Aug 7, 2026, 11:49 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal is competing for touches in a crowded backfield. Vidal had a career year in 2025, posting 779 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 171 total attempts, doing most of his work while both Omarion Hampton (ankle) and Najee Harris (Achilles) were out. Now that former first-round pick Hampton is back and Keaton Mitchell has been added, Vidal is still fighting for his role in Los Angeles. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said the group of Hampton, Mitchell, and Vidal is "as deep and complementary a group that [he's] been around." Ranked RB73 by RotoBaller, Vidal is an option if Hampton or Mitchell were to struggle or miss time during the 2026 season.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Dan Graziano - ESPN

Aug 5, 2026, 2:15 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has made noticeable strides since the spring, according to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Speaking to Alex Insdorf, McDaniel said Hampton may have shown more growth than any player on the roster during the five-week break before camp. The next step is getting the 6-foot, 220-pound back to keep his feet moving and use his size against defenders who do not want to tackle him. A pair of ankle injuries limited Hampton to nine games as a rookie, but he still rushed for 545 yards and four touchdowns while adding 32 catches for 192 yards and another score. He enters Year 2 as the clear lead back in an offense expected to lean heavily on the run. RotoBaller ranks Hampton as the RB11, and McDaniel's comments only strengthen his case as a low-end RB1 with room for more.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Alex Insdorf

Aug 4, 2026, 11:37 AM ET

In signing speedy running back Keaton Mitchell to a two-year deal, the Los Angeles Chargers provided offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel with a unique weapon that could find a significant role in 2026. McDaniel recently told ESPN's Dan Graziano, "He's as dynamic as they come with the ball in his hands in space," going on to say, "He's a matchup issue for every defense. I think he has a lot of pass-game value that he hasn't been able to really represent in his career, but it's showing so far in camp. He's a playmaker that I'm very excited about." Mitchell is likely to work as the Chargers' primary change-of-pace back behind presumed starter Omarion Hampton, with last year's leading rusher Kimani Vidal serving as more of a direct handcuff, more capable of handling a full workload if called upon. While any fantasy viability for Vidal is injury-dependent, Mitchell should see his own standalone value and is a high-upside swing as RotoBaller's RB42.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Dan Graziano

Aug 2, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers are projected to have one of the most improved offensive units for 2026, and a player the coaching staff is reportedly high on is running back Keaton Mitchell, who joined the team on a two-year deal and is battling with third-year player Kimani Vidal for the primary backup role behind 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton. Appearing on The Athletic Football Show, Chargers beat reporter Daniel Popper expressed a belief that Mitchell has the edge over Vidal, who led the team in rushing attempts and yards with Hampton sidelined for much of his 2025 rookie season. Mitchell offers explosiveness and an ability to stress the edges of a defense, and he could see work in a change-of-pace capacity throughout the year. At only 5'8" and 191 pounds, however, he's unlikely to hold anything close to an every-down role should Hampton again be forced to miss time, with Vidal the more likely option to step in at that point. At RotoBaller's RB42, Mitchell should hold enough standalone value to make him a worthy selection in the late rounds of 2026 drafts, while Vidal factors more as an in-season waiver add as RotoBaller's RB74.--Patrick McGrath
Source: The Athletic Football Show

Jul 24, 2026, 3:32 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton turned nine rookie games into 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns, enough to keep the breakout buzz alive after two ankle injuries disrupted his season. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 32 passes, so the appeal is not tied only to early-down volume. The runway also looks cleaner in Year 2. Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are the main backs behind him, while Mike McDaniel is moving the offense toward an outside-zone scheme. The fit is exciting. The price has already caught up. RotoBaller ranks Hampton 21st overall in dynasty and 19th in PPR redraft, where he is the RB11. Managers are paying for a healthy season and a larger workload, not finding a hidden sleeper. The ankle history keeps him from being risk-free, but Round 2 remains a fair place to bet on the breakout.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 23, 2026, 10:50 AM ET

