RB · LAC · 23 yrs · exp 1 · North Carolina
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Latest: Jul 24, 2026 · 7,025
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This article ranks the top 10 running back duos in the NFL for the 2026 season, considering individual stardom, balanced backfields, and recent production against projections. It also includes honorable mentions and discusses specific player pairings and their potential impact
Chargers rookies report to training camp this week! It’s time to get excited! Here are three questions I’ll be looking to get answers to when the entire team gets together and things start rolling next week. Through OTAs and mandatory minicamps, it has been free-agent signing Kayode Awosika who has received the lion’s share of the snaps with the first team at left guard. Behind him, rookie Jake Slaughter has been the left guard for the second team while also seeing snaps at center. Trevor Penning , a holdover from last year’s group, was not present for much of the offseason and when he was, he was with the third-stringers. Now what we’ve seen so far does not necessarily mean that that will stay the case once training camp gets rolling. Jake Slaughter was not ever going to stick with the ones the moment he was drafted. He hasn’t played guard since high school and for the sake of a smooth offseason program, it’s likely that Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel let Awosika take the snaps with the ones to let Slaughter take his time getting into the swing of the new position. The thing is, there’s a real shot that Awosika actually does stick with the ones and ultimately win the starting job in camp. He has experience in a similar offensive system when he was with the 49ers playing for Kyle Shanahan. Slaughter looks like a perfect fit on paper for McDaniel’s offense, but the Chargers can’t have any wasted time for him to get ahead of the curve. That doesn’t mean Slaughter won’t END the season as the starter, but to coming out of the gates for a campaign expected to carry a ton of hype for the Chargers, the offense most certainly needs to avoid any hiccups as they begin their first season under a new play-caller. Omarion Hampton is set to the Chargers RB1 in McDaniel’s offense. The hope is that he stays healthy for an entire season en route to what could be one of the most-productive rushing seasons for a Chargers running back since Austin Ekeler had 1,677 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns during the 2022 season. It’s a foregone conclusion that Hampton will lead the backfield in snaps, but Kimani Vidal showed he can tote the rock when needed and the team added former Ravens speedster Keaton Mitchell in free agency. Mitchell is a better fit for being a changeup back in McDaniel’s zone run scheme, that’s for sure, but that doesn’t mean that Vidal is just going to be cast aside. He broke his fair share of runs outside the tackles in 2025 so the abilities to perform his new duties has been shown already. If I know McDaniel well enough, he’s going to be thinking about PLAYERS more than he’s going to think about faceless plays. He will know which plays to get the most out of Hampton, Vidal, and Mitchell. He’ll do everything in his power to set up each of them with the best chance of success in a given situation. Now, if I was a guessing man, I would actually guess that after Hampton, it will be Mitchell to get the second-most snaps. McDaniel will not shy from trying to break off a home run intermittently while Hampton is grinding down the defense over the course of a drive. Smith was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s draft and while he enters a fairly full safety room, that’s a high enough of a draft placement to lead you to believe he’s expected to see the field as a rookie. His skillset ultimately sets him apart from the top four players ahead of him on the depth chart. He’s a lengthy centerfielder who can and should only play in the deep parts of the field. The other four — Derwin James , Elijah Molden , Tony Jefferson , and R.J. Mickens — can all move around the defense if needed. But, neither aside from James have the athleticism to be a single-high player for an entire game. That’s why I like Smith to find his way onto the field earlier than expected. But, that’s with the assumption he can clean up his tackling. Do you all remember JT Woods ? All the athleticism he dripped that Brandon Staley raved about wh [... truncated ...]
