RADIO
Kimani Vidal Operates as the Chargers RB3 in Their Second Preseason Game
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal had four carries for six yards in his team's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. Vidal also had two catches for 10 yards on two targets. The 24-year-old entered the game with the second-team unit and played the rest of the first half. Vidal operated as the third back in the rotation and didn't get playing time until after Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell were pulled. McDaniels' plan for his running back rotation becomes a little clearer with how much the three backs have played and, more specifically, when they played during the game. Vidal looks to be utilized as the No. 3 back in the three-man rotation. With fantasy drafts ramping up, he should be viewed as a handcuff back in the later rounds.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Oronde Gadsden Continues to See His Fantasy Stock Drop
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had two catches for 24 yards on three targets in his team's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. Most notably, Gadsden did not see a snap with the first-team unit, as Charlie Kolar and David Njoku took all of those snaps. Gadsden only played with the backups and caught a target from Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei. The 23-year-old produced as a solid fantasy option as a rookie, which had managers excited to see him in his sophomore campaign. However, with training camp reports and his preseason usage, that excitement has come to a screeching halt. With Gadsden playing well into the second half with the No. 3 quarterback, it will be interesting to see how much he plays in the regular season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
David Njoku Does Not See a Target in Chargers Debut
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku saw no targets in his limited action in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Njoku shared the field with fellow tight end Charlie Kolar in 12-personnel sets during the first few drives of the game. After a handful of plays, Njoku was removed from the game with other starters. Njoku may not have seen a target in his limited action, but he played with the first-team offense and only one series with backup quarterback Trey Lance. His usage could point towards a key role in the offense during the regular season. Managers should continue to monitor the Chargers' tight end room before investing in Njoku. He is currently being drafted outside the top 20 tight ends in fantasy but has interesting upside.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Charlie Kolar Catches Lone Target in Preseason Loss
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar caught his lone target in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His catch was the only completion Justin Herbert had that went for nine yards. Kolar saw limited action in his Chargers debut and was removed from the game with most of the starters. The 27-year-old has had a strong camp so far, and his limited action could signify a key role in the Chargers offense. If Kolar becomes that pass-catching tight end, he is going too late in fantasy drafts and will have a good opportunity to outperform his ADP. Kolar is a sneaky TE2 option with upside for managers to target in deeper leagues late in drafts.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ladd McConkey Gets a Target in Limited Action During Preseason Loss
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey saw his first preseason action in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. McConkey was removed with the rest of the starters after a quick three-and-out on the team's opening drive. The 24-year-old was unable to haul in his one target on third-and-short to extend the drive. McConkey has the opportunity to reprise his role as Justin Herbert's go-to receiver on third down. In 2025, Keenan Allen led the team in third-down targets and overall targets, which took a significant toll on McConkey's fantasy production. With Allen recently signing with the Indianapolis Colts, McConkey's fantasy ADP might rise as we get closer to Week 1. Managers should feel confident in drafting McConkey without the fear of Allen coming back to swoop up targets again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Omarion Hampton Gets All Three Snaps with Chargers First-Team Offense
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton took all three snaps with the first-team offense in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Hampton was removed with the rest of the starters after a quick three-and-out on the team's opening drive. The 23-year-old had one carry for a loss of a yard that began their offensive drive. Hampton's fantasy stock took a boost on Thursday after being the only back to play with the first team. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has hinted at using all three running backs during the regular season and riding the "hot hand" in games, but Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal only played with the backups. Mitchell ran with the second team, and Vidal played well into the second half. Hampton should remain a trendy draft target in the first 15 picks of fantasy drafts, and could see his ADP sneak into the late first round by early September.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Justin Herbert Sees First Preseason Action Against the 49ers
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert got the start in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Herbert was removed after a quick three-and-out on the team's opening drive. The 28-year-old completed one of two passing attempts for nine yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was able to connect to Charlie Kolar on his first pass attempt but was unable to connect with Ladd McConkey on third down to extend the drive. Chargers team reporter Eric Smith noted that Harbaugh planned for Herbert to play only one drive, which means he didn't consider putting him back out for a second drive. This was Herbert's first action this preseason and his first time playing under new OC Mike McDaniel in a game. He will have to continue getting comfortable in a new offense through practice reps since the team is expected to limit his usage in their preseason finale next week against the Los Angeles Rams.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Keaton Mitchell Is Becoming a Sneaky Late-Round Target
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has a little more separation in the race behind Omarion Hampton. The Chargers' current depth chart lists Mitchell second at running back, with Kimani Vidal on the next line, and Mitchell was involved early Thursday night before a 21-yard catch was wiped out by penalty. The 5-foot-8, 191-pound back doesn't need many touches to change a game. He ran for 341 yards on 59 carries last season, averaged 5.8 yards per attempt and added nine catches for 63 yards. Los Angeles also noted that Mitchell led the NFL in average run speed in 2025 at 14.49 mph and had 11 runs of at least 10 yards. Mike McDaniel has already said he expects to use Hampton, Mitchell and Vidal every week and could ride the hot hand, so this isn't a clean backup situation. Hampton still leads the room. Mitchell just looks like the best bet for the change-of-pace work right now, and his speed gives him enough standalone upside to stay interesting late in deeper redraft drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brenen Thompson Heads to Locker Room on Thursday
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson (undisclosed) is heading to the locker room during their preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. Thompson went to the medical tent after a hard fall on an overthrow from backup quarterback Trey Lance, then headed to the locker room for further evaluation. While the team has not provided an update, it appears the third-round pick's night is over. Thompson caught one pass for nine yards while playing all three snaps with quarterback Justin Herbert and the first-team offense. While fantasy managers should keep an eye on his injury status following Thursday's game, Thompson could see a large role in the Chargers' offense under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Source: Daniel Popper
Source: Daniel Popper
Omarion Hampton Sets the Tone in Joint Practice
The Los Angeles Chargers hosted the San Francisco 49ers for a joint practice on Tuesday, and the loudest ovation of the day came on a tone-setting run from second-year running back Omarion Hampton. Reportedly welcoming contact all day, Hampton drew the attention of onlookers and teammates alike by plowing through 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown during a full-team drill, later earning the praise of quarterback Justin Herbert. "He's incredibly tough. He leads by example and doesn't say much, but what he does on the field is so loud," Herbert told reporters after practice. "Guys respect him and it's so cool to hand him the ball and see what he's able to do. He's an incredible athlete, incredible competitor and I'm glad he's on my side of the ball." Hampton missed eight games as a rookie with an ankle injury, but a popular breakout candidate in a revamped Chargers offense, he is RotoBaller's RB11 in 2026.