While excitement continues to build around the Los Angeles Chargers' offense, an often overlooked player has become third-year running back Kimani Vidal. Omarion Hampton flashed enough in an injury-shortened rookie season to show why he was a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Keaton Mitchell's game-breaking speed makes his fit in a Mike McDaniel offense easy to envision, but it was Vidal who led the team in carries and rushing yards a season ago, and he could still serve an important role moving forward. While Mitchell has more standalone fantasy value as the likely change-of-pace back, he is ill-equipped to handle a full workload should Hampton miss time again in his second season, making Vidal more of the true handcuff in this offense. At RotoBaller's RB74, he is not a player who needs to be targeted in fantasy drafts, but Vidal should still be viewed as one of the league's more valuable insurance backs, especially with the Chargers expected to field a much healthier offensive line in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 20, 2026, 9:49 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell could be primed for a breakout campaign in 2026. Due to injuries and Derrick Henry, Mitchell wasn't able to fully unleash his skillset during his time in Baltimore. The 24-year-old has now moved on and signed a two-year deal with the Chargers this offseason. Mitchell has a clearer path to carries with Omarion Hampton as the only other legitimate threat on the roster. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wasn't afraid to pound the ball with De'Von Achane in Miami. He has a few viable options in Hampton, Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal in Los Angeles. If Mitchell can prove he's healthy, there's a good chance he becomes the change-of-pace back behind Hampton. His fantasy value is likely only going to rise, so fantasy managers should target him now as a low-cost option before the season begins.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Jul 13, 2026, 3:49 PM ET

After being selected 22nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton finished his rookie season with 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 156 touches across nine games. The 23-year-old's season was derailed by the left ankle fracture he suffered in Week 5, as it caused him to miss Weeks 6-14, and he dealt with lingering ankle soreness even after his return. However, Hampton should be fully healthy and ready to go entering 2026. He was effective when on the field last season, finishing as the RB13 in per-game PPR scoring. Hampton will also be working with a new offensive coordinator this season in Mike McDaniel, who could help unlock Hampton's upside as both an explosive rusher and a pass-catcher. In dynasty formats, Hampton's value is already very high. Still, he could vault himself into true fantasy superstar status if everything goes according to plan in 2026. Contending dynasty managers may want to explore all-in trade packages for Hampton ahead of a potential breakout campaign.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 8, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal led the team in rushing in 2025 and, with very little fanfare, turned in four different performances as the RB8 or better. While the 2024 sixth-round pick was obviously not the first plan in Jim Harbaugh's offense, veteran acquisition Najee Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton both succumbed to serious injuries that thrust Vidal into a starting role in which he handled himself admirably. In seven games in 2025, Vidal saw at least 10 carries, and despite playing behind an injury-ravaged offensive line that has been panned as one of the league's worst units, he averaged more than 80 rushing yards in such contests, scoring three touchdowns on the ground and a fourth through the air. While free agent acquisition Keaton Mitchell has rightfully been spotlighted as a natural fit in new coordinator Mike McDaniel's speed-based offense, at only 5'8" and 191 pounds, with a history of significant injuries, he is unlikely to see a substantial uptick in carries should presumed bell cow Hampton again miss extended time. In such a scenario, it would likely be Vidal who handles the bulk of the early-down work, and in what projects to be one of the league's most improved offenses, that could easily translate to continued fantasy success. Vidal is RotoBaller's dynasty RB63, and in deeper redraft leagues, he's worth a look at the end of drafts as one of the more valuable insurance backs in the league.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 30, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has averaged more than six yards per rushing attempt through his first three seasons in the league, but injuries and a sub-200-pound frame have limited him to fewer than 60 carries every year. Landing in a Chargers offense, where new coordinator Mike McDaniel values speed above perhaps any other trait, Mitchell has a chance to see the largest workload of his career. Having run a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine, Mitchell is a player who only gets faster when the pads come on. Per Next Gen Stats, his 14.49 MPH average run speed per carry in 2025 led all players with at least 50 attempts and was more than a full mile per hour faster than the next player on the list, Miami's De'Von Achane. While it's unreasonable to expect a similar level of impact from Mitchell, Achane was one of the league's most explosive players in McDaniel's offense, and if the 24-year-old former undrafted free agent can see even a modest uptick in usage in that same system, he could see weekly fantasy viability as a flex-worthy starter. All indications are that Los Angeles' backfield will run through 2025 first-rounder Omarion Hampton, but Mitchell has both the ability and the environment to develop into one of the most efficient change-of-pace backs in the league, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB80, he's a low-cost trade target who could see his value rise considerably in the coming years.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 17, 2026, 10:55 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers second-year running back Omarion Hampton said that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel told him he reminds him of Denver Broncos Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis, according to Alex Insdorf. The Bolts took the 23-year-old with the 22nd overall pick in last year's NFL draft out of the University of North Carolina. He was set up for a major role earlier than expected in L.A. when Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1, but then Hampton missed seven weeks with a fractured ankle, ultimately finishing with 545 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 124 carries (4.4 yards per carry) while adding 32 receptions for 192 yards and another score in nine regular-season games (six starts). Comparing Hampton to Davis is high praise from the new OC, but if healthy, Hampton has clear Year 2 breakout potential. With better health, an improved Chargers' offensive line, and more usage in McDaniel's system, Hampton has obvious RB1 upside going into his sophomore campaign. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the No. 11 fantasy RB for the upcoming 2026 season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Alex Insdorf

