RADIO
Oronde Gadsden an Impact Playmaker with Streaming Potential
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had a relatively quiet Week 1 showing, but the track record from his rookie season in 2025 suggests that he could be a key waiver-wire target for managers this year. Gadsden ranked as the TE15 in PPR leagues with 49 catches, 664 yards, and three touchdowns last year, and most of that production came in Week 6 or later. However, there's a new obstacle in his path this year, and it's the depth chart. Gadsden fell to second in the tight end pecking order after the Chargers signed David Njoku in free agency. Njoku played a modest 55% of snaps in Week 1, but Gadsden's snap share was even lower at just 18%. The 23-year-old needs one domino to fall in his favor, and there's a chance that's the injury to Ladd McConkey (chest). The veteran wide receiver went down last week, leading to a void in the passing game. Gadsden has a great opportunity to step up with more volume in Week 2, ranking as a TE2 for fantasy purposes. He's definitely a riskier target, but the Syracuse product is a proven player who knows what it takes to produce at the NFL level. There's some deep-league streamer appeal here for Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders, especially if McConkey doesn't end up playing.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Signing with Chargers
According to Jeremy Fowler, the Los Angeles Chargers are signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad on Tuesday. The veteran wideout was with the Dallas Cowboys during training camp, but he didn't make the final roster. He has bounced around the league in the past few seasons, but he could still provide depth to this roster. The Chargers could need another wideout with Ladd McConkey (rib) considered day-to-day right now. If he misses Week 2, Valdes-Scantling could be elevated to the active roster, but it's unlikely he'd do much during his first week with the organization. Fantasy managers can ignore MVS for the moment.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Chargers Place Keandre Lambert-Smith on Injured Reserve
The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that they placed wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) on Injured Reserve and signed receiver Gary Jennings in a corresponding move. Lambert-Smith injured his hamstring in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and will now be forced to miss at least the next four games. The earliest he will be eligible to return to the Chargers' active 53-man roster will be for the Week 6 divisional clash against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 18. With top wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) also banged up coming out of the season opener, the Bolts could be down to Quentin Johnston and Tre' Smith as their top receivers this weekend for a Week 2 tilt against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Lambert-Smith did not play a single snap on offense on Sunday before getting injured.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
David Njoku Deserves Waiver Consideration After Five-Catch Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku came to the Chargers in the offseason to little fanfare and was considered the TE3 going into the Bolts' Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Njoku surprisingly led the Chargers' tight ends in the 26-14 loss by catching all five of his targets for 58 yards in his first game with the team. His 58 receiving yards were second on the team, behind only receiver Ladd McConkey's (rib) 82 yards. The 30-year-old played the same number of offensive snaps (30) as Charlie Kolar, who was talked up all summer during training camp as a potential TE sleeper in his first season in L.A. Njoku fell out of favor with the Cleveland Browns last year due to the immediate emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr., catching 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler will have competition for targets all year from Kolar and Oronde Gadsden, but Njoku has by far the most pass-catching experience in his 10-year NFL career, racking up over 4,000 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. With McConkey up in the air to play in Week 2 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, Njoku should definitely be on the waiver-wire radar for fantasy managers in need of depth at the TE position.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Chargers Working Out Marquez Valdes-Scantling Amid WR Injuries
The Los Angeles Chargers are working out free-agent veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Tuesday, sources told Jordan Schultz. The two-time Super Bowl champion was with the Dallas Cowboys during training camp this summer before being released, and he has 219 catches, 3,686 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns in his eight-year NFL career. He played in 10 games (one start) last year with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers and caught 14 of his 29 targets for only 120 yards and one touchdown. The Chargers are seeking a little more WR depth going into their Week 2 divisional tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday after top wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) suffered a rib injury that has him listed as day-to-day this week. Additionally, Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) is expected to miss some time after getting hurt in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Chargers' top wideouts this Sunday will likely be Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris if McConkey is not cleared to suit up.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Ladd McConkey to Be Evaluated This Week, Not Believed to Be Significant
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey will be evaluated this week after leaving Sunday's loss to the Cardinals with a rib injury, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. McConkey was originally listed with a chest injury, but further reporting has indicated an acute rib issue, and Rapoport notes it is not believed to be significant, adding that the third-year wideout is considered "day-to-day" and noting that it's an injury that can be played through. McConkey caught five of seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown before exiting in the third quarter, and he appears to be a focal point of Mike McDaniel's offense. Los Angeles hosts the Raiders in Week 2, and fantasy managers will need to monitor McConkey's status throughout the week, as he boasts low-end WR1 upside if he's able to suit up.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Brenen Thompson A Waiver-Wire Flier in Deep Leagues
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson saw only 10 snaps and was held off the stat sheet in his first career game, but with Ladd McConkey (rib) day-to-day with a rib injury, he is a player to at least consider on waivers in deeper leagues. As an undersized field-stretcher, Thompson is unlikely to command an every-down role even if McConkey is unable to suit up against the Raiders. Still, his big-play potential could be leaned on, and he has the opportunity to work his way into three-receiver sets alongside Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris. At RotoBaller's WR103, Thompson is not a player that needs to be actively targeted on waivers, but he is deserving of flier consideration in leagues with big-play bonuses.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ladd McConkey Day-to-Day With Rib Injury, Week 2 Status in Question
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) is dealing with a rib injury and is considered day-to-day, head coach Jim Harbaugh told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Chargers say they want to see how McConkey feels this week before determining his availability for the Week 2 divisional clash against the Las Vegas Raiders. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that McConkey's status is up in the air against the Raiders. McConkey's availability for this Sunday's game against the Raiders will likely come down to how much he can do in practice, so fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his status from Wednesday through Friday. It is ultimately good news for fantasy managers, but it does not mean that the 24-year-old former second-rounder from Georgia will be cleared to play in Week 2. Before injuring his rib on Sunday in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, McConkey caught five of seven targets for a team-high 82 yards and his first touchdown of the year. McConkey was primed for a rebound in the 2026 campaign going into Week 1 in new coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme before injuring his rib. If McConkey cannot play this weekend, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris would be in line to serve as quarterback Justin Herbert's top wideout options.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Keaton Mitchell's Week 1 Role Makes Him a Strong Stash
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell didn't do much with his four carries in Sunday's 26-14 loss to Arizona, finishing with nine yards. His place in the backfield was more interesting than the production. Mitchell was the only Chargers running back besides Omarion Hampton to record a carry after entering Week 1 listed alongside Kimani Vidal for the backup job. The team's current depth chart now has Mitchell second and Vidal third. Hampton remains firmly in control after handling 12 carries and scoring a touchdown, so Mitchell isn't someone to put into fantasy lineups against Las Vegas this week. There is still plenty to like as a stash. Los Angeles signed Mitchell to a multi-year deal in March after he averaged 6.3 yards per carry over three seasons in Baltimore, and Week 1 offered an early indication that he may have the inside track on the No. 2 role. In 12-team leagues, Mitchell is worth grabbing now and keeping on the bench rather than waiting for his workload to grow.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre' Harris on the Waiver Radar After Teammate's Injury in Week 1
The Los Angeles Chargers' offense was not impressive in the surprising 26-14 Week 1 season-opening loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Second-year wide receiver Tre' Harris finished the game with three catches on his six targets for 20 yards. Wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) was the only Chargers receiver to find the end zone, finishing his day with five catches for a team-high 82 yards and a touchdown, but he left the game early with a rib injury and did not return. Although Harris' final line was not impressive at all, he did play 75% of the offensive snaps, which was second only to Quentin Johnston, and his six targets were only one off the team lead (seven for McConkey). If McConkey's rib injury causes him to miss time, Harris will undoubtedly have a bigger role in Mike McDaniel's passing attack, which will be looking to bounce back in Week 2 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Harris is a speculative waiver-wire pickup this week in deeper leagues for managers who have McConkey rostered or who are already searching for better WR depth. He is rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Ladd McConkey to Undergo More Testing for Rib Injury
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) was knocked out of the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday with a rib injury, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, and he will undergo more testing on Monday. The Chargers initially called it a chest injury on Sunday when McConkey was pulled from the game after taking a hard hit. The good news for fantasy managers is that the 24-year-old former second-rounder from Georgia caught five of seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's game before getting hurt. We should have a better idea of whether McConkey has a shot to play in Week 2 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders once his test results come back on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on McConkey's practice status from Wednesday through Friday to gain a clearer picture of his availability for Sunday's game. If McConkey cannot play this weekend, Quentin Johnson and Tre' Harris would have bigger roles in the passing attack for a Chargers offense that fell flat in their season opener after a lot of training camp hype.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
David Njoku Sees Five Targets in Week 1 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku caught all five of his targets for 58 yards in Sunday's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old tied for the team high in catches and had the second-most receiving yards among Chargers pass-catchers. Additionally, he was the team's most impactful tight end in the passing game, as Oronde Gadsden and Charlie Kolar combined for two catches. Njoku appears to be the Chargers' tight end to roster for fantasy football as of now. However, it remains a murky room and should remain out of fantasy lineups next week. The Chargers will host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 as they try to find their way into the win column.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ladd McConkey a Bright Spot Before Injuring his Chest
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey (chest) caught five of his seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. McConkey quickly cemented himself as the team's WR1 and became Justin Herbert's favorite target over the middle. Unfortunately, his performance was cut short after taking a big hit late in the third quarter. He was immediately taken back to the locker room and did not return to the field. His status for Week 2 is up in the air, and we will get more information about his availability as the week goes on. If he can play, McConkey will have a favorable matchup at home against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Keaton Mitchell Held Quiet in Week 1 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell had four carries for nine yards in Sunday's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old was a non-factor in the passing game and had zero targets out of the backfield. The Cardinals defense kept Mitchell in check all game and held him to 2.25 yards per carry. Mitchell is known for his explosiveness and speed in the open field but could not find space in the home opener. The East Carolina product should be out of fantasy lineups until he shows he can be a consistent fantasy producer. Mitchell and the Chargers will look to bounce back at home against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Omarion Hampton Disappoints in Upset Loss
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton had 12 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 23-year-old was a non-factor in the passing game and had zero targets out of the backfield. Hampton started the game with a nine-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 77-yard drive. However, he went from hero to zero on the next drive after fumbling the football that led to a Cardinals field goal. In a favorable matchup, Hampton only garnered 9.3 fantasy points and will likely finish outside the top 30 running backs in PPR leagues. Hampton will look to bounce back next week at home against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that only allowed 74 rushing yards in their home opener.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
