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Quentin Johnston Brings WR2 Upside in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston is worth starting in Week 1 against Arizona. He is listed as a starter opposite Ladd McConkey after catching 51 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games last season. Keenan Allen is gone, which leaves more work available, and Johnston already flashed in Mike McDaniel's offense with a 65-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert in the preseason finale. Arizona allowed 3,923 passing yards and 31 touchdowns through the air in 2025, so there should be chances for Johnston to hit on another big play. RotoBaller has him at WR39 in its latest Week 1 rankings, but the site's current start/sit coverage has specifically highlighted him as a start with WR2 upside. McConkey is still the safer bet for targets, so Johnston is not without risk. Still, the matchup and scoring upside make him a strong flex option for Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Herbert to Unlock New Calls in Playbook?
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has the talent to execute plays that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has never called before, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport noted that McDaniel is an offensive mastermind with several unique plays in his playbook, but he wasn't able to use many of them when he was the head coach in Miami. The report danced around the exact reason why McDaniel hasn't called those plays, but presumably, he didn't have enough confidence in his Dolphins quarterbacks, including Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers. Herbert peaked as a QB2 in his second pro season, but he returned to the top-10 fantasy quarterback range last year. Playing in a McDaniel-led offense could help the Chargers quarterback return to elite form in fantasy football.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Chargers D/ST Highly Ranked in Week 1 Matchup vs. the Cardinals
The Los Angeles Chargers' D/ST is a highly recommended fantasy option for managers in Week 1 due to a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Chargers unit finished just outside the top 12 D/ST and averaged 6.5 points per game last year. The Cardinals offense had the fifth-most sacks and 13th-fewest offensive touchdowns last season. They switched to a pass-first offense when they let Jacoby Brissett take over and often found themselves in pass-heavy situations because of trailing late in games. The Chargers D/ST is RotoBaller's D/ST2 ahead of a favorable outing and can be comfortably inserted into lineups in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cameron Dicker Has Favorable Week 1 Matchup vs. the Cardinals
Los Angeles Chargers placekicker Cameron Dicker will be a strong fantasy asset on Sunday in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The 26-year-old was the K4 overall and averaged 10 points per game last season. Dicker will now be tied to an explosive offense with a new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel. McDaniel has orchestrated some of the league's best offenses in recent years that have translated to big numbers on scoreboards at times. With a revamped offense, Dicker could see an uptick in production this season. He rolls into Week 1 as RotoBaller's K2 with a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Dicker could find himself trotting on the field often if the offense gets in a rhythm early.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Kolar Has Fantasy Appeal in Deeper Leagues in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar is coming off a strong offseason filled with under-the-radar hype after signing a lucrative three-year, $24.3 million contract in free agency. The 27-year-old was named the TE1 on the team's first unofficial depth chart over David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden II and saw limited work during preseason games with the rest of the offensive starters. Kolar is RotoBaller's PPR TE32 heading into Week 1 and should remain out of lineups in standard 12-team leagues. However, he is a sneaky touchdown-dependent tight end option with upside in deep tight end premium leagues. Kolar will face a Cardinals defense that allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), 10th-most passing yards (4,128), and the 11th-highest completion percentage (65.6) last season. In a favorable matchup, he could have a productive fantasy outing and is a name to monitor on waivers to begin the year.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Tre' Harris Remains Hidden in Crowded Offense for Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Tre' Harris had a quiet offseason heading into his sophomore campaign, even though his offense was often discussed with the arrival of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. McDaniel is viewed as an offensive guru who has called plays for some of the most explosive offenses over the last few seasons. However, Harris has been overlooked by analysts even as they have attempted to get as much exposure to the offense as possible. The 24-year-old will likely be deployed as the WR3 in the Chargers' offense that has heavy target competition with Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Charlie Kolar, Omarion Hampton, and Keaton Mitchell all vying for targets. Harris is RotoBaller's PPR WR72 in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals defense allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), and 10th-most passing yards (4,128) last season. Harris should remain out of fantasy lineups in Week 1 and should be viewed only as a touchdown-dependent flex option for managers in a tough spot in deeper leagues.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Quentin Johnston Offers High Ceiling in Favorable Week 1 Matchup
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston has an opportunity to start the NFL season with a bang on Sunday at home against the Arizona Cardinals. The 25-year-old was WR4 overall in PPR scoring and averaged 19.9 points per game during the first four games last season. He eventually cooled off due to injuries to himself and around him that deflated the offense down the stretch. Johnston will get to face off against a Cardinals defense that allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), and 10th-most passing yards (4,128) last season. In addition, they gave up the 12th-most passes of 20 or more yards, which benefits a vertical threat like Johnston. He has already displayed his deep-threat ability in Mike McDaniel's offense during the preseason finale, where Justin Herbert connected with him on a 65-yard touchdown. He's RotoBaller's PPR WR39 and is a flex option with upside for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Ladd McConkey Primed to Start His Season in the Right Direction
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey is set for a strong outing this Sunday at home against the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old is coming off a sophomore slump season, as his receiving stats dipped after sharing targets with Keenan Allen. However, Allen is in Indianapolis this season, and McConkey will face a Cardinals defense that ranked top 10 in targets, catches, and total receiving yards in 2025, according to Kyle Dvorchak of NBC Sports. In addition, the Cardinals surrendered the sixth-most passing touchdowns and the 11th-highest completion percentage. McConkey is expected to reprise his role as the team's slot receiver for Mike McDaniel, who weaponized slot receivers during his tenure in Miami. He is RotoBaller's PPR WR17 in a favorable matchup and could end up as a WR1 in Week 1.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Omarion Hampton Gets Dream Matchup to Begin Potential Breakout Season
