January 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that rookie first-round running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) will be "involved some today" in practice on Thursday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. "We're going to wait and see on that. He's working through his process with the medical group. He's engaged. He's ready mentally with the game plan," Roman said. The 22-year-old did not practice at all on Wednesday. It's a good sign that Hampton will be on the field on Thursday, but it still sounds like his availability for Sunday night's Wild-Card game against the New England Patriots is very much up in the air. It's especially concerning that the North Carolina product is on the injury report after being rested in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Hampton suffered a fractured ankle back in Week 5 and didn't return from IR until Week 14. On top of his injury concern, Hampton and the Chargers are facing a tough Pats run defense, making Hampton a shaky low-end RB1 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
January 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal only handled three rushing attempts for 12 yards and caught one pass for a two-yard loss in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos, despite the team resting rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle). Hampton did not practice on Wednesday and might have aggravated an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve earlier this season. With Hampton's status uncertain for the Wild-Card game on Sunday night against the New England Patriots, the 24-year-old Vidal could become more interesting for fantasy playoff lineups. However, the matchup isn't a great one, with New England allowing the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing RBs in 2025. Still, a big volume increase for Vidal if Hampton is out would put him in the RB2 conversation. Vidal filled in nicely as the Bolts' lead back with Hampton hurt this year, and he posted three 100-yard games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Keenan Allen was the team's leading receiver in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and he caught seven passes, his most since a season-high 11 grabs back on Oct. 19. However, Allen had just 36 yards on Sunday with backup quarterback
Trey Lance getting the starting nod with the Bolts resting
Justin Herbert. The week prior, the 33-year-old Allen had just one catch for 17 yards in the loss to the Houston Texans. Allen has not scored since Week 7 and hasn't gone over 50 receiving yards in a contest since Week 11 against the Jaguars. He is a trustworthy security blanket for Herbert, the problem is that L.A.'s beat-up offensive line doesn't give Herbert much time to find his receivers. All of the Chargers' wideouts are shaky fantasy options going into the postseason against a Patriots defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs in the last five weeks.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 7, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Oronde Gadsden has been inconsistent down the stretch, but he still exceeded expectations as a fifth-round rookie. Gadsden brought in 49 catches (69 targets) for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. The Syracuse product had a historic stretch early in the season once he earned a full-time role in Week 6, posting his most receiving yards ever by a rookie tight end over a four-game span. He also became the first rookie tight end with four straight games of 65 or more receiving yards. Gadsden's production faded down the stretch, as he averaged just two catches (3.3 targets) for 26.2 yards per game with one touchdown over the final six weeks. Gadsden is a risky option for Sunday night's Wild-Card game against the New England Patriots, with New England being a slightly favorable matchup for opposing tight ends, allowing the 11th-most catches per game (5.7) and the 12th-most yards (57.1).
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver
Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) did not take part in Wednesday's practice, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Lambert-Smith's status for the Wild-Card playoff tilt on Sunday night against the New England Patriots is in question after the 23-year-old pass-catcher hurt his hamstring in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Denver Broncos. He never returned to the contest. If Lambert-Smith isn't cleared to play this weekend,
Tre' Harris and
Derius Davis could see more time on the field as WR depth behind
Ladd McConkey,
Keenan Allen, and
Quentin Johnston. Lambert-Smith, a fifth-rounder out of Auburn back in April, saw action in only 10 regular-season games in 2025 and caught just five passes for 51 yards and one touchdown for the Bolts. He'll be off the fantasy radar if he's active for the postseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
January 7, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that rookie first-round running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) will not practice on Wednesday, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. The Chargers held Hampton out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but at the time, it was believed that the Bolts were just giving the 22-year-old rookie some rest before the start of the playoffs. A DNP in the first practice of the week as the Chargers prepare to face the New England Patriots on Wild-Card weekend, though, suggests that Hampton could have suffered a setback to his ankle that landed him on Injured Reserve earlier in the year. Hampton made the start in the Week 17 loss to the Houston Texans and scored a touchdown for the second straight week, but he averaged only 2.1 yards per carry on 14 rushing attempts. His status for Sunday against the Pats is firmly up in the air. If Hampton is ruled out,
Kimani Vidal would most likely lead L.A.'s backfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
