RADIO
Quentin Johnston Could Be in Line for Bigger Target Share vs. Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston could see more targets on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The team could be forced to depend on Johnston as their WR1 with Ladd McConkey (ribs) officially questionable. McConkey exited Week 1 after taking a big hit and was held out of practice until participating in a limited amount on Friday. Johnston enters Week 2 as RotoBaller's PPR WR39. The 25-year-old will face a Raiders secondary that allowed 220 passing yards and five 20-plus-yard passing plays to a shaky Miami Dolphins passing game last week. Johnston could find himself being targeted often downfield on vertical routes. He is a viable flex option for managers and carries high upside heading into Week 2.
Source: Chargers.com
Source: Chargers.com
Omarion Hampton Hopes to Bounce Back in Week 2 vs. Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton is looking to bounce back at home on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Hampton salvaged his Week 1 performance with a rushing touchdown after failing to surpass 50 rushing yards. The 23-year-old enters Week 2 as RotoBaller's PPR RB13 against a Raiders defense that held the Miami Dolphins to 74 rushing yards to open the season. Heading into Sunday, the Raiders defense has seen the third-fewest rush attempts in the league but is middle of the pack in yards per carry (4.1). The Chargers could be forced to operate without Ladd McConkey (ribs) this week, and he is officially listed as questionable. If McConkey's out, the team could lean more run-heavy and use Hampton out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. Managers can comfortably start Hampton in Week 2, and he has RB1 upside if he gets more touches
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
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
Kimani Vidal Facing Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal emerged as a useful contributor for fantasy managers at points during the 2025 season, recording 779 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 171 touches across 13 games. However, much of Vidal's production came in games where Chargers RB1 Omarion Hampton was sidelined by an ankle injury. With Hampton back to lead the Los Angeles backfield in 2026, Vidal played just four snaps and failed to earn a single touch in the Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. In addition to Hampton, Vidal also appears to be behind Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell on the team's depth chart at the position. Barring an injury to either Hampton or Mitchell, Vidal should likely remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ladd McConkey Officially Questionable to Play in Week 2
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (ribs) is officially listed as questionable to play in his team's Week 2 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey was forced to exit early from his team's Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after absorbing a big hit while trying to make a catch over the middle. The 24-year-old did not practice on either Wednesday or Thursday of this week, but he was able to get back out on the practice field on Friday. McConkey was having an encouraging game against Arizona before getting injured, recording five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. It seems possible that McConkey's status may not be determined until Sunday, so fantasy managers will need to check back as more updates are released. If McConkey is unable to play, Chargers wideouts Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris could both be in line for an increase in target share.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey Returns to Practice Friday
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) was back on the field at Friday's practice, according to Kris Rhim. McConkey did not practice Wednesday or Thursday after leaving the season opener against Arizona with the injury. He had five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown before exiting late in the third quarter. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has called McConkey day-to-day, and Friday was the first encouraging step after two straight absences. The Chargers had not yet released his final practice participation or game designation at the time of this update. McConkey still has some uncertainty around him for Sunday against Las Vegas, but getting back on the field Friday keeps him in the mix to play.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
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
Ladd McConkey Missing From Practice Again on Thursday
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) was working off to the side with a trainer again during practice on Thursday, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. McConkey was forced out of the team's Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and has not practiced yet this week. The Chargers were calling McConkey day-to-day early this week, but with two missed practices under his belt, he is looking more doubtful than likely to suit up for a Week 2 divisional clash against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The 24-year-old's fantasy managers were happy with McConkey's 5-82-1 line on seven targets in the season opener, but they will not be thrilled if he is inactive this weekend. If that is the case and McConkey does not return to practice on Friday, both Quentin Johnston and Tre' Davis would become more interesting as deep-league flex plays against the Raiders. Tight ends David Njoku, Charlie Kolar, and Oronde Gadsden would also likely be more involved in the passing game as the Bolts' offense looks to bounce back from an ugly Week 1 showing against Arizona.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
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
Tre' Harris Could Have Bigger Opportunity With Teammate Injured
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris and the Chargers' offense surprisingly struggled to move the ball consistently in their Week 1 season-opening upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Harris caught half of his six targets on the day for just 20 yards and was held out of the end zone in the first game of his sophomore season in 2026. The good news for the former second-rounder from Mississippi is that he played a healthy 75% of the offensive snaps (just two fewer than Quentin Johnston). The 24-year-old pass-catcher has become an interesting waiver-wire option at receiver heading into a Week 2 divisional tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders, primarily because top wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) is currently questionable after missing Wednesday's practice. If McConkey is not cleared to play this weekend, Harris will have a significantly bigger role alongside Johnston and could be worth a flex play in deeper fantasy leagues. Harris caught 30 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown on 43 targets in 17 games as a rookie in 2025.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Quentin Johnston's Fantasy Stock Gets a Boost
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston didn't do much with his six targets in Week 1, catching two passes for 17 yards in the loss to Arizona. The situation around him has changed since then. Ladd McConkey left in the third quarter and is now listed with a rib injury after sitting out Wednesday's practice. Johnston was already playing a big role, logging 43 offensive snaps, 78% of the Chargers' total, and his six targets tied Tre' Harris for second on the team behind McConkey's seven. That opens the door for more work, though Johnston isn't alone. Harris played 41 snaps and drew the same number of targets in the opener. That's enough to keep expectations in check, especially after Johnston managed just 17 yards on his Week 1 chances. Still, his path to more volume is clearer than it was a week ago. With McConkey's status uncertain heading into Sunday's game against Las Vegas, Johnston's fantasy stock has gotten a noticeable bump.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ladd McConkey Misses Wednesday's Practice
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (ribs) did not practice Wednesday, according to Alex Insdorf. McConkey is still considered day-to-day after getting hurt during Sunday's loss to Arizona, when he caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the third quarter. Earlier reporting indicated the injury was not believed to be significant, but sitting out the first practice of Week 2 leaves his availability against Las Vegas unsettled. McConkey and Quentin Johnston remain the Chargers' starting receivers, with Tre' Harris among the options behind them. Los Angeles is already without Keandre Lambert-Smith, who landed on injured reserve Tuesday. There is still plenty of time for McConkey to get back on the field before Sunday, so Wednesday's absence alone isn't reason to panic. His status Thursday and Friday should give fantasy managers a much better idea of whether he can play in Week 2.
Source: Alex Insdorf
Source: Alex Insdorf
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
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Signing with Chargers
According to Jeremy Fowler, the Los Angeles Chargers are signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad on Tuesday. The veteran wideout was with the Dallas Cowboys during training camp, but he didn't make the final roster. He has bounced around the league in the past few seasons, but he could still provide depth to this roster. The Chargers could need another wideout with Ladd McConkey (rib) considered day-to-day right now. If he misses Week 2, Valdes-Scantling could be elevated to the active roster, but it's unlikely he'd do much during his first week with the organization. Fantasy managers can ignore MVS for the moment.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Chargers Place Keandre Lambert-Smith on Injured Reserve
The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that they placed wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) on Injured Reserve and signed receiver Gary Jennings in a corresponding move. Lambert-Smith injured his hamstring in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and will now be forced to miss at least the next four games. The earliest he will be eligible to return to the Chargers' active 53-man roster will be for the Week 6 divisional clash against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 18. With top wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) also banged up coming out of the season opener, the Bolts could be down to Quentin Johnston and Tre' Smith as their top receivers this weekend for a Week 2 tilt against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Lambert-Smith did not play a single snap on offense on Sunday before getting injured.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
