RADIO
Oronde Gadsden Off the Streaming Radar in Week 9 vs. Texans
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden is coming off his biggest performance of the season. The 23-year-old caught all five of his targets for 52 yards and finished Week 8 as the TE14. Gadsden has disappointed this season, but his recent performance could jump-start his season. However, Gadsden enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's PPR TE32 in an intriguing matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has allowed the third-most 20-plus-yard passing plays and the ninth-most yards per reception. Gadsden will need to stack good fantasy performances to earn managers' trust. He should be viewed as a TE3 and is not a reliable streaming option in Week 9.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Tre' Harris a Desperation Dart Throw in Deeper Leagues in Week 9 vs. Texans
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Tre' Harris saw his slight breakout pause in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. Harris caught all three targets for 31 yards in his limited role. The 24-year-old can likely point to Ladd McConkey's return as the reason. McConkey has been the focal point of the offense when healthy and has been Justin Herbert's favorite target. As a result, Harris enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's PPR WR63 in an intriguing matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has allowed the third-most 20-plus-yard passing plays and the ninth-most yards per reception. Harris is a big-play receiver who could slip loose against a Texans defense consistently giving up chunk plays. The Ole Miss product likely won't see consistent volume, but the Texans' big-play defense allows Harris to be a deep league dart throw for managers.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Quentin Johnston an Uninspiring Deep-League Desperation Option
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston has had a disappointing season through the first half of the year. Johnston is the PPR WR85 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 4.4 points per game. As a result, Johnston enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's PPR WR59 despite an intriguing matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has allowed the third-most 20-plus-yard passing plays and the ninth-most yards per reception. In addition, Johnston will likely avoid being shadowed by Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans have mainly kept Stingley on one side of the field rather than having him shadow opposing wide receivers. Johnston is a desperation dart throw this week for managers who are battling injuries and bye weeks. However, he will need to connect with Justin Herbert on a few big plays to be fantasy-viable on Sunday.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Ladd McConkey Offers Safe WR2 Floor in Week 9 vs. Texans
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey has become the only fantasy-relevant player on the Chargers roster. The 25-year-old has posted solid outings when healthy, and sees enough volume to provide a safe floor for managers to bank on. McConkey enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's PPR WR24 in an intriguing matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has allowed the third-most 20-plus-yard passing plays and the ninth-most yards per reception. In addition, McConkey likely won't be shadowed by Derek Stingley Jr. on Sunday. McConkey has been moved around the formation and mainly deployed out of the slot this season, while Stingley mainly lines up on perimeter receivers. The Georgia product should be viewed as a WR2 who provides a safe floor in Week 9.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Keaton Mitchell Off Deep-League Radars in Week 9 vs. Texans
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has slid off fantasy radars after having encouraging fantasy performances earlier in the year. Mitchell hasn't surpassed six fantasy points in his last three outings, with Kimani Vidal getting more work. Vidal has been given more carries over the last three games, causing Mitchell to see his fantasy value diminish. As a result, Mitchell enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's PPR RB50 in a tough matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards and the 11th-fewest rushing yards per carry. In addition, the Texans are coming off their bye week, giving them an extra week to prepare for the Chargers offense. Mitchell should be viewed as a desperation flex option in deeper leagues, but left on benches if possible.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Will Kimani Vidal Lead the Chargers Three-Man Backfield in Week 9?
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has slowly become more involved in the Chargers' backfield each week. The 25-year-old led the team in rushing yards and snaps played in Week 8. With his gradual emergence, the Chargers have shifted to a three-man committee in their backfield. Vidal enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's PPR RB44 in a tough matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards and the 11th-fewest rushing yards per carry. In addition, the Texans are coming off their bye week, giving them an extra week to prepare for the Chargers offense. Despite Vidal's emergence, he hasn't established himself as a standalone fantasy asset. Instead, he's made the Chargers backfield useless for fantasy managers taking carries from Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell. Vidal should be out of fantasy lineups and should be viewed as a low-end handcuff running back.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Omarion Hampton Difficult to Trust in Week 9 vs. Texans
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has seen his role diminish in the backfield each week. Hampton recorded the lowest snap percentage in the Chargers' backfield, his lowest of the year in Week 8. Kimani Vidal has gradually emerged as the lead back, turning the backfield into a three-man committee. As a result, Hampton enters Week 9 as RotoBallers PPR RB32 in a tough matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans' defense has allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards and the 11th-fewest rushing yards per carry. In his limited role, Hampton needs to score touchdowns to be fantasy-relevant. He should be viewed as a low-end flex play with a low floor in Week 9.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Justin Herbert a Tough Superflex Start in Week 9 vs. Texans
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert didn't show signs of turning his season around after his bye. The 28-year-old scored under 10 fantasy points, threw two interceptions, and was QB21 on the week. It marked the third time this season Herbert failed to reach double-digit fantasy points, dropping him to QB27 overall. Herbert enters Week 9 as RotoBaller's QB24 in a tough matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans have allowed the 11th-fewest passing touchdowns but have allowed the third-most 20-plus-yard passing plays this season. Houston hasn't had a menacing defense this season, but it isn't a defense to pick on for fantasy football. Herbert is an uninspiring QB2 and is best left out of fantasy lineups in Week 9.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Chargers Not Inclined to Trade Ladd McConkey