Keaton Mitchell could be a breakout candidate in 2026 due to a clearer path to carries with the Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers went under the radar during the offseason when they signed former Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar. ESPN insider Mike Clay believes Kolar could have a big impact on the Chargers’ offense for the upcoming season. “Kolar had only 10 catches for 142 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore last season, but the Chargers didn’t bring him in to be a receiver. Los Angeles handed him a three-year, $24.3 million contract to block, part of the leaguewide rise in the value of blocking tight ends. You’ll see a lot of Kolar in 12 and 13 personnel, as the Ravens averaged 5.7 yards per carry with Kolar on the field last season and 4.7 yards per carry without him,“ Clay wrote. Kolar, 27, grew during every season he was with the Ravens from 2022-25. While his numbers didn’t often show up in the stat sheet, he was doing the dirty work to help other players pad their stats, especially in the running back room. In 2025, the Ravens were the second-best rushing offense in the NFL behind the Buffalo Bills . In 2024, they ranked number one, as one of two teams to record over 3,000 yards. The same could be said in 2023, and in 2022 they also finished second. While Lamar Jackson is a big reason behind those numbers, he wouldn’t have enjoyed that kind of success without Kolar, who will now be blocking for second-year pro Omarion Hampton , who could have a breakout year if the newest Chargers tight end plays like he did in Baltimore
It’s the Fourth of July, so what better time to talk about players who could light up fantasy football in 2026? Every year, we have young players who blow up and veterans in new situations with an opportunity to thrive. As managers, identifying these dynasty breakout candidates and buying in before their costs skyrocket is key . Go forth and celebrate this Independence Day with family and friends, and enjoy yourself. And if you want some actionable fantasy advice in between glizzies and adult beverages, check out these 12 dynasty breakout candidates set to explode this season. The drumbeat for last year’s No. 22-overall pick in the NFL Draft is louder than your neighbor’s holiday aerial display. Omarion Hampton played only nine games as a rookie, but we got a glimpse of how good he can be. In those contests, he averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game (FPPG), good for RB12. He rushed for 545 yards and added another 192 through the air on 32 receptions. Omarion Hampton ‘s Advanced Metrics In Year 2, Hampton will surely benefit from the arrival of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a wizard at designing a run game. He’ll get the bruising back into space, where Hampton can employ that 4.46 speed to zoom past defenders. Everyone is expecting the Chargers to field one of the best offenses in football this season. If that turns out to be the case, Hampton is a major threat to rack up big-time yardage and find paydirt 10-plus times. He will be a top-10 pick in 2027 redrafts if he blows up this season. The setup is there for Carnell Tate to create fireworks right away in his rookie season. The Titans selected him at No. 4 overall in the draft, with visions of him catching deep bomb after deep bomb from quarterback Cam Ward . He may have been “out-alpha’d” by202 rookie Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State, but Tate has all the tools and traits to be an elite receiver in the pros. He’s a big-bodied target who can win downfield and make contested catches look easy. He should start on the outside from the get-go, and has a chance to make an immediate impact in fantasy if he and Ward click early on. Everyone’s favorite guy to take a second-year leap is Luther Burden . It’s not hard to see why — he was a metrics darling as a rookie, and closed the season on a high note. Burden lit up the 49ers in Week 17, racking up eight receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers made him the overall WR1 during fantasy championship week. Luther Burden’s Efficiency Metrics With D.J. Moore now in Buffalo, the table is set for Burden to take on a much larger role. If he builds on a rookie season in which he ranked third in yards per route run (2.79), Burden’s value will shoot up higher than a reloadable mortar. The video highlights from minicamp showed a spry, healthy-looking Quinshon Judkins . That was a little surprising, given the brutal leg injury he’s been rehabbing from. If he’s ahead of schedule and good to go for 2026, it’s wheels up for Cleveland’s 2025 second-round pick. Close look at Quinshon Judkins in RB drills pic.twitter.com/orBHv25xew — Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) May 20, 2026 One thing Judkins has going into Year 2 is the Browns’ soft schedule. They have one of the easiest slates in the league, and that should help keep Judkins on the field and give him plenty of opportunities to pound the rock. We’ll see if Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders can march the offense into scoring position enough for Judkins to pile up touchdowns. If not, achieving consistent RB1 output will be tough. However, if he shows the juice he had at Ole Miss and Ohio State, Judkins can post high-end RB2 numbers and cruise past his current value. Even though he was the third quarterback selected and received early second-round draft capital, the dynasty community did not have high expectations for quarterback Tyler Shough . You could routinely get him at the end of Round 2 or early in Round 3 of superflex rookie drafts last year. Once he finally go [... truncated ...]