January 6, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston took fantasy managers on a rollercoaster ride in 2025. After recording 28 receptions for 407 yards and five touchdowns over his first six games of the season, Johnston hauled in just 14 catches for 126 yards and two scores over his next six contests. However, Johnston re-emerged late in the year. Across his final two games played of the regular season, the 24-year-old recorded nine catches for 202 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. Johnston was also among the players Los Angeles chose to rest in Week 18 in preparation for the playoffs, signifying his value in the eyes of Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles will face one of the league's better pass defenses in their Wild Card Weekend matchup against the New England Patriots. Still, Johnston has proven he can have success against challenging opponents, recording at least 14.9 PPR fantasy points in matchups during the regular season against the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Johnston as a high-upside wide receiver option entering the postseason.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 5, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey is in desperate need of a bounce-back performance. McConkey has struggled to put up any consistent numbers during the second half of the season. The 24-year-old has been held to under 40 receiving yards in six of his last seven games. It's not going to get easier for McConkey against the New England Patriots' defense on the road during the Wild-Card round on Sunday night. The Patriots' defense is in the top 10 in terms of limiting passing yards. They've also done an excellent job of holding the WR1 on opposing teams in check all season long. McConkey has been much harder to trust in Year 2 in fantasy, and that will continue to be the case this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
January 5, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert sat out of the regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos. It was a smart idea for the Chargers to sit Herbert and give him another week to rest and recover, as he's been playing through a surgically repaired left (non-throwing) hand for the last couple of weeks. The 27-year-old will now head into a tough matchup against a New England Patriots defense that is in the top 10 in terms of passing yards allowed to QBs this season. Herbert hasn't exactly been elite during the second half of the season behind a thin and beat-up offensive line. He has only thrown for multiple scores once over his last four games. Herbert is still a quality QB, but he is looking more like a high-end QB2 for fantasy managers going into the playoffs.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
January 5, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed the team's Week 18 loss to the Broncos that secured a trip to New England to open the playoffs. Hampton spent time on Injured Reserve earlier this season with a fractured ankle, and he did not practice at all leading up to the regular season finale. However, with multiple starters held out of the game, the sense is that his absence was precautionary. In traveling to New England for a Sunday Night primetime affair, the Chargers will face a Patriots defense that is returning to health at the right time. After opening the season as one of the stingiest run defenses in the league, the Patriots have struggled of late to contain the running game but seem to be trending in the right direction. With Milton Williams back in the fold in Week 18, New England held Miami to 2.5 yards per carry. They are also expected to have leading tackler Robert Spillane back for the playoffs, while the status of run-stuffer Khyiris Tonga is still up in the air.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 4, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos. Lambert-Smith exited in the second quarter and was initially listed as questionable before being downgraded to out. He finishes the Bolts' regular-season finale with five targets, two catches, and 24 receiving yards. He also fielded two kicks for a total of 45 return yards. The rookie out of Auburn was having the best game of his young career, as he had entered this week with just three catches on seven targets.
Derius Davis and
Tre' Harris should run more routes in his absence, while
Jaret Patterson will handle kick-return duties.
--Andersen PickardSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 4, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver
Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) is considered questionable to return for Sunday's Week 18 matchup versus the Denver Broncos. Lambert-Smith appears to have suffered the injury after making an 18-yard catch late in the second quarter. It's the final game of the regular season, and the Chargers aren't playing for anything, so it wouldn't be shocking to see them hold out Lambert-Smith for the rest of the game. Before exiting, he hauled in two of his five targets for 24 yards. With him on the sideline,
Derius Davis and
Tre' Harris are likely to see more targets from backup quarterback
Trey Lance.
--Andy WebbSource: Los Angeles Chargers
January 4, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James (coach's decision) and defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu (coach's decision) are inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos. Both players are healthy scratches after they didn't carry an injury designation into this weekend. The Bolts are resting several key starters on both sides of the play since they're guaranteed to finish with the fifth, sixth, or seventh seed in the AFC. James finishes his regular season with 94 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and one forced fumble through 16 games. With Elijah Molden (hamstring) also inactive, RJ Mickens and Tony Jefferson should earn more defensive snaps in James' absence. Meanwhile, Tuipulotu finishes with 45 tackles, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery over 16 contests. Bud Dupree, Odafe Oweh, and Kyle Kennard will work to fill his void on Sunday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kris Rhim
January 4, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Hassan Haskins (concussion) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after practicing in full on Friday. Haskins has appeared in just two games since Week 7, but he could carve out an increased role as
Kimani Vidal's backup on Sunday with
Omarion Hampton (ankle) inactive. With that being said, there's some uncertainty about how the Chargers will fare with
Trey Lance quarterbacking the offense against a strong Broncos defense. If the Bolts struggle to move the ball on Sunday, Haskins won't be able to carve out standalone fantasy value in his role behind Vidal. He can be avoided in most leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kris Rhim
January 4, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal (neck) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Denver Broncos. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after logging back-to-back full practices. The 24-year-old returns from a one-game absence and is expected to lead Los Angeles' backfield with rookie
Omarion Hampton (ankle) sidelined. With that being said, we expect fellow running back
Hassan Haskins to carve out a role, too. There's some uncertainty about how the Chargers will fare with
Trey Lance quarterbacking the offense against a strong Broncos defense. If the Bolts struggle to move the ball on Sunday, we could see Vidal drop to the low-end RB3/flex tier.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kris Rhim
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