Oronde Gadsden Fantasy Stats

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is already cautioning fantasy managers against reading too much into how his tight ends are used in Week 1. McDaniel said Thursday that it "might not be the smartest move" to make fantasy decisions after one game, adding that the group is going to grow and the Chargers will be able to do plenty with them. Oronde Gadsden is the name fantasy managers will be watching most closely. He caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie, but Los Angeles added both Charlie Kolar and David Njoku during the offseason. The Chargers' first unofficial depth chart has Kolar or Njoku starting, with Gadsden behind them. Kolar was brought in largely for what he can add as a blocker, while Njoku gives Justin Herbert another proven receiving option. That makes this a crowded room, but McDaniel's comments are another reason not to make a quick call on Gadsden based solely on Sunday's opener against Arizona. His rookie production is still worth betting on while the Chargers figure out how all three tight ends fit.

A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden was a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers during his rookie season. Across 15 games (seven starts), the 23-year-old recorded 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets. Despite the encouraging rookie campaign, Gadsden's fantasy value has fallen over the course of the summer. The Chargers added a pair of veteran tight ends in the offseason in Charlie Kolar and David Njoku, both of whom may currently be above Gadsden on the team's depth chart due to their superior skill set as blockers. Los Angeles also has plenty of target competition for Gadsden in its wide receiver corps between wideouts Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre' Harris. While Gadsden still carries some upside, his lack of a clear role in the Chargers offense makes him a player for redraft managers to avoid ahead of 2026.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden impressed in 2025, finishing as the TE17 and hauling in 49 of his 69 targets for 664 yards (13.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. He was the most explosive tight end in football with a 131.3 explosive rating, and while he was very efficient and productive, his blocking limitations and the addition of David Njoku and Charlie Kolar are making it more difficult for him to find playing time or to increase his snap share. Additionally, in most of the Chargers' preseason games, Gadsden often played with the backups. Gadsden may be an explosive option in specific passing situations, but it's possible we'll see his 61.4 percent snap share, which was 28th in the NFL last season, continue to decline with the additional tight ends in the room. RotoBaller ranks Gadsden as the TE31 on the season, making him a clear fade in all one-tight-end formats.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had two catches for 24 yards on three targets in his team's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. Most notably, Gadsden did not see a snap with the first-team unit, as Charlie Kolar and David Njoku took all of those snaps. Gadsden only played with the backups and caught a target from Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei. The 23-year-old produced as a solid fantasy option as a rookie, which had managers excited to see him in his sophomore campaign. However, with training camp reports and his preseason usage, that excitement has come to a screeching halt. With Gadsden playing well into the second half with the No. 3 quarterback, it will be interesting to see how much he plays in the regular season.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had two catches for 21 yards on three targets in Thursday's 27-7 victory over the Houston Texans in their preseason opener. Gadsden's lone drop came in the end zone when officials ruled him out of bounds before he completed the catch. The 23-year-old played three offensive drives during the game, but more importantly, he was the only tight end in the potential rotation to play. David Njoku and Charlie Kolar were both held out of the game as the Chargers opted to rest most of their key starters and veterans. This could be the first sign of how the team values the tight end group and how they plan to utilize each of them this season. It will be worth keeping tabs on how much each tight end in that three-man rotation plays during the preseason.

The Los Angeles Chargers released their first unofficial depth chart on Sunday ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Texans, and tight end Oronde Gadsden is listed as a co-starter along with both Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. The "or" designation is used throughout the lineup, including at running back where both Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are listed in the primary backup spot, but with the highest statistical upside of the tight end group, fantasy managers are likely looking for more signs of encouragement surrounding Gadsden after he spent much of the early offseason as a popular breakout candidate. The second-year tight end was candid in recent remarks to the media about needing to improve as a blocker, and with Kolar and Njoku both excelling in that area, Gadsden could be hard-pressed to make consistent contributions in 2026, and he enters the year as RotoBaller's TE20.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden was expected to be the starter heading into this season. According to Alex Insdorf, Gadsden might not have an easy path to the starting gig. On Saturday, Chargers head coach John Harbaugh said the team has four capable options at tight end, and refused to name a starter. The Chargers did bring in Charlie Kolar and David Njoku as competition for Gadsden. His role will likely be reduced with more capable bodies at the tight end spot now. Gadsden posted a strong rookie campaign and should remain an important part of the offense. Although it appears Harbaugh isn't ready to name anyone the starter quite yet.

After a standout rookie season in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden has been pushed to the side by the team's recent additions to the tight end room. Gadsden hauled in 49 of 69 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season as a rookie. However, the team added former Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar to a three-year, $24.3 million contract and former Pro-Bowler David Njoku as well. In training camp, footage has shown Gadsden catching passes from fourth-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, while Kolar and Njoku work with the first team. If this trend continues, fantasy managers will need to pump the brakes on a second-year breakout for the former Syracuse tight end.

For a four-week stretch early into his rookie season, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had the appearance of the league's next young superstar. From Weeks 6 through 9, the 2025 fifth-round pick caught 24 of 27 targets for 377 yards and two scores, essentially a full-season pace of 100-1,600-8 that, unsurprisingly, made him the fantasy TE1 over that stretch. While he was unable to maintain that torrid pace the rest of the way, catching only 17 passes for 211 yards and one score over his final eight games, there is plenty to be excited about heading into his second season, especially now that he finds himself in Mike McDaniel's quick-game-heavy offense. While the free agent acquisitions of David Njoku and Charlie Kolar add a level of competition that was not present in 2025, Gadsden is still the safest bet to lead the position group in targets, and with veteran receiver Keenan Allen no longer under contract, he could step into an important role as one of the team's primary chain-movers. Currently ranked as RotoBaller's TE16, Gadsden is the exact type of high-upside swing that redraft managers should be looking to target in the closing rounds of drafts if they missed out or were unwilling to spend up on the elite tier of the position.

A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden emerged as a surprisingly important piece of his team's offense as a rookie. Across 15 games (seven starts), the 22-year-old hauled in 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns on 69 targets. With an average of 13.6 yards per reception, Gadsden II showed off an ability to stretch the field that is rare at the tight end position. Entering 2026, Gadsden II's playing time outlook has some questions following the Chargers' offseason acquisitions of veteran tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. However, Njoku is only signed through 2026, and Kolar profiles more as a blocking tight end. As long as Gadsden II continues to progress in his second NFL season, he profiles as the long-term answer for the Chargers at the tight end position. In dynasty leagues where Gadsden II's value may have dipped after Los Angeles' offseason moves, managers should take advantage of the opportunity to buy low.