Source: Eric Smith & Omar Navarro
Source: Eric Smith & Omar Navarro
Tyler Biadasz Suffers Significant Knee Injury
Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz (knee) was carted off the field during Tuesday's joint practice with the 49ers, and NFL Insider Mike Garafolo reports that while the team is still gathering medical information, there is a belief that the former Pro Bowler will miss significant time after damaging several ligaments in his knee. The Chargers signed Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason in an attempt to bring stability to an offensive line that was struck hard by injuries in 2025. More testing will need to be done to determine the exact severity of the injury, but Garafolo does not rule out the possibility that it could end Biadasz's first season with the Chargers. UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Biadasz is out indefinitely after suffering damage to his ACL and other injuries to his left knee on Tuesday.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Quentin Johnston "Totally Fine" After Injury Scare
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (lower body) is not expected to miss much, if any, practice time in training camp after suffering a lower-body injury on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. According to a source, Johnston is "totally fine." The 24-year-old appears to have avoided a significant injury, but the Chargers could elect to hold him out of Thursday's preseason contest against the San Francisco 49ers as a precaution. The former first-rounder from TCU in 2023 has struggled with drops and inconsistency in his first three years in the league, but he had 51 receptions for a career-high 735 receiving yards and scored eight touchdowns in 2025 for a second straight season in 14 regular-season games played. In a new offensive system run by coordinator Mike McDaniel, Johnston has an opportunity to continue to improve for fantasy managers as an excellent red-zone target due to his 6-foot-2, 208-pound frame. Fantasy managers should target Johnston as a WR3/flex with upside as he enters his fourth year in the NFL. RotoBaller has him ranked at No. 37 at his position.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Tyler Biadasz Carted Off With Leg Injury
Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz (leg) was carted off during Tuesday's joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers after going down in 11-on-11 drills. 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez fell on Biadasz's left knee, and the veteran center was unable to put weight on the leg before leaving on the cart. Biadasz signed a multi-year deal with Los Angeles in March and has been working as the Chargers' starting center, with rookie second-round pick Jake Slaughter listed behind him on the latest unofficial depth chart. Slaughter has already taken preseason snaps at center, so he would be the obvious in-house option if Biadasz misses time. The way he left the field was concerning, especially for an offensive line that added him to stabilize the middle. How much time Biadasz might miss now becomes the question for Los Angeles.
Source: Daniel Popper
Source: Daniel Popper
Quentin Johnston Comes Up Limping at Tuesday's Practice
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston appeared to suffer a lower-body injury during Tuesday's joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers. Johnston came up limping after trying to make a leaping catch near the sideline, and trainers immediately began working on him. Johnston had already missed some practice time recently, with head coach Jim Harbaugh saying last week that he was dealing with something minor, and he did not practice Monday. It's unclear if Tuesday's issue is related. Johnston is coming off his best NFL season, catching 51 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. He has now led the Chargers with eight receiving touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, and Los Angeles picked up his fifth-year option in April. For now, this is a developing injury situation. Whether Johnston was able to return Tuesday or needs further testing will be the next important update.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
Justin Herbert to Start Preseason Game on Thursday
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the team's starters will play a series on Thursday in the preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, including quarterback Justin Herbert, according to Steve Wyche of the NFL Network. It will be important for Herbert in terms of game operation and to get game reps with new center Tyler Biadasz. It will be the first preseason action this year for the 28-year-old after he sat out the opener last week against the Houston Texans. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has given the 28-year-old signal-caller plenty of praise for picking up his offense extremely quickly during training camp. McDaniel should put Herbert in a better position to succeed in 2026 in his sixth year in the league, and with his dual-threat abilities at the position, Herbert will be an intriguing midrange QB1 for fantasy managers after the big names come off the board. Although the Chargers' receiving corps does not strike fear in opposing defenses, the Chargers' offense should be more explosive with McDaniel running the show.
Source: NFL Network - Steve Wyche
Source: NFL Network - Steve Wyche