Justin Herbert could outperform his current redraft ADP with the tools around him
For years, Jim Harbaugh’s preferred brand of football felt almost old-fashioned. While much of the NFL chased lighter personnel groupings, spread formations and smaller, faster defenses, Harbaugh continued to build offenses around physicality, versatility and tight ends. Now, the rest of the league appears to be catching up. One of the more intriguing observations from Albert Breer’s latest offseason notebook centered on the Chargers’ revamped tight end room. Breer suggested Los Angeles ’ overhaul at the position could end up being one of the most important developments of the offseason — and it speaks to something much larger than a player or position group. The Chargers finally are becoming a complete reflection of Harbaugh’s football identity. You can see it throughout the roster. There’s first-round running back Omarion Hampton , a physical downhill runner capable of carrying a heavy workload. There are massive offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater . The defense is built around rugged edge players including Khalil Mack , Tuli Tuipulotu and Akheem Mesidor . And then there are the tight ends. Breer highlighted the additions of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku alongside second-year hybrid weapon Oronde Gadsden II. Kolar arrives from the Ravens as one of the league’s better blocking tight ends and gives the Chargers a true in-line presence. Njoku can align all over the formation, creating matchup problems while allowing offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel greater flexibility in how he deploys personnel. That flexibility has always been central to Harbaugh’s offenses. At Stanford, tight ends were featured weapons. Future NFL players Coby Fleener , Zach Ertz , Levine Toilolo and Jim Dray all flourished under Harbaugh. At Michigan, Jake Butt became a Mackey Award winner, while Colston Loveland developed into one of the nation’s premier tight ends. Harbaugh’s offenses consistently treated the position as more than an extra blocker. Tight ends were foundational pieces capable of influencing the run game and passing attack. What’s changed is that the NFL is beginning to value those players similarly. League-wide usage of 12 personnel — one running back and two tight ends — has climbed from 17.3% of offensive plays in 2022 to more than 22% in 2025. Even more dramatically, 13 personnel packages featuring three tight ends exploded last season, increasing nearly 50% from the previous year. The catalyst may have been right up the 405. Sean McVay’s Rams shocked the league by leaning heavily into 13 personnel during the second half of the 2025 season. The results were devastating. Matthew Stafford threw 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions from those looks, forcing defenses to choose between matching size against the run or risking favorable passing matchups. This created a catch-22 for most teams. The Rams also generated positive expected points added (EPA) on more than 50% of their rushing attempts in 2025, becoming just the second team since Pro Football Focus began tracking the metric in 2006 to reach that mark. The copycat effect was immediate. Twenty-two tight ends were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, the most since 2002. That’s where McDaniel’s arrival becomes particularly fascinating. McDaniel’s offenses in Miami weren’t rigidly built around tight ends, but they were remarkably adaptable. When the personnel justified it, the Dolphins became one of the NFL’s most efficient teams targeting the position, consistently ranking in the top 10 of the league in EPA per play. That marriage between Harbaugh and McDaniel could be exactly what makes the Chargers dangerous. Harbaugh provides the blueprint. McDaniel supplies the creativity. Together, they have assembled a roster capable of playing multiple styles without substituting personnel. They can line up in traditional formations and run power football. They can spread out defenses. They can force opponents into uncomfortable personnel decisions before the ball is [... truncated ...]
Good morning, Chargers fans! You know what to do! And now for today’s links. Three observations from the final day of Chargers minicamp (Chargers.com) Here’s how Tuli Tuipulotu is approaching contract negotiations with the Chargers (Chargers.com) Chris O’Leary had some high praise for Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still this week (Chargers Wire) Omarion Hampton was recently compared to a NFL Hall-of-Famer by Mike McDaniel (Bolt Beat) Cam Jordan’s new deal with the Saints can be worth up to $11 million (Bleacher Report) Updates from the last round of minicamp practices before the NFL breaks for summer (ESPN) Joe Burrow has the Bengals feeling like a dark horse contender in 2026 (CBS Sports) What we learned from the final wave of minicamp sessions (NFL.com) Drew Brees says he could never return to the NFL, better thrower with left hand at this point (Pro Football Talk) 23 former UFL players signed with NFL teams following the completion of their season (Sports Illustrated)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert 's bid to change his footwork to better fit into offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme has been of note this offseason, but McDaniel's arrival effects more than just the quarterback. McDaniel's offenses in Miami created a lot of big plays out of the backfield for De'Von Achane and that's something Chargers running back Omarion Hampton picked up on while doing research into what expect from the coach. Now that he's spent an offseason learning what McDaniel has planned for him and the team's other backs, Hampton is enthusiastic about what the future holds. "All the running backs like it a lot," Hampton said, via the team's website. "It's just figuring it out, the details of it. It's going to be super good for us." McDaniel's arrival isn't the only reason to feel better about the Chargers offense in 2025 — the offensive line should be healthier and tight end David Njoku gives them another weapon in the passing game — but it is the biggest one and it's clear that Hampton thinks it is going to be of particular benefit to his growth in his second NFL season
