Gadsden is the exact type of high-upside swing that redraft managers should be looking to target in the closing rounds of drafts if they missed out or were unwilling to spend up on the elite tier of the position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Njoku Could Still Have His Place in Fantasy in 2026
With Los Angeles Chargers veterans reporting for training camp on July 28, one of the most interesting position battles to pay attention to will be at tight end, after the late free agent signing of 10th-year professional David Njoku helped to make theirs one of the more well-rounded tight end rooms in the league. The Chargers return 2025 fifth-round pick Oronde Gadsden II after he reached some historic highs as a rookie, and the team made an early commitment to free agent Charlie Kolar, one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. It was the addition of Njoku in mid-May, though, that brought true multi-functionality to the room in Mike McDaniel's new offense. A first-round pick in 2017, Njoku had fallen clearly behind rookie Harold Fannin Jr. in his final season with the Browns, but given a fresh start with one of the most creative playcallers in the league, he could again find sporadic fantasy relevance in 2026. At RotoBaller's TE32, he is not a player worth targeting in redraft leagues, but he is a low-cost depth piece for contending dynasty managers and is worthy of the occasional late-round swing in best ball drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Kolar has Untapped Pass-Catching Potential
The Los Angeles Chargers made tight end Charlie Kolar a priority addition in free agency earlier this year, signing him to a three-year, $24.3 million deal. He was an elite run-blocker with the Baltimore Ravens and will continue to fill that role in his new digs in L.A., but The Athletic's Daniel Popper also thinks that Kolar has "a ton of untapped potential as a pass-catcher." If everything falls perfectly, Kolar could break out as an offensive contributor in his first year with the Bolts. He didn't have much of a chance in Baltimore behind both Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, but he'll have more opportunities in the passing game with the Chargers. Kolar has never caught more than 10 passes in a season, and his career high in receiving yards came last year with 142. It means that he won't really be on anyone's fantasy radar in 2026, but Popper thinks the 27-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of Iowa State will "surpass those figures handily in 2026." If Oronde Gadsden misses time with an injury this year, Kolar could be a sneaky waiver-wire addition in two-TE leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
Dynasty Managers May Have an Opportunity to Buy Low on Oronde Gadsden
A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden emerged as a surprisingly important piece of his team's offense as a rookie. Across 15 games (seven starts), the 22-year-old hauled in 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets. With an average of 13.6 yards per reception, Gadsden II showed off an ability to stretch the field that is rare at the tight end position. Entering 2026, Gadsden II's playing time outlook has some questions following the Chargers' offseason acquisitions of veteran tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. However, Njoku is only signed through 2026, and Kolar profiles more as a blocking tight end. As long as Gadsden II continues to progress in his second NFL season, he profiles as the long-term answer for the Chargers at the tight end position. In dynasty leagues where Gadsden II's value may have dipped after Los Angeles' offseason moves, managers should take advantage of the opportunity to buy low.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Should Dynasty Managers Look to Buy Low on David Njoku?
After spending the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, veteran tight end David Njoku signed a one-year contract for the 2026 campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers in May. Njoku's production declined significantly in 2025, as he missed five games with a knee injury and finished the year with 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. Njoku also had his role in the Browns' offense largely usurped by tight end Harold Fannin Jr., whose emergence as a rookie in 2025 made Njoku largely expendable. Njoku could now be facing a similar dynamic in Los Angeles, as he will be sharing the field with up-and-coming Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II. The Chargers should provide a significantly healthier offensive ecosystem for Njoku than the Browns did, which could lead to a production boost even in a limited role. Still, Njoku's upside appears to be capped as long as Gadsden II remains healthy. As Njoku enters his age-30 season, his dynasty value appears to be at an all-time low.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Talent Overcome Situation for Oronde Gadsden II?
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II had an eye-opening mid-season stretch as a rookie in which he caught 24 passes for 377 yards across four games. While he was unable to maintain that torrid pace down the stretch, he was one of the most popular breakout candidates of the early offseason. Since then, the team has added Charlie Kolar and David Njoku in free agency, and with Gadsden's blocking ability viewed as the primary reason he couldn't stay on the field as a rookie, the increased competition in that regard could make it difficult for him to find a full-time role. Even with the league trending toward heavier personnel usage, new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has not strictly relied on tight ends to get bigger bodies on the field. Only the 49ers ran a higher percentage of plays with a fullback on the field than McDaniel's 2025 Dolphins, and with former Pro Bowler Alec Ingold following his coach West, there's a strong indication that tendency could hold up in Los Angeles. Gadsden has obvious talents that McDaniel will look to take advantage of, but if he's viewed as more of a gadget piece than an every-down mainstay in the Chargers' new offense, it could be difficult for him to live up to his billing as RotoBaller's dynasty TE10.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Njoku a Short-Term Dynasty Buy
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku was one of the latest additions to the team, signing a one-year deal in mid-May, but he has a chance to make a legitimate fantasy impact in his tenth professional season. New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has found great success in recent seasons by involving his tight ends, and the room he has already helped to build in Los Angeles boasts a variety of skill sets. Free agent acquisition Charlie Kolar is one of the league's most impactful blockers, while second-year player Oronde Gadsden II flashed game-breaking athleticism as a rookie, but with Njoku being the most well-rounded of the three, he could become the most difficult to pull from the field. Coming off a down year and turning 30 before the start of training camp, he has fallen to dynasty TE26, making him a low-cost trade target. Having finished as the TE13 or better in three of the past four seasons, while playing in a low-scoring Browns offense, Njoku offers obvious short-term upside to contending managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Oronde Gadsden's Breakout Chances Dealt a Serious Blow
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had risen all the way to TE10 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings after flashing at a historical level in his rookie season and finishing his first campaign with 664 yards on 49 receptions. The thought of him working in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's tight end-friendly scheme was enough to push the soon-to-be 23-year-old into TE1 territory, but with the Chargers agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran David Njoku on Monday, Gadsden's breakout chances have been dealt a serious blow. While Njoku was essentially passed over in his final season with the Browns by rookie Harold Fannin Jr., he still offers unique athleticism and an immense target radius, and his blocking ability could make him more of a staple than Gadsden in three-receiver sets. With Njoku adding to what was already a crowded group of pass catchers, including Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre' Harris, a reliable target share could be difficult for Gadsden to come by in year two. Gadsden's rookie peaks were as high as almost any player in league history, and Njoku's deal is only for one year, so while the 2025 fifth-round pick out of Syracuse will be clearly impacted in 2026, he should still provide significant value in best ball leagues and as a young dynasty stash.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Njoku Signing With Chargers on One-Year Deal
Veteran tight end David Njoku has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers worth up to $8 million. The 2023 Pro Bowler played his first nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns but was allowed to reach free agency after ceding work to rookie Harold Fannin Jr. in 2025, resulting in his lowest reception and yardage totals since 2020. In Los Angeles, Njoku adds another option to Justin Herbert's crowded group of pass catchers, already including Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre' Harris. Offering a rare blend of size and athleticism, Njoku should still see plenty of fantasy spike weeks, making him an attractive late-round best ball target. Meanwhile, after rising all the way to TE10 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, second-year player Oronde Gadsden could now be forced to wait at least one more season before taking over the coveted pass-catching tight end role in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