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton will make his 2026 debut in Mike McDaniel's offense with a favorable home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The 23-year-old had an injury-riddled rookie campaign but finished as the RB12 in fantasy points per game (15.1) among running backs who played at least nine games, despite a shaky offensive line. McDaniel has been very fantasy-friendly with running backs and has produced a top-5 fantasy running back in each of the last three seasons, with four running backs averaging over 17 fantasy points per game. In Week 1, Hampton draws a Cardinals defense that allowed the sixth-most 20-plus yard carries, eighth-most rushing yards, ninth-most rushing touchdowns, and the 12th-most rushing yards per carry last season. He's RotoBaller's Half-PPR RB9 in a favorable matchup that could lead to a heavy workload if the Chargers get a healthy lead in the second half.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Justin Herbert Carries QB1 Upside in Fantasy-Friendly Matchup
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will make his 2026 debut in Mike McDaniel's offense with a favorable home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The 28-year-old is coming off a solid fantasy football campaign, finishing as the QB10 in overall scoring and points per game (18.7) last year. Herbert is expected to get a statistical boost this season with McDaniel's as the offensive coordinator, who has orchestrated one of the league's most explosive offenses and has led the league in passing yards before. The quarterback-coordinator duo will face a Cardinals pass defense that finished near the bottom in most passing stats last year. They allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), 10th-most passing yards (4,128), 11th-highest completion percentage (65.6), and had the third-fewest sacks (30). In addition, the Cardinals will deploy a similar defensive scheme after keeping Nick Rallis as their defensive coordinator and making no big additions on defense this offseason. Herbert is RotoBaller's QB4 in a dream matchup and has it within his realm of outcomes to be the QB1 overall in Week 1.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Keaton Mitchell Off the Injury Report, Cleared for Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) is off the injury report and will play in his team's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, per Kris Rhim of ESPN. Mitchell was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a hamstring injury, but he practiced in full on Friday and appears to be good to go for Week 1. The 24-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Chargers in free agency after recording 404 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 68 touches across 13 games with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025. Entering 2026, Mitchell is expected to be the RB2 in Los Angeles behind second-year back Omarion Hampton. While Mitchell has been a highly efficient rusher when given the opportunity to this point in his career, he is unlikely to see a fantasy-relevant workload in the Chargers offense as long as Hampton remains healthy.
Source: ESPN - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN - Kris Rhim
David Njoku Generating Positive Camp Buzz For Chemistry and Athleticism
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku, who was brought over in the offseason from the Cleveland Browns, has generated positive buzz throughout training camp for his athleticism and chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert. Njoku joins a crowded tight end room with Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden. Njoku has dealt with injuries over the past few seasons, playing in only 11 and 12 games over the past seasons after he finished as the TE6 overall in 2023. In 2024, he finished as the TE4 in fantasy points per game, while 2025 was a lost season, as he only had 293 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 33 receptions. While the 30-year-old is getting up there in age, with a new offensive scheme with Mike McDaniel and an improved offensive ecosystem, he profiles as a tight end worth monitoring. He is currently RotoBaller's 37th-ranked tight end, meaning he likely wasn't drafted in many drafts throughout the summer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Keaton Mitchell Stays Limited on Thursday
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) remained limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, according to the team. Mitchell may have to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to be cleared to suit up in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. If Mitchell is cleared to suit up, he will be part of a committee backfield in L.A. that includes Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, and he could have limited snaps coming off his hamstring injury. It all amounts to Mitchell lining up as a hard-to-trust RB4/flex in much deeper leagues. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of East Carolina has some explosiveness and big-play ability to his game, but he has played in only 26 games (two starts) in his first three years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens due to injury issues. Mitchell is a viable handcuff for Hampton managers and is currently rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues, but he is a tough sell as a Week 1 starter if he plays. Check back on Friday to find out Mitchell's final Week 1 injury status.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Oronde Gadsden Still Has a Path to Fantasy Value
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is already cautioning fantasy managers against reading too much into how his tight ends are used in Week 1. McDaniel said Thursday that it "might not be the smartest move" to make fantasy decisions after one game, adding that the group is going to grow and the Chargers will be able to do plenty with them. Oronde Gadsden is the name fantasy managers will be watching most closely. He caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie, but Los Angeles added both Charlie Kolar and David Njoku during the offseason. The Chargers' first unofficial depth chart has Kolar or Njoku starting, with Gadsden behind them. Kolar was brought in largely for what he can add as a blocker, while Njoku gives Justin Herbert another proven receiving option. That makes this a crowded room, but McDaniel's comments are another reason not to make a quick call on Gadsden based solely on Sunday's opener against Arizona. His rookie production is still worth betting on while the Chargers figure out how all three tight ends fit.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
Charlie Kolar Emerging as Early-Season Riser
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Bolts this offseason, and the former Raven is atop the depth chart heading into his first season with the team. Kolar earned his way to the top spot due to his skills as both a blocker and receiver, which he showed throughout training camp and the preseason. He is ahead of both Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku, who are more proven pass-catchers but may be limited this year behind Kolar. In his first four seasons with the Ravens, Kolar only had 30 catches on 41 targets for 409 yards and four touchdowns, but his complete skill set at the position has earned him enough playing time to make him a player to monitor early in the season, especially if you're looking for emerging tight end depth in deep leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