The Los Angeles Chargers have no interest in trading star wide receiver Ladd McConkey ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline, according to Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of ESPN. The Chargers currently sit at 0-7 and are likely playing out the string of a lost season in 2026. However, it appears as though the team is uninterested in a complete rebuild, especially with regard to a third-year player in McConkey. Across six games in 2026, McConkey has recorded 17 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets. The 24-year-old has battled multiple injury issues, and his production has suffered from the overall ineptitude of the 2026 Chargers offense so far. While his short-term fantasy value would likely benefit from a trade to a healthier offensive environment, McConkey appears likely to remain in Los Angeles through Tuesday's trade deadline.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Chargers Not Inclined to Trade Justin Herbert
The Los Angeles Chargers have answered trade inquiries from rival teams about quarterback Justin Herbert with "hard no's," per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. The 0-7 Chargers appear to be out of the playoff picture in 2026, but the organization does not seem to be inclined to fully blow up their current team. Herbert is in the midst of an awful season, as he's completed 61.8% of his pass attempts for 1,398 yards, five touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across seven games. However, the 28-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler who has finished in the top 10 of the MVP vote twice in six full NFL seasons. While Herbert would surely fetch the Chargers a massive return in trade, replacing their franchise quarterback does not appear to be an option Los Angeles is considering ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Justin Herbert is Risky Streaming Choice with Recent Struggles
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is having a season to forget right now. It has gone from bad to worse for Herbert, who hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. Over his last two games, Herbert has thrown zero touchdowns and three interceptions. The 28-year-old has been held to under 250 passing yards in every game besides one this season. He does draw a favorable matchup against the Houston Texans pass defense, which ranks 29th in the league right now. Despite that, fantasy managers have little reason to believe that Herbert is going to turn it around. He remains a risky streaming choice even with a plus matchup against the Texans defense.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Omarion Hampton Could See Increased Workload in Week 9
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton could see a larger workload against the Houston Texans in Week 9 after offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel acknowledged Thursday that changes to the backfield rotation are under consideration. According to Alex Insdorf, McDaniel said the coaching staff has discussed adjusting how carries are distributed and praised Hampton's preparation throughout the week. Head coach Jim Harbaugh previously raised the possibility of relying more heavily on one running back rather than continuing the three-man rotation. Hampton managed just 20 rushing yards on nine carries in Sunday's Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, while Kimani Vidal received eight carries for 23 yards and Keaton Mitchell added four carries for six yards. Hampton leads the Chargers with 89 carries for 309 yards and three touchdowns across seven games, although his last outing with at least 15 rushing attempts came in Week 3. An expanded role would improve his fantasy outlook, but the coaching staff has not committed to making him the featured back. Los Angeles' offensive struggles also leave Hampton as a risky flex option despite the encouraging comments.
Source: Alex Insdorf
Source: Alex Insdorf
David Njoku's Practice Window Opens Ahead of Week 9
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (leg) has had his practice window opened as he works toward returning from injured reserve, according to Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com. Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced the development Wednesday, bringing Njoku closer to his first appearance since suffering a lower-leg injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. The 30-year-old caught six passes for 67 yards across two games before being placed on injured reserve September 23. He recorded five receptions for 58 yards in his only full outing. Oronde Gadsden II has handled an expanded role during Njoku's absence, recording 17 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown this season, including five catches for 52 yards against the Rams last week. Njoku's eventual return could affect the distribution of tight end targets, with Charlie Kolar also part of the rotation. His availability for Sunday's matchup against the Houston Texans remains uncertain, making him a speculative stash in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: Alex Insdorf
Source: Alex Insdorf
Keaton Mitchell Remains Stuck in Three-Headed Chargers Backfield
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell played 31 percent of the snaps in Week 8, recording four carries for six yards and catching three passes for 17 yards in the Chargers' loss to the Rams. Mitchell remains involved in the offense, playing 31.6 percent of snaps this season; however, like the rest of the Chargers' offense, it hasn't amounted to much. Mitchell has a 3.72 yards-per-carry average and averages 6.06 fantasy points per game, ranking in the ninth percentile among qualifying running backs. Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal also remain involved in the offense, making this backfield a three-headed timeshare and neither running back a reliable fantasy option. Mitchell can still be rostered if needed; however, fantasy managers looking for short-term or immediate production may want to look elsewhere. Their Week 9 matchup against the Texans isn't a walk in the park either.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre' Harris has Deep-League Streaming Appeal in Favorable Week 9 Matchup
Los Angeles wide receiver Tre' Harris has struggled to produce over the past two weeks, but a very favorable matchup against Houston in Week 9 could help him get back on track. Harris has 18 receptions for 256 yards and no touchdowns across 29 targets in his six games played this season. He only has five grabs for 47 yards over seven targets in the past two games combined, though. Houston has struggled to slow opposing wideouts all season, so the matchup favors Harris. It's tough to trust the Chargers' offense right now, and after a couple of down games in a row, Harris isn't the most confident starting option, even in deeper setups. The matchup is favorable enough to at least consider streaming Harris in deeper leagues for Week 9, though.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
