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    McDaniel could use all three RBs, ride ‘hot hand’

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    LAC Running Back #8
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    Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said he could use all three RBs in a game and that usage may depend on who has the “hot hand.”

    It’s the kind of thing fantasy managers hate to hear. When speaking about his running backs on Monday, McDaniel said, “I see all three producing at a very high level,” while saying the workload for each back could depend on the opponent and who has the “hot hand.” While it’s certainly concerning on the surface, we feel pretty confident in Omarion Hampton having the safest role as far as fantasy is concerned, while Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal could prove a bit more volatile. Their volatility has been baked into their ADP all offseason, as Mitchell is often going in the 12th or 13th round of drafts while Vidal often goes undrafted. It may take some time to get a good sense of McDaniel’s plans for the backfield, but we would expect a clear-cut RB1 and RB2 to emerge this season.
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  • LAC Running Back #34
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    He was eventually added to the injury report as “limited” with an ankle issue. Per Rhim, Mitchell told reporters in the locker room he was okay. Mitchell was not initially on the injury report. This obviously flared up during practice but he didn’t have it looked at until after the report was posted. We will get more clarity on the situation tomorrow. Mitchell’s role grew in Week 3 with 11 touches, but a foot or ankle injury would likely limit any further progress.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Mitchell’s touchdown was on a “pass” from Justin Hebert that was really a jet sweep where Herbert let go of the ball, and Mitchell rushed it in off the edge. Regardless, it was a nice run by Mitchell, who made Deone Walker miss in the backfield and is a clear example that the Chargers want to get him the ball in space. Mitchell did see about half as many carries as Omarion Hampton, but he played just three fewer snaps and ran a route on nine more dropbacks. Considering he was also seeing some work in the red zone, Mitchell needs to be rostered in all formats right now.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    The Chargers were missing two starting interior linemen and decided that running up the gut was not going to work for them. Understandably so. Hampton was held to just 3.7 yards per carry and didn’t seem to break any tackles in the interior of the Bills’ defensive line. Mike McDaniel decided to use Keaton Mitchell on the perimeter at the start of the game, but the Bills adjusted to take that away. At the end of the day, Hampton had 15 carries to Mitchell’s eight, but Hampton played 29 snaps, while Mitchell played 26 and ran a route on double the amount of dropbacks that Hampton did. This is a problematic timeshare in an offense that doesn’t look very good right now. Hampton remains a low-end RB2 who is touchdown dependent, which means he’s probably an RB3 next week against the Seahawks.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    The Chargers deployed Mitchell sparingly once again. He touched the ball four times in his LA debut last week and that number only improved to six this time around. Omarion Hampton logged 23 carries and two catches today. On the other hand, Hampton coughed up a game-losing fumble, so the Chargers may want to see more from Mitchell next week versus the Bills. He is buried in the RB5/6 ranks for now, but fantasy managers can hold onto him for at least one more week.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Hampton was a workhorse in this game, picking up what was blocked but not much more. He had a solid outing going until late in the fourth quarter when Nakobe Dean knocked the football out of his hands and into the waiting arms of Jeremy Chinn. A lengthy return put the Raiders in scoring position and all but ended the game. Fantasy managers won’t be too bothered by the blunder today, but it could result in the team giving more work to Keaton Mitchell, who only touched the ball six times. Hampton will be near the top of the RB2 ranks for Week 3 versus the Bills despite seeing an RB1 workload today.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Omarion Hampton led the LA backfield with ten carries. Hampton scored a short rushing touchdown and lost a fumble in the first half. Mitchell logged 13 pass routes and one target against the Cardinals while Hampton ran 17 routes and was not targeted. Mitchell’s Week 1 involvement could lead to some fantasy usefulness at some point this season. For now he’ll remain a big-play reliant flex play in deeper formats.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Hampton got away with it thanks to a first half touchdown plunge before the LA offense imploded following Ladd McConkey’s chest injury. Hampton was not targeted on 17 pass routes while Keaton Mitchell saw one target on 13 routes. Mitchell had four rushes on the day. Mike McDaniel’s offense collapsed immediately after the Bolts marched downfield on their first drive of the game, making it hard to tell exactly how Hampton (and Mitchell) will be used in neutral game script. That the Chargers were dominated by the Cardinals could be a bad sign for everyone in the Chargers offense, including Hampton. He’ll be a top-20 option next week against the Raiders.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Mitchell, a limited participant in practice for much of the week, will suit up for the Bolts’ season opener against Arizona. He should see a handful of designed touches in Mike McDaniel’s offense while Omarion Hampton functions as the team’s lead back and Kimani Vidal mixes in here and there. Mitchell can be used as a second flex option for now. Chargers declared S RJ Mickens, CB Deane Leonard, OL Logan Taylor, OL Alex Harkey, and OL Trevor Penning inactive for their season opener.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    It’s been more than three weeks since Mitchell strained his hamstring in the Chargers’ preseason game against the 49ers. Mitchell upgraded to full participation on Friday after two limited sessions to begin the week. He should be fully recovered and ready for rotational duties against a beatable Cardinals defense. Consider him a volatile RB4/FLEX, potentially aided by increased passing game usage.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    If active, Mitchell will be an RB4. The Chargers’ talented running back group goes three-deep, so there is no reason to rush the speedy player back. That said, consecutive limited sessions put Mitchell on track to face the Cardinals on Sunday.

