Quentin Johnston Still Running With Starters
Quentin Johnston worked with the first-team offense alongside second-year wideout Ladd McConkey and Jalen Reagor for the bulk of the work during mandatory minicamp this week. Rookie Tre Harris got limited reps with quarterback Justin Herbert. Johnston, the 21st overall pick in 2023 out of TCU, struggled with drops and was a disappointing in his rookie season, but he bounced back with a 55-711-8 line in 15 regular-season games (11 starts) in 2024. The problem is that his role could be in jeopardy in 2025 with the addition of Harris and big-play threat Mike Williams. With the added competition and Johnston still lacking for efficiency in a run-first offense, both his fantasy ceiling and floor will be low. RotoBaller has the 23-year-old ranked as the WR59.Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Rashawn Slater Takes Part in Minicamp
Justin Herbert's blind-side protector.Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater skipped the two organized team activity sessions open to the media on May 27 and June 3 as he remains in contract negotiations with the team, but he was at practice this week for mandatory minicamp. He's currently slated to play in 2025 on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which would pay him $19.04 million. The 26-year-old's presence this week at minicamp is a positive sign that the two sides continue to work toward a long-term extension. Slater made the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career in 2024 after the Bolts made him the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of Northwestern. He figures to once again be a staple on the left side of the offensive line in 2025 as quarterback Mike Williams Expected to be Ready for Training Camp
Mike Williams (undisclosed) to b ready for training camp at the end of July after missing mandatory minicamp this week due to an undisclosed injury. It's not a great start for Williams this offseason after a rough first season in 2024 coming back from an ACL tear. He's returning to the team that drafted him seventh overall back in 2017 out of Clemson after catching just 21 of 34 targets for 298 yards and one touchdown in 18 games (five starts) in 2024 with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. The 30-year-old veteran could rebound another year removed from major knee surgery, but the odds are probably against it in a run-first offense at his age. RotoBaller has Williams ranked as the No. 86 fantasy wideout. He should go undrafted in leagues with only 12 teams.Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that he expects wide receiver Chargers Impressed With Omarion Hampton
Omarion Hampton. "He's the total package. You don't see a lot of guys find a hole like he's doing right now," Roman said. The Bolts also signed Najee Harris in free agency this offseason, but Hampton figures to have a big role in his first year in the NFL and is already ranked higher than Harris at RotoBaller. The 22-year-old had over 1,500 rushing yards in his final two seasons at North Carolina and is extremely athletic. We already know the Chargers are going to run plenty under Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh, and Hampton should reap the benefits. As far as his fantasy value goes, Harris is going to steal valuable touches as an all-around back, but Hampton will have clear RB2 upside and could easily be L.A.'s preferred RB by season's end.Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been impressed with rookie first-round running back Ladd McConkey Focused on Staying Healthy
Ladd McConkey dealt with multiple injuries last season, but still only missed one game during the regular season. The rookie wideout seemed banged up throughout most of the season, but still put up strong numbers. He finished with 1,149 receiving yards with 82 receptions and seven touchdowns in 16 games (14 starts) with the Chargers last season. Now, McConkey is focusing on the art of falling down in order to protect himself from injury. McConkey wants to learn how to fall safely to avoid serious injury and stay on the field as much as possible. It's nice to see such a young player taking care of his body this early in his career. McConkey was a stud last season and his value figures to only go up.Source: Sports Illustrated
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Chargers Sign Bud Dupree to Contract Extension
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Wednesday that they signed outside linebacker Bud Dupree to a one-year contract extension worth $6 million. Dupree will be rewarded after a good first season in L.A. with 28 tackles (18 solo), six sacks, six tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, his second career interception, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season games (no starts). The former 22nd overall selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 NFL draft out of Kentucky will return for a second season with the Bolts in 2025. The 32-year-old will try to help make up for the loss of pass-rusher Joey Bosa, who left in free agency in the offseason. Dupree had his most productive season in 2019 with the Steelers, when he recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks and 68 total tackles. Fantasy managers in IDP formats can ignore Dupree.Omarion Hampton Inks Rookie Deal with Chargers
