January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Keenan Allen has recorded 74 catches for 741 yards and four touchdowns on 109 targets in 16 games in 2025 in his return to the team. The six-time Pro Bowler has been a trustworthy aerial weapon for quarterback
Justin Herbert, but the 33-year-old is limping to the finish line and had just one catch on three targets for 17 yards in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. It was the first time since the 2020 season that Allen was limited to just one catch. Allen has not found the end zone in a game since Oct. 19 and has cleared the 50-yard mark just once in the last nine contests. In the first seven games of the season, Allen went over 50 receiving yards five times while scoring all four of his TDs. The veteran pass-catcher has run out of momentum and makes for a poor fantasy lineup option in Week 18 against the Broncos with backup quarterback
Trey Lance running things.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Hassan Haskins (concussion) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Haskins was able to finish the week with a full practice session, which is good news. He still needs to get fully cleared by the league before he's eligible to play. Rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle) has already been ruled out for this game.
Kimani Vidal (neck) is listed as questionable as well for Sunday's regular-season finale, so the Bolts' backfield is in flux. The Chargers have little incentive to play their starters, so it wouldn't be shocking if some practice-squad players saw increased looks. Haskins is unlikely to be an appealing fantasy option, even if he's active and Vidal is out. Remember, backup quarterback
Trey Lance is running the offense against one of the best defenses in the league.
--Andy WebbSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal (neck) is officially listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos. Vidal is trending in the right direction after getting in two straight full practice sessions to end the week. There seems to be a decent chance that he'll return from his one-game absence this weekend. He'd likely take over as the lead back with rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle) ruled out for this game. Fellow back
Hassan Haskins (concussion) carries a questionable tag into this game as well. Backup quarterback
Trey Lance is starting, which could lead to a run-heavy game plan for this offense. Vidal could be looking at a 20-plus carry game, assuming he's able to suit up. Without Vidal or Haskins, the Chargers would likely lean on
Jaret Patterson or
Amar Johnson. The Chargers' backfield is a situation to avoid in a game where the offense is expected to have a tough time moving the ball with a backup QB.
--Andy WebbSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert (hand) was removed from the Week 18 injury report on Friday, but he will not play in the regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday, according to Eric Smith of Chargers.com. Herbert was limited in practice on Wednesday before being held out on Thursday and Friday. The Chargers announced early in the week that they would be resting Herbert with a playoff spot already locked up. Backup
Trey Lance will make his first start of the year in a bad matchup against a team trying to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye. Despite a suspect offensive line protecting him, Herbert enters Week 18 action as the QB7 in overall fantasy points. In 16 regular-season games, he threw for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Herbert added 498 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chargers.com - Eric Smith
January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 18's regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Hampton missed all three days of practice this week and is set to miss the eighth game of his rookie campaign. The 2025 first-round pick spent time on Injured Reserve earlier in the year with a fractured ankle, and it seems that the Chargers are just being cautious with a playoff spot already locked up. Hampton finishes the season with 124 carries for 545 yards and four touchdowns to go with 32 receptions (35 targets) for 192 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. Second-year back
Kimani Vidal (neck) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday, so he should be expected to lead the backfield in Week 18 versus the Broncos if he's active. Both Vidal and
Hassan Haskins (concussion) are considered questionable to play.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Adam Schefter
January 2, 2026
Across 16 games this season, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey has recorded 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. Over the second half of the season, the 24-year-old has seen his role in the Chargers' offense minimized. Across six games since Week 10, McConkey has not recorded more than six targets, four receptions, or 43 receiving yards in any contest. While McConkey remains one of his team's top wideouts, he's not an every-down player. Over his last nine games, McConkey has played more than 76% of the Chargers' offensive snaps just twice. In Week 18, Los Angeles will rest quarterback
Justin Herbert in preparation for the AFC playoffs, leaving McConkey to catch passes from backup signal-caller
Trey Lance. McConkey himself could see a reduced snap share, and he's facing a tough defense in the Denver Broncos. Fantasy managers can view McConkey as a low-end WR3/flex option in Week 18.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 1, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal (neck) upgraded to a full practice session on Thursday. Vidal started the week with a limited showing in practice on Wednesday. A full session on Thursday suggests that he's ready to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday in Denver against the division-rival Broncos. Meanwhile, rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle) has yet to practice this week, and
Hassan Haskins has been limited as he works his way through the NFL's concussion protocol. L.A.'s backfield is in flux entering the weekend, but if Hampton is held out, Vidal figures to be the team's lead back in Week 18. The 24-year-old would receive a volume boost, but expectations would need to be tempered in an offense led by backup quarterback
Trey Lance against a stout Denver defense. Fantasy managers need to check back on Friday for more clarity on this backfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 1, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday. Hampton spent time on Injured Reserve earlier this year after fracturing his ankle. The 22-year-old hasn't had a setback that we know of, so this could just be the Chargers being cautious as they look to get their players healthy going into the playoffs next week. The Chargers already announced that they will sit quarterback
