Los Angeles Chargers News

The Washington Commanders have signed free-agent edge rusher Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million contract that includes $68 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Oweh spent his first 4.5 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before being acquired by the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2025 regular season. He appeared in 17 games last year, amassing 7.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 38 tackles. Over the last two seasons combined, he has recorded 17.5 sacks. Oweh will provide a key pass-rushing presence within a Commanders' defense that previously lacked starpower. He'll be tasked with slowing down some of the talented quarterbacks in Washington's division, including Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, and Jaxson Dart.

All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack has agreed to a one-year, fully guaranteed $18 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers, taking one of the top potential free agents off the market, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. A Pro Bowler in his first three years with the team, Mack now enters his fifth season with the Bolts, his longest stay with one team as he enters year 13 of his brilliant career. While his pass-rush numbers have fallen precipitously since his career-high 17-sack campaign in 2023, the former fifth overall pick is still one of the league's most dominant edge-setters. Mack's 113 career sacks put him just outside the top 25 in NFL history, and he is likely to wear a gold jacket whenever he decides to walk away from the game.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Friday that they placed an exclusive-rights tender on free-agent running back Kimani Vidal to keep him around for the 2026 season. The Chargers also signed running back Jaret Patterson and safety Kendall Williamson to contract extensions. The 24-year-old Vidal was thrust into a bigger role than anticipated last year when both Najee Harris (Achilles) and rookie Omarion Hampton (ankle) went down with injuries. The former sixth-rounder in 2024 out of Troy had 155 carries for 643 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and three touchdowns in 13 regular-season games, adding 16 catches for 136 yards and another score. Vidal proved to be a reliable plug-and-play RB3/flex option for fantasy managers, although with Hampton returning as the Bolts' clear lead back, it will be difficult for Vidal to improve on his numbers in 2026.

The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with free-agent center Tyler Biadasz on a three-year deal worth $30 million on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Biadasz was cut by the Washington Commanders after being set to make $8.3 million in 2026. The 28-year-old is expected to be past the ankle and knee injuries that landed him on Injured Reserve to close out last season in Washington. The Chargers were desperate for some offensive-line upgrades, particularly at center, so they have made Biadasz the sixth-highest-paid center in the NFL. Since entering the league as a fourth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 out of Wisconsin, Biadasz has started 84 of the 92 games he's appeared in while making the Pro Bowl in 2022 with Dallas. The addition of Biadasz is a big positive for quarterback Justin Herbert.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on Seattle Sports on Thursday that Los Angeles Chargers impending free-agent outside linebacker Khalil Mack could be a "great fit" with the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. The nine-time Pro Bowler is an elite run defender and has ranked among the top 10 edge rushers at Pro Football Focus in each of the last three seasons. Mack has a total of 113 sacks and 36 forced fumbles in his 12-year career with the Raiders, Chicago Bears, and Chargers, including a career-high 17 sacks in 2023. The 35-year-old veteran and former fifth overall pick by the Raiders in 2014 out of Buffalo only played in 12 games last year due to an elbow injury and finished with 32 tackles (19 solo), 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 11 QB hits, and four forced fumbles. Mack recently announced that he plans on playing in 2026, and he's ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 edge rusher and the No. 20 overall player available in free agency this offseason.

The Los Angeles Chargers released tight end Will Dissly on Wednesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. The Chargers also cut offensive guard Mekhi Becton and offensive tackle Savion Washington before the start of the new league year next week. It was mostly a lost season in 2025 for Dissly, who played in only nine games due to injury and caught only 11 of his 16 targets for 97 yards and no touchdowns in his second year in L.A. The 29-year-old tight end missed three weeks with a knee injury and was phased out of the offense in the second half of the year. In his first year with the Bolts, Dissly was much more productive, setting career-highs in catches (50), targets (64), and receiving yards (481) while finding the end zone two times in 15 games played (eight starts). He should be able to latch on with another team as TE depth, but he isn't expected to be on the fantasy radar.

The Los Angeles Chargers plan to release offensive guard Mekhi Becton in the coming days, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The move to cut Becton will save the Chargers $9.7 million on the salary cap for the 2026 season. Becton looked better in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles with his move to right guard, but he struggled mightily in pass protection in 2025 with the Chargers, and will now be looking for his fourth different team in the last four years. The 26-year-old former 11th overall pick by the New York Jets has not lived up to expectations despite standing at 6-foot-7, 363 pounds. Becton will surely latch on with another team looking for help on the offensive line, but he might be set for more of a rotational role than a starting one. He has started 59 of the 61 games he's appeared in over the course of his five-year career.

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh's market is expected to be "very robust" as he heads into free agency, which is why The Athletic's Daniel Popper wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers let him walk if another team is willing to pay him $25 million per year. The sense coming out of the NFL scouting combine last week is that edge rusher Khalil Mack "will be back with the Chargers in 2026," which makes it easier for the Bolts to let Oweh walk. If both Oweh and Mack sign elsewhere, L.A. will have to "make multiple additions through free agency and the draft to rebuild the room." Oweh was a major asset for the Chargers last year after they acquired him from the Baltimore Ravens, recording all 7.5 of his sacks with the team in 12 regular-season contests. If Oweh leaves L.A., the Chargers could target a linebacker replacement in the first round of April's NFL draft.

Los Angeles Chargers impending free-agent linebacker Khalil Mack will play in 2026, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 35-year-old is coming off a strong season in 2025 and will be one of the top edge rushers available in free agency, but he'll be a priority for the Chargers to try to re-sign. Rapoport writes that Mack is "back exploring all options." The nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and former fifth overall pick in 2014 by the Raiders played in 12 games last year and had 32 tackles (19 solo), 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 11 QB hits, and four forced fumbles for the Bolts. The aging linebacker has 11.5 sacks the last two seasons combined, but he's only two years removed from a career-high 17-sack season in 2023 in L.A. After signing a one-year, $18 million contract with the Chargers last March, he could be approached with a similar one-year pact to remain in Hollywood for a fifth straight season.

Los Angeles Chargers right guard Mekhi Becton is a cut candidate this offseason, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. The Chargers can save close to $10 million if they move on from Becton, according to Over the Cap. "I'm not going to talk about that right now," general manager Joe Hortiz said when asked if Becton is guaranteed to be on the roster in 2026. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Bolts in March of 2025, but he battled injuries and played less than 60% of the offensive snaps in 15 regular-season contests. He did not live up to expectations in L.A. when he was on the field. Injuries have been an issue for Becton since he entered the NFL in 2020 as the 11th overall pick by the New York Jets. He was originally drafted as a left tackle, but he has moved to right guard over the last few years. Becton's size (6-foot-7, 363 pounds) is imposing for defensive linemen, so he'll attract interest on the open market if he's cut.

Los Angeles Chargers impending free-agent running back Najee Harris (Achilles) is "looking outstanding" five months after having surgery for a torn Achilles tendon and is "running with ease" at 15 mph on an Alter-G treadmill, according to his agent, Doug Hendrickson. Harris' first season with the Chargers came to an end when he tore his Achilles in Week 3, allowing rookie Omarion Hampton to take over lead-back duties for most of the year. It ended Harris' streak of four straight seasons with 1,000 rushing yards to begin his career, as he finished with just 61 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 15 carries in three games in L.A. The soon-to-be 28-year-old will be back on the free-agent market this offseason, and although he appears to be healing nicely, he's unlikely to have a very robust market coming off a major injury.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston got off to a scalding start to the 2025 season and looked to be on his way to a breakout campaign. Across the first four games of the year, Johnston recorded 22 catches for 339 yards and four touchdowns on 37 targets. However, the 24-year-old cooled off the rest of the way and finished the year with just 51 receptions for 735 yards and eight scores on 84 targets across 14 games played. Los Angeles has moved on from former offensive coordinator Greg Roman in favor of former Miami Dolphins head coach and play-caller Mike McDaniel, which could help the entire offense unlock a new level of production. Additionally, veteran Chargers wideout Keenan Allen is set to hit free agency, although he's publicly stated a desire to remain with the team. Johnston could surpass Allen on the target pecking order in Los Angeles, but he may also feel pressure from wide receiver Tre' Harris, whom the Chargers selected in the second round of the 2025 draft. Johnston still carries fantasy upside, and the shifting environment in Los Angeles may end up working in his favor. However, Johnston may ultimately end up profiling similarly to what he has shown in his NFL career to this point, which is a boom/bust fantasy WR3 at best.

The Los Angeles Chargers selected running back Omarion Hampton 22nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but ankle injuries limited the talented rookie to only nine regular-season games. Even still, the 22-year-old out of North Carolina showed enough in his first season to make him a popular breakout candidate heading into 2026. Following a season-ending injury to Najee Harris in Week 3, Hampton exploded for his best game of the season, with 165 total yards and a touchdown in a Week 4 loss to the Giants. While he would play only five more games for the rest of the year, mostly behind an injury-ravaged offensive line, he continued to run hard, averaging 4.4 yards per carry while staying steadily involved in the passing game. Assuming a full return to health by both Hampton and the line in front of him, the second year back could be knocking on a top-five fantasy finish in Mike McDaniel's offense in 2026.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a frustrating second season in the NFL. He caught 66 passes for 789 yards and six touchdowns, ranking as the overall WR30. He wasn't a total bust, but he certainly failed to live up to the expectations he had established after finishing as the WR13 as a rookie in 2024. That same year, he had 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. Justin Herbert continues to play at a very high level, so we can't blame his regression on poor quarterback play. The Chargers' bottom-tier offensive line could have been a contributing factor, but more likely than not, defenses just started to do a better job game-planning for the former second-round pick now that they had a full year's worth of film on him. Los Angeles replaced offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel this offseason, which should benefit all of the Chargers' skill players in fantasy football. Additionally, there might be a few extra targets to go around, now that Keenan Allen is headed for free agency. All in all, managers absolutely should not panic about McConkey after the 2025 season. In fact, dynasty managers might be able to buy low on McConkey if his current manager is frustrated by how he played last year.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (Achilles) missed most of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, and he's scheduled to hit free agency for the second offseason in a row. Harris parlayed a solid four-year stint with the Steelers into a one-year deal with the Chargers last offseason, but he was held to just 86 scrimmage yards across three games before suffering his season-ending injury. It was a big change from his time in Pittsburgh, where he had never missed a game through four seasons. He played well there, ranking as a top-24 fantasy running back every season. He peaked as a rookie in 2021 when he was the overall RB3 in PPR formats. Given his injury recovery, Harris likely won't sign a contract that would allow him to be a lead-back somewhere. In all likelihood, he'll offer a solid veteran presence while splitting snaps with a younger, less-established running back. His days of being a must-start fantasy running back are over, but he can still be a strong RB3/flex depending on the situation. He's worth holding in most dynasty leagues.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert remained productive during the 2025 regular season, but his ceiling was limited due to poor offensive line play in front of him. The 27-year-old racked up 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions across 16 games, finishing as the overall QB10 in fantasy football. This was his first top-10 finish since 2021. He added an additional two rushing touchdowns and a career-high 498 rushing yards. Herbert played in front of a worse offensive line this past season. In fact, the Chargers' offensive line ranked third-to-last in PFF's end-of-year rankings. The trenches figure to be an area of focus for the Bolts in free agency, and improved protection would aid Herbert in his quest to make strides as a passer next year. Assuming the Chargers have a productive offseason, it's fair to envision that Herbert will be a top-10 fantasy quarterback with top-five upside in 2026. He's a "hold" in most dynasty leagues at the moment.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris struggled to produce in his depth role as a rookie. Typically fourth on the depth chart, he finished the year with 30 catches, 324 yards, and one touchdown. However, he should have more opportunities during the 2026 season. For starters, Keenan Allen is a free agent, and all signs point to him playing elsewhere next year (or retiring). Not only will Allen's impending departure bump Harris up to third on the depth chart, but the Ole Miss product should also take over a lot of the veteran's vacated targets. In addition to stepping into a larger role, Harris could be auditioning for an eventual jump to the No. 2 receiver role behind Ladd McConkey. Current No. 2 receiver Quentin Johnston has a fifth-year option for 2027. If the Chargers choose to decline that option, Johnston will play out his final year under contract while the coaching staff evaluates whether Harris is capable of filling his role in 2027. That's still a while down the road, but in the short term, managers should expect Harris to take a significant leap in 2026. He's a strong dynasty hold, and he'll generate some late-round appeal in redraft leagues.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen has played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. While he enters the 2026 season without a contract, he has recently stated that he fully intends to continue his career and isn't considering any team besides the Chargers. After playing one season in Chicago, Allen returned to Los Angeles in 2025 and led the team in targets and receptions, while playing in all 17 games. With the Chargers welcoming in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, there is little doubt that their offense will see an influx of pre-snap motion, which should help to create space for a receiving corps that saw no player top 800 yards in 2025. Assuming Allen's return on another short-term deal, the question then becomes where he fits in, with Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston both seeing stints as the team's most reliable wideout, and second-rounder Tre Harris handling an increased role down the stretch. Regardless of where he lands in the pecking order, Allen is a practically free pickup in dynasty leagues for contenders looking to add fill-in depth.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal emerged as a viable NFL rusher in 2025, recording 643 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 155 carries across 13 games played (10 starts). Vidal was thrust into a feature role in the Chargers' backfield early in the season after Los Angeles backs Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris went on Injured Reserve with ankle and Achilles injuries, respectively. A first-round draft pick in 2025, Hampton looks like the long-term RB1 in Los Angeles as long as he can return to full health in 2026 and beyond. However, Vidal may have done enough in 2025 to prove he is worthy of maintaining a role alongside Hampton. Additionally, the Chargers have brought in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator heading into 2026. In his time in Miami, McDaniel's best offenses supported quality fantasy production from multiple running backs. Vidal's dynasty upside is limited by Hampton's presence, but he still may be worth rostering as a solid handcuff option with some level of standalone appeal.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston took his fantasy managers on a rollercoaster ride in his third year in the league in 2025. The former first-rounder had five touchdown catches in the first four weeks of the season before cooling off and being extremely boom or bust the rest of the way. The 24-year-old was third on the team with 735 receiving yards, which was a new career high for Johnston. He had 51 catches on 84 targets and also scored eight total touchdowns for the second straight season in 14 regular-season contests. Even if it wasn't much of a step forward for Johnston in Year 3, it was encouraging that he showed more chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers' entire offense could look much different under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in 2026, but it could help Johnston be more consistent as a downfield threat.