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s bid to change his footwork to better fit into offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme has been of note this offseason, but McDaniel’s arrival effects more than just the quarterback. McDaniel’s offenses in Miami created a lot of big plays out of the backfield for De’Von Achane and that’s something Chargers running back Omarion Hampton picked up on while doing research into what expect from the coach. Now that he’s spent an offseason learning what McDaniel has planned for him and the team’s other backs, Hampton is enthusiastic about what the future holds. “All the running backs like it a lot,” Hampton said, via the team’s website. “It’s just figuring it out, the details of it. It’s going to be super good for us.” McDaniel’s arrival isn’t the only reason to feel better about the Chargers offense in 2025 — the offensive line should be healthier and tight end David Njoku gives them another weapon in the passing game — but it is the biggest one and it’s clear that Hampton thinks it is going to be of particular benefit to his growth in his second NFL season
Hampton said Wednesday that he and the other Chargers running backs are excited to play for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, NFL.com's Bobby Kownack reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update
Good morning, Chargers fans! You know what to do! And now for today’s links. Jim Harbaugh met with the USMNT manager prior to the World Cup (Chargers.com) Sports Illustrated believes the Chargers have one of the best offensive triplets in the NFL (Chargers.com) You may want to target Keaton Mitchell in fantasy drafts this offseason (Chargers Wire) Omarion Hampton’s history shows that a leap could be coming in 2026 (Bolt Beat) What we’ve learned after the first wave of minicamps in the NFL (NFL.com) The Broncos have signed head coach Sean Payton to an extension through the 2030 season (CBS Sports) The Seahawks recently received their Super Bowl rings (ESPN) Jermod McCoy is expected to be healthy enough for work during Raiders training camp (Pro Football Talk) These are the best landing spots for the top pass rushers left on the market (Sports Illustrated) The Chiefs traded offensive tackle Wanya Morris to the Falcons for a swap of day three picks (Bleacher Reports)
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Omarion Hampton out of North Carolina with the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Much of Hampton’s rookie year was spent on the sidelines as he missed eight games due to injury. He had a decent statistical season with 124 carries for 545 yards and four touchdowns in nine games, but his overall production pushed him out of the first round in Bleacher Report writer Gary Davenport’s 2025 NFL redraft . Instead of Hampton, the Chargers were projected to select Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts , who was a third-round pick chosen by the Atlanta Falcons . “Watts lasted until the latter stages of Round 3 in the 2025 draft, but he certainly didn’t play like it with the Atlanta Falcons—Watts tallied almost 100 total tackles and intercepted five passes with a passer rating against of less than 90,“ Davenport wrote. “Pairing Watts with Derwin James would give the Chargers one of the best safety duos in the NFL—if not the best.“ Given how deep this year’s running back class was, there may have been better value in taking someone like Quinshon Judkins in the second round. The Chargers could have boosted their secondary sooner in the 2025 draft. They ultimately selected R.J. Mickens in the sixth round out of Clemson and Trikweze Bridges in the seventh round out of Florida, but the latter did not make the 53-man roster. He was ultimately claimed by the Dallas Cowboys. Hindsight is 20/20, so it’s possible the Chargers would have made a different selection if they had this year’s information ahead of time, but that’s what makes the draft so tricky. This doesn’t mean Hampton is a bust quite yet as he still has the keys to the backfield in 2026 and is expected to be the Chargers’ leading rusher this season if he is healthy. With an upgraded offensive line, Hampton is expected to have a chance to prove why he was a first-round pick to begin with
Keaton Mitchell's potential for a fantasy breakout with the Chargers
Daily links for Chargers fans include Justin Herbert adapting to Mike McDaniel's system, Max McCaffrey's praise for Omarion Hampton, and Russell Wilson's retirement and move to CBS Sports. Other articles discuss NFL backup quarterback rankings, offensive triplets, and an arrest warrant for Brandon Aiyuk
The Los Angeles Chargers are a few months away from the start of the 2026 season, but the roster that the team currently has won’t be the same as the one that takes the field in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 13. The Chargers could be making changes on the trade market, including one with running back Kimani Vidal . “Vidal led the Chargers with 643 rushing yards for the 2025 season, averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per carry. However, the Chargers signed running back Keaton Mitchell and hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who favors speed at the skill positions,” Moton wrote. “Despite his contributions in the previous season, Vidal could drop to No. 3 on the depth chart if Mitchell flashes his pre-ACL-injury quickness. If Vidal falls out of favor in McDaniel’s offense, the Chargers may look to deal him to a team that needs to bolster its backfield committee.” Vidal, who turns 25 in August, has one year remaining on his contract. Based on his performance in the 2025 season, teams with injuries in their running back room could add a player like Vidal to help with their depth. Vidal proved last season that he can handle a starter’s workload, taking over for rookie Omarion Hampton in 10 games as a starter. Other squads around the league, like the Green Bay Packers , could find that value if they were willing to part ways with a Day 3 pick. BFTB community, should the Chargers see what they can get in a trade for Vidal? Let us know in the comments section below