Jun 14, 2026, 9:12 AM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has become one of the more unheralded insurance backs in dynasty. With the Chargers' signing of former Raven Keaton Mitchell in free agency, the fourth-year undrafted runner out of East Carolina was quick to earn sleeper status in Mike McDaniel's speed and spacing-based offense, but in a true emergency situation, it is Vidal who is more likely to take on something closer to an every-down role should presumed starter Omarion Hampton miss extended time with injury. As a rookie in 2025, Hampton missed eight games with a fractured ankle, and with veteran Najee Harris already lost for the year by that point with a torn Achilles, it was the 2024 sixth-round pick Vidal who led the Chargers in rushing attempts and yards, turning in four top-10 fantasy finishes in his 10 starts. In what appears to be a vastly improved offense heading into 2026, the 24-year-old Vidal remains a must-roster handcuff with legitimate week-winning potential as an injury fill-in.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 7, 2026, 9:41 AM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell brought energy and excitement to the field throughout his three-year stint with the Ravens, but injuries and a 191-pound frame have limited him to only 144 total opportunities across those three seasons. Regularly showcasing his game-breaking speed, he averaged a whopping 6.8 yards per touch on that minimal workload, and in agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with the Chargers, he lands with an offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel who arguably values speed more than any playcaller in the league. Mitchell is expected to serve primarily as a change-of-pace back behind 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton, so he won't see the type of volume that allowed McDaniel to turn past speedsters De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert into Pro Bowlers, but in an offense known for creating space for its playmakers, a career year is very much in the cards. At only 24 years old, Mitchell is RotoBaller's RB80, but now, almost 30 months removed from the ACL tear that ended his rookie season and cost him the majority of his sophomore campaign, he is an easy player to get excited about and a low-cost breakout candidate, particularly in best ball formats.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 3, 2026, 4:28 PM ET

A first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton played just nine games as a rookie after fracturing his left ankle in Week 5. However, the 23-year-old should be fully healthy and ready to go heading into 2026. Hampton was productive when healthy last season, recording 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 156 touches. He should be in an even better position to succeed in his second year with the Chargers following the team's hire of former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as its new offensive coordinator. The Los Angeles offensive line should also be massively improved with healthy seasons from the star tackle duo of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Hampton's rookie season may not have been as explosive as fantasy managers would have hoped, but he remains a high-upside player who should be valued as an RB1 in dynasty formats.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller