Los Angeles Chargers News

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Quentin Johnston • WR • Chargers

Quentin Johnston Could be Lined up for Big Season With New Offensive Coordinator

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.

8 hours ago

Justin Herbert • QB • Chargers

Justin Herbert to Have More Upside With New Offensive Coordinator?

The Los Angeles Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after another early playoff exit and hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to take over. The Chargers need to get healthy on the offensive line first and foremost, but the move to McDaniel should be great news for the fantasy outlook of quarterback Justin Herbert in 2026. One of the first things that McDaniel hopes to do is to craft an offense that doesn't rely as much on Herbert's individual talents, such as scrambling and making miraculous plays outside of the pocket. "I think not relying too heavily on Justin's ability to do above and beyond, I think is critical to maximize those types of opportunities," McDaniel said. "That'll be one of the first things that we'll try to do is take a little off his plate so that he is free to do that when his greatness is required." Herbert went over 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three seasons, but he hasn't been able to do it the last three years. He finished as the QB10 in overall fantasy points in 2025. With McDaniel in the fold, Herbert should have more upside to reach his true ceiling.

Yesterday

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton in Line for 2026 Breakout After Coordinator Change?

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton battled through an injury-marred rookie season in 2025, playing in just nine out of 17 games. However, the 22-year-old was productive when healthy, recording 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 156 touches. Beyond just improved health, there are reasons to think that the offensive environment around Hampton in Los Angeles in 2026 will be enhanced. For one, Chargers offensive tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) should be back in the lineup after the two combined to play just six games in 2025. Additionally, Los Angeles will have a new play-caller after moving on from former offensive coordinator Greg Roman and hiring former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. During his tenure in Miami, McDaniel consistently showed an ability to boost running back production. Under McDaniel, Dolphins running back De'Von Achane has posted back-to-back seasons with at least 60 receptions, 1,400 scrimmage yards, and double-digit touchdowns. Fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty formats should view Hampton as a high-upside running back option heading into 2026.

Yesterday

Ladd McConkey • WR • Chargers

Ladd McConkey Trending Upwards After Coordinator Change in Los Angeles

After an excellent rookie season in 2024, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey posted a relatively disappointing sophomore campaign in 2025. Across 16 games played, the 24-year-old recorded 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets. McConkey's production fell off sharply down the stretch of the season, as he recorded just one game with more than 40 receiving yards after Week 10. After losing in the AFC Wild Card Round to the New England Patriots, the Chargers decided to move on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman, replacing him with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. While McDaniel's tenure in Miami went downhill over the last couple of seasons, he coached the Dolphins to top-five offenses by measure of total passing yardage in both 2022 and 2023. By contrast, Roman-coached teams have never finished better than 13th in passing yardage in any of his 12 seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator. Given the change in offensive infrastructure around him, McConkey could be in line for a bounce-back season in 2026.

Yesterday

Teair Tart • DL • Chargers

Teair Tart Agrees to Three-Year Extension

The Los Angeles Chargers and defensive tackle Teair Tart agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension on Monday, a source told Kris Rhim of ESPN. Tart's deal includes $20 million in guarantees. General manager Joe Hortiz and the Bolts have gone to work quickly this offseason to begin patching up what was one of the team's biggest weaknesses in 2025. Tart emerged as one of L.A.'s most important players this past season, and he came away with the best year of his career. His 12 run stops ranked seventh in the NFL and first on the team. In the Wild-Card loss to the New England Patriots, Tart deflected a pass that led to an interception, had his first sack since 2024, and had two tackles for loss. The Chargers are expected to look into contracts to retain outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack next.

2 days ago

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's playoff contest against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable and missed a pair of practices before being upgraded to a limited participant on Friday. Hampton sat out Week 18 with an ankle injury, but his absence was more of a precaution as Los Angeles rested many starters, and the rookie running back was just four weeks removed from a seven-game absence. He took a little while to get back to 100 percent after the injury, but his 81% snap share and 22 touches from Week 17 should indicate that he's back to a starter's workload. We wouldn't be surprised to see him handle another 20-plus touches against the Patriots, whose run defense started to falter down the stretch but still finished with the third-fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs in 2025.

Jan 12

Oronde Gadsden • TE • Chargers

Oronde Gadsden has Favorable Matchup in First Career NFL Playoff Game

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden displayed his versatility and developed a strong connection with Justin Herbert during the 2025 NFL season. The 22-year-old had 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets. Gadsden was a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers who were able to snipe him off waivers in his rookie season. Entering Wild Card Weekend, Gadsden will face a solid New England Patriots defense. The Patriots' defense allowed the fourth-fewest rushing touchdowns and the sixth-fewest rushing yards, while having one of the NFL's mild passing defenses. This could favor the Gadsden and the Chargers' passing attack. If the Chargers have a slow start running the football, they could turn Herbert's arm loose early. Gadsden could see a good number of targets against an average NFL passing defense in his first playoff game.

Jan 12

Quentin Johnston • WR • Chargers

Can Quentin Johnston Continue to be a Red-Zone Threat in the Playoffs?

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston was on a fantasy rollercoaster throughout the 2025 regular season. Johnston started the year on a tear and finished on a high note, but in the middle of the year, his fantasy production took a large dip. The 24-year-old had 51 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns, missing three regular-season games due to injuries and being rested as a key starter in Week 18. Entering Wild Card Weekend, Johnston will face the New England Patriots. The Patriots' defense ranked near the middle of the league in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2025, but they allowed the seventh-most touchdowns to the position. Johnston has had a knack for scoring touchdowns the last two seasons and has become a reliable red zone weapon for Justin Herbert. In a big game, Johnston will look to be a major contributor in the red zone.

Jan 11

Ladd McConkey • WR • Chargers

Ladd McConkey Looks to Bounce Back After Week Off

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey was an inconsistent contributor throughout the 2025 regular season, but he'll have an opportunity to get back on track by making a big impact against the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on Sunday evening. McConkey had 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns through 16 regular-season games, with his lone absence coming in Week 18 as Los Angeles rested key starters. New England ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2025, but they did allow the seventh-most touchdowns to the position. The best fantasy performance of McConkey's career came against the Patriots in Week 17 of the 2024 season, as he caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. New England's defense has gotten much stronger since then, but nonetheless, the second-year wideout will look to use today's game as an opportunity to get back on track.

Jan 11

Justin Herbert • QB • Chargers

Justin Herbert Looks to Shake Interception Trend After Week of Rest

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is well-rested coming into Wild Card Weekend after he sat out Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. Now, the Chargers open their playoff run with a road game against the AFC East champion New England Patriots. When Herbert last played 15 days ago against the Texans, He tallied 236 passing yards, 37 rushing yards, and one touchdown. However, he also took five sacks and threw an interception in that four-point loss. The interceptions have become a worrisome trend for Herbert, who has been picked off in four of his last five games. He also has five total turnovers during that span. Herbert hasn't gone back-to-back weeks without an interception since Weeks 1 and 2. He'll be tasked with protecting the football on Sunday if the Chargers have any chance of pulling off a road upset. One potential route to success for Herbert is running the football. He has 145 rushing yards in his last four games.

Jan 11

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Expects to Play on Sunday, May Struggle in Difficult Matchup

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) is officially questionable for his team's Wild Card round matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday night due to an ankle injury. However, the rookie back has said he expects to play. Hampton missed a significant chunk of the regular season with a fractured ankle, so he's been battling ankle ailments since early October. When on the field, the 22-year-old has been productive. Across nine games played in the regular season, Hampton racked up 545 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 124 carries. However, he faces a tough matchup against New England. The Patriots finished the regular season ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (1,729) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). Between the injury question marks and the tough matchup, Hampton profiles as a tough running back to trust for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.

Jan 11

Keandre Lambert-Smith • WR • Chargers

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Won't be Active for Wild-Card Game

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) did not practice all week and has been ruled out for Sunday night's Wild-Card playoff contest against the hosting New England Patriots. Lambert-Smith got more playing time in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos with the Bolts resting some starters, but he injured his hamstring and won't be available for the start of the postseason. The 23-year-old had a very limited role in his first year in the NFL with the Chargers, catching just five passes on 12 targets for 51 yards and one touchdown in 10 games played. Lambert-Smith's absence against the Pats could lead to some more playing time for Tre' Harris behind Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston.

Jan 9

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Expects to Play Sunday Night

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (ankle), who will reportedly carry a questionable tag into Sunday night's Wild-Card matchup with the Patriots, told reporters on Friday that he plans to play. Along with most of the team's starters, Hampton sat out of the team's Week 18 loss to the Broncos, but he did not practice in the week leading up to that game, and he has been listed as a DNP for the first two practices heading into Wild Card Weekend. Managers participating in fantasy playoff leagues will need to monitor Friday's injury report to see if Hampton can log at least a limited session. The Patriots' run defense struggled down the stretch after a dominant start to the season, but with Milton Williams (ankle) back in the lineup following a five-game absence, the team held Miami to 2.5 yards per carry in a dominant Week 18 showing. With leading tackler Robert Spillane also expected to be available for the playoffs, Hampton could face tough sledding in his first career playoff game.

Jan 9

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) will be listed as questionable for the team's Sunday night Wild-Card matchup with the Patriots. Hampton was unable to practice on Wednesday or Thursday after a week of missed practices leading up to the team's Week 18 loss to the Broncos. Hampton had seen his usage steadily increasing from Weeks 14 through 17 after missing two months of action with an ankle injury, so his lack of practice over the past two weeks is concerning. Fantasy managers participating in playoff leagues will need to monitor the Chargers' Friday practice report to see if he can at least log a limited session before the primetime playoff game. If active, Hampton faces a challenging New England front that appears to be getting healthier at the right time.

Jan 9

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Spotted at Friday's Practice

Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) is dressed and is going through stretches during practice on Friday, according to Eric Smith of Chargers.com. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that Hampton would be involved in practice on Thursday, but he was listed as a DNP for the second straight day this week. It's good news that the 22-year-old is back on the field on Friday, but his status is still up in the air for Sunday night's Wild-Card clash in New England against the Patriots. Fantasy managers will want to check back on the North Carolina product's official designation on L.A.'s final Wild-Card injury report. Hampton will most likely be listed as questionable, and he could be a game-time decision on Sunday evening. If he's unable to play or limited at all this weekend, Kimani Vidal would be in line for lead-back duties for the Bolts in a tough matchup on the road.

Jan 9

Kimani Vidal • RB • Chargers

Kimani Vidal Could be Chargers Lead Back in Wild-Card Round

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal could have a significant role on offense on Wild-Card weekend when the Bolts face off against the New England Patriots on Sunday night, as rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) has yet to practice this week due to an ankle injury. Hampton was rested in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos, but he may have aggravated an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve earlier this year. When Hampton was on the shelf, Vidal filled in nicely as a replacement RB1 for L.A., reaching the 100-yard mark three times while also scoring double-digit half-PPR fantasy points five times. The matchup against New England on the road is not a good one for the Chargers' running game behind a patchwork offensive line, but Vidal's increased volume alone as the RB1 would boost him to high-end RB2 territory in fantasy if Hampton isn't cleared to play.

Jan 8

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton Listed as DNP for Second Straight Day

Updating a previous report, Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) was listed as a non-participant at practice for the second straight day on Thursday, according to the team. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said earlier in the day that Hampton would be "involved some" in practice, but apparently that wasn't the case. The Bolts held the 22-year-old out in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos, along with a lot of their starters, but he's now officially up in the air to be ready to go for Sunday night's Wild-Card clash against the New England Patriots. We'll have a better idea of Hampton's status on Friday, but as of right now, he's a starting RB trending down in a bad matchup. If Hampton is out or limited at all this weekend, Kimani Vidal would jump into RB1 territory for the volume boost alone.

Jan 8

Omarion Hampton • RB • Chargers

Omarion Hampton to be "Involved Some" in Thursday's Practice

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) will be "involved some today" in practice on Thursday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. "We're going to wait and see on that. He's working through his process with the medical group. He's engaged. He's ready mentally with the game plan," Roman said. The 22-year-old did not practice at all on Wednesday. It's a good sign that Hampton will be on the field on Thursday, but it still sounds like his availability for Sunday night's Wild-Card game against the New England Patriots is very much up in the air. It's especially concerning that the North Carolina product is on the injury report after being rested in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Hampton suffered a fractured ankle back in Week 5 and didn't return from IR until Week 14. On top of his injury concern, Hampton and the Chargers are facing a tough Pats run defense, making Hampton a shaky low-end RB1 in fantasy.

Jan 8

Kimani Vidal • RB • Chargers

Kimani Vidal Set for Bigger Role Against Patriots?

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal only handled three rushing attempts for 12 yards and caught one pass for a two-yard loss in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Denver Broncos, despite the team resting rookie Omarion Hampton (ankle). Hampton did not practice on Wednesday and might have aggravated an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve earlier this season. With Hampton's status uncertain for the Wild-Card game on Sunday night against the New England Patriots, the 24-year-old Vidal could become more interesting for fantasy playoff lineups. However, the matchup isn't a great one, with New England allowing the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing RBs in 2025. Still, a big volume increase for Vidal if Hampton is out would put him in the RB2 conversation. Vidal filled in nicely as the Bolts' lead back with Hampton hurt this year, and he posted three 100-yard games.

Jan 8

Keenan Allen • WR • Chargers

Keenan Allen Hard to Trust Heading into Wild-Card Weekend

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen was the team's leading receiver in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and he caught seven passes, his most since a season-high 11 grabs back on Oct. 19. However, Allen had just 36 yards on Sunday with backup quarterback Trey Lance getting the starting nod with the Bolts resting Justin Herbert. The week prior, the 33-year-old Allen had just one catch for 17 yards in the loss to the Houston Texans. Allen has not scored since Week 7 and hasn't gone over 50 receiving yards in a contest since Week 11 against the Jaguars. He is a trustworthy security blanket for Herbert, the problem is that L.A.'s beat-up offensive line doesn't give Herbert much time to find his receivers. All of the Chargers' wideouts are shaky fantasy options going into the postseason against a Patriots defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs in the last five weeks.

Jan 8

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