This article discusses evaluating dynasty fantasy football teams by analyzing roster strengths, particularly focusing on blue-chip players and how to identify contender or pretender status. It highlights players like Ja'Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Malik Nabers as indicators of a contender, while teams with players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Amon-Ra St. Brown might be in the middle tier and need to consider selling if facing stronger competition. The piece also touches on the current premium value of 2027 first-round picks
SeatGeek is the official NFL Ticketing Partner of the New York Post. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The Los Angeles Chargers are nothing if not consistent…which is a good but not great thing. Over the past four seasons, Justin Herbert’s gifted squad has suffered three losses in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. After finishing 11-6 in 2025 (they also went 11-6 in ’24), the Bolts fell 16-3 to the eventual AFC champion Patriots and subsequently faced yet another long offseason. “We weren’t good enough,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said at the end of the season. “We’ll be spending a lot of hard work and maybe even sleepless nights getting it figured out…not looking at this as an end but as another beginning.” And now that the 2026 NFL schedule has been announced, we have an idea of what the club has in store for their next beginning. Just a few of the biggest franchises set to swing into the Chargers’ home SoFi Stadium this year include Bo Nix ’s Denver Broncos (Oct. 11), C.J. Stroud ’s Houston Texans (Nov. 8), Patrick Mahomes ’ Kansas City Chiefs (Jan. 10), their fellow SoFi tenants in the Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 1) and a rematch with Drake Maye ’s New England Patriots on (Nov. 29). These high-profile foes make up what is the NFL’s ninth-most difficult schedule in 2026, according to Yahoo Sports . As for the roster, standout standbys Justin Herbert, Khalil Mack , Derwin James Jr., Omarion Hampton and Joe Alt are all set to return, as is elite left tackle Rashawn Slater , who missed all of 2025 due to a torn patellar tendon. Running back Najee Harris , guard Mekhi Becton and cornerback Donte Jackson are all back, too. Offseason acquisitions Charlie Kolar , Keaton Mitchell , Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz join them alongside with splashy offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who came over after the Dolphins fired him as head coach. Now all that’s missing is you . If you want to join “the Brochachos” and see the Chargers live, tickets are available for all nine 2026 home games at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium as of today on SeatGeek. Not familiar with SeatGeek? SeatGeek is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100 percent buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. For those who prefer to pick and choose which home games make the most sense to attend, we’re here for you, too. Below, you’ll find a list of all upcoming Los Angeles Chargers home games at SoFi Stadium, including dates, start times and opponents. Los Angeles Chargers home game dates Cardinals vs. Chargers Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:25 p.m. Raiders vs. Chargers Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:05 p.m. Broncos vs. Chargers Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1:05 p.m. Rams vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:05 p.m. Texans vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:05 p.m. Jets vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1:05 p.m. Patriots vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 29 at 5:20 p.m. 49ers vs. Chargers Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5:15 p.m. Chiefs vs. Chargers TBD If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Chargers this year, here’s where you can find them on the road once the 2026 season begins. Los Angeles Chargers away game dates Chargers vs. Bills Sunday, Sept. 27 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY Chargers vs. Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 4 at Lumen Field in Seattle , WA Chargers vs. Chiefs Sunday, Oct. 18 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City , MO Chargers vs. Ravens Monday, Nov. 16 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD Chargers vs. Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 6 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL Chargers vs. Raiders Sunday, Dec. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV Chargers vs. Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL Chargers vs. Broncos TBD at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver , C [... truncated ...]
Omarion Hampton expected to have breakout season in 2026
Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel showed he had a knack for highlighting fast offensive players when he was the head coach in Miami and that has one of his new charges excited about what’s coming his way during the 2026 season. Running back Keaton Mitchell averaged 6.8 yards per touch over his three seasons with the Ravens and McDaniel identified him as a player of interest heading into free agency this offseason. Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz was in Baltimore’s front office when Mitchell signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and that helped a deal come together for Mitchell in Los Angeles. Mitchell tore his ACL as a rookie and only played five games in 2024 before returning to touch the ball 68 times in 13 appearances last season. It’s unclear what kind of role the Chargers have in mind for him, but Mitchell feels there’s an opportunity to build on what he’s done so far in his career. “Definitely motivating to be in a room where I feel like I have a chance and a shot to do big things,” Mitchell said, via the team’s website. 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton will factor into any backfield plans for the Chargers, but Mitchell could also be a factor in the return game as he and the Chargers try to maximize the return on the team’s investment
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