Omarion Hampton has agreed to a four-year, $17.77 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. The contract includes a $9.56 million signing bonus. Hampton and backfield mate Najee Harris are set to split time in Jim Harbaugh's offense, which caps the former Tar Heel's immediate upside. Still, his long-term outlook is looking quite rosy. Like Harris, the 22-year-old is a powerful, bruising back with a three-down skill set, though he possesses much more explosiveness than the veteran. Even if Hampton starts the season off behind his teammate in carries, it wouldn't be surprising to see him even out the workload over the course of the season -- if not outright taking the job if he adjusts quickly enough.Source: Jordan Schultz
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that first-round rookie running back Omarion Hampton Thinks Chargers Can Have Dominant Backfield
Omarion Hampton said on The Jim Rome Show that he believes he and Najee Harris can create "a dominant backfield" in 2025. "We know they're going to run the ball, so I'm loving it," Hampton said. The 22nd overall pick was a workhorse back in college at North Carolina and was incredibly productive for the Tar Heels with 2,033 scrimmage yards in 2024, which was the third-most in the nation. Although he won't be a workhorse immediately for the Bolts while sharing touches with Harris, Hampton should have plenty of fantasy upside immediately in a run-first L.A. offense. He averaged over 175 total yards per game in 12 contests in 2024 and was also the fourth FBS player with 1,500-plus rushing yards and 15-plus rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons since 2016.Source: Jim Rome
Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back Chargers Don't Exercise Zion Johnson's Fifth-Year Option
Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
Per The Athletic's Daniel Popper, the Los Angeles Chargers chose not to exercise offensive lineman Zion Johnson's fifth-year option for the 2026 season, according to a source. Johnson will now become an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming 2025 campaign. The Bolts chose the 25-year-old offensive guard with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Boston College, and he has started all 49 regular-season games that he's appeared in over his first three seasons in the league. The Chargers declining his fifth-year option doesn't mean that the two sides won't eventually agree on a new deal in the future. Johnson should be a starter at either left guard or at center for the Bolts in 2025 in his fourth NFL season.Chargers Apply Unrestricted Free-Agent Tender To J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran remains eligible to sign with any team, but the Chargers will retain his exclusive negotiating rights if he does not. If he doesn't sign with a new team, he would be due $3.428 million in 2025. After coming back from a torn Achilles last season, Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. Surely, the former Baltimore Ravens second-round pick would prefer to play somewhere else after the team added Najee Harris via free agency and former North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. This is a situation worth monitoring for fantasy football purposes.Source: Adam Schefter
The Los Angeles Chargers placed the unrestricted free-agent tender on running back Tre Harris Expected To Fill X Role For Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre Harris, who was selected with the No. 55 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft last Friday, is expected to fill the team's X positionread more...
Quentin Johnston Needs To Earn His Spot In Training Camp
Quentin Johnston will have to earn his roster spot in training camp this summer after the team added wideout Tre Harris in the second round this year. Harris and Mike Williams are downfield, contested-catch weapons for quarterback Justin Herbert, while Ladd McConkey has already proven himself as a game-changing slot receiver after just one year in the NFL. Popper thinks the Chargers will initially have McConkey in the slot, Williams at X and Harris at Z. Rookie Keandre Lambert-Smith will give the Bolts more speed on the field when they want it. The drop-prone Johnston was better last year with a 55-711-8 line in 15 games, but the addition of Harris is bad news for his fantasy value in single-year and dynasty/keeper formats in 2025.Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
The Athletic's Daniel Popper thinks Los Angeles Chargers former first-rounder wide receiver Hassan Haskins The Leader For No. 3 RB Job
Hassan Haskins is the leader in the clubhouse for the third running back spot on the 53-man roster this year behind Najee Harris and first-round rookie Omarion Hampton because of his versatility on special teams. Haskins played the third-most special-teams snaps of any Charger last year. Kimani Vidal will have to come to training camp ready to perform to make it more of a competition for the No. 3 job. The 25-year-old Haskins won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues as long as both Harris and Hampton are healthy for the Bolts. The former fourth-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of Michigan had only 34 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns for L.A. in 17 games last year while also adding three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that Los Angeles Chargers running back Chargers Plan For 1-2 Punch At RB With Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris
While nothing is set in stone right now, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the team plans to deploy a booming 1-2 punch with rookie running back Omarion Hampton and read more...
Chargers Add KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Oronde Gadsden II To Offense
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Auburn wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith with the 158th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shortly after, they used the 165th overall pick on Syracuse tight end Oronderead more...