Justin Herbert for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Denver Broncos, and Hampton could join him on the sidelines. Meanwhile,
Kimani Vidal (neck) upgraded to a full practice on Thursday. The Bolts' backfield is in flux, to say the least, with
Hassan Haskins working his way through the concussion protocol. Check back on Friday, but all signs are pointing to Hampton being held out in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Chargers
December 31, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury. Hampton played 83% of the offensive snaps in last Saturday's loss to the Houston Texans, touching the ball 22 times for 60 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old first-rounder didn't appear to be injured at all in Week 17. However, with the Chargers already expected to rest quarterback
Justin Herbert in the Week 18 regular-season finale on the road in Denver against the division-rival Broncos, fantasy managers should expect a smaller workload from Hampton if he's active this weekend. All of L.A.'s offensive skill players will be much harder to trust in starting fantasy lineups if they are active with backup QB
Trey Lance running the offense. It's hard to gauge the Bolts' backfield for this weekend with
Kimani Vidal (neck) and
Hassan Haskins (head) also banged up.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Chargers
December 30, 2025
The Los Angeles Chargers are choosing to rest starting quarterback
Justin Herbert for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday in Denver against the division-rival Broncos, which opens the door for backup
Trey Lance to make his first start of the season. Head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed on Monday that Lance will start against the Broncos and their strong defense. The 25-year-old former third overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers back in 2021 out of North Dakota State will be making just his sixth start in the NFL. There is an opportunity for Lance, but we won't be expecting much from him in his first start of the year for various reasons. For one, the Chargers' banged-up offensive line is unlikely to be able to protect him consistently against a Broncos D that leads the league in sacks. Additionally, the Bolts could be resting other key offensive skill players besides Herbert. Lance should be considered a desperation low-end QB2 in superflex leagues this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
December 29, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Oronde Gadsden found the end zone for the first time since Week 8 during Saturday's loss to the Houston Texans. The rookie tight end was able to salvage his fantasy value with a one-yard touchdown. He finished the game with three receptions on six targets for 32 yards and the one score. His value has been inconsistent this season, and it's not going to get any better in Week 18 in the regular-season finale on the road against a tough Denver Broncos defense. The Chargers are expected to rest most of their starters in Week 18, which includes quarterback
Justin Herbert. Backup
Trey Lance will take over under center, which will be a downgrade for the entire offense. It's unclear how much Gadsden is going to play, and having a backup QB throwing the rock around isn't going to do him any favors. Fantasy managers are better off looking elsewhere for TE help in Week 18.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
December 29, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that quarterback
Trey Lance will make the start on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. The Chargers will rest
Justin Herbert, and he won't dress for the game in Denver. Lance will make his first start of the year and only the sixth start of his NFL career.
DJ Uiagalelei will be elevated from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster to back Lance up. The 25-year-old former first-round pick has completed seven of his 13 pass attempts in three games played for the Bolts in 2025 for 90 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. With other starters on offense possibly being rested while facing one of the best defenses in the league (the Broncos will be playing for a first-round bye), Lance will not be set up for success in Week 18.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
December 29, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that quarterback
Justin Herbert won't play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale on the road against the division-rival Denver Broncos, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. Harbaugh said that other starters with "the most bruises" and need "the most healing" won't play either. Herbert has been playing through a fractured left hand for weeks, but he's been practicing in full and hasn't missed any time. The Bolts are electing to give the 27-year-old signal-caller some extra rest before the start of the postseason. With Herbert sitting this Sunday, backup
Trey Lance will be thrust into a starting role, and it remains to be seen what other offensive skill players the Bolts might rest. With a win this weekend, the Broncos would clinch the top seed in the AFC and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
December 29, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston has had a rollercoaster 2025 season. After averaging 84.3 receiving yards per game and scoring four touchdowns over the first four weeks of the season, the 24-year-old averaged just 24.5 yards per game and scored two touchdowns over his next eight contests. However, Johnston appears to be re-emerging in recent weeks. Over his last two games, he's recorded nine receptions for 202 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. Johnston remains a big-play threat, averaging 14.4 yards per reception for the season and 22.4 yards per reception over the last two weeks. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams where he remains available, Johnston could be a player to target on the waiver wire heading into his Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 27, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal (neck) is inactive for Saturday's contest against the Houston Texans. The second-year running back exited their victory over the Cowboys last weekend with this injury. During the week, Vidal was unable to practice on Tuesday and Wednesday but made progress on Thursday, logging a limited session, suggesting he could be in the mix to return. However, the Chargers will lean on the side of caution and keep him on the sidelines this afternoon. As a result, managers should expect rookie running back
Omarion Hampton to operate as the clear RB1 in the offense while
Hassan Haskins serves as the change-of-pace option. Hampton should be started in all formats as a low-end RB1 given his projected workload despite facing a formidable Houston defense.
--Andy SmithSource: Daniel Popper
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