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  • WAS Running Back #1
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    Rachaad White (shoulder) did not practice Thursday.

    With two DNPs to start the week, White looks unlikely to suit up for Week 4 against the Colts. Austin Ekeler traveled with the team after signing with the team earlier this week, so he could ultimately take on White’s role. Backup running back Kayton Allen could also see more work, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt remains the clear lead back in Washington for now. He is on the RB2/3 border for Week 4.
  • PIT Running Back #13
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports there is a “pretty good chance” Rico Dowdle (toe) returns in Week 5 against the Colts.

    Dowdle did not practice this week and was ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Browns. Rapoport called him day-to-day. The mini-bye between today’s game and Pittsburgh’s Week 5 date with Indy at home should be enough rest to get Dowdle back on the field. Jaylen Warren will see almost the entirety of the backfield tonight before returning to committee duties once Dowdle is healthy.
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports there is “a chance” that Joey Porter Jr. (back/conditioning/contract) plays in Week 4 against the Texans.

    Porter Jr. missed the first three games of the year with a back issue. The Steelers also listed conditioning under his name on the injury report and even took the back injury off entirely at one point. All of that is to say that his absences were ultimately contract-related, which everyone knew in the first place. He was ruled out for Thursday’s game by Pittsburgh, but is eligible to play for the Cowboys this week if they can get him up to speed on the playbook ahead of Sunday’s game. He will likely play on specific packages if he does suit up, but that would still be an upgrade for a banged-up Dallas secondary.
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    NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports the Cowboys “will not be immediately extending Joey Porter Jr.”

    Schultz added that the plan is to have him play first and “the contract will take care of itself from there.” That’s not exactly what Porter Jr. was looking to get out of this move, but it also points to the fact that his relationship with the Steelers was simply fractured beyond repair. Pittsburgh’s somewhat archaic rules around contract negotiations drove a wedge between them and their star corner. They don’t extend players during the season and, with rare exceptions, they do not guarantee money beyond the first year of a new deal. If Porter Jr. suits up next week and puts a few good games on tape, we suspect the Cowboys will feel comfortable giving him the contract he wanted from the Steelers.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #19
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    Marvin Mims (foot) is practicing in full for Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Mims went down with a foot injury in Week 1 and hasn’t played or practiced since. A full session on Wednesday means he’s good to go for Week 4. He could push Troy Franklin for the WR4 job, but his biggest contributions will come in the return game.
  • DAL Cornerback #24
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    Tom Pelissero of The Ringer reports that the Cowboys have acquired Joey Porter Jr. in a trade with the Steelers.

    In exchange for Porter, the Cowboys will send the Steelers a second-round selection as well as a conditional sixth-round pick. Pelissero noted in his blog that trade talks between Dallas and Pittsburgh had picked up over the past few weeks, and the deal will soon become official. Porter has yet to play a snap in 2026 as he has dealt with a back injury, and also a contract dispute. The 26-year-old is one of the more talented corners in football, and Dallas has struggled considerably to stop the pass over the first three weeks. Assuming good health, Porter should be a vast improvement over what the Cowboys have gotten out of their corners to begin 2026.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • PHI Running Back #28
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    Will Shipley (foot) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

    Shipley was limited by his foot issue in Week 3, and received just two targets in the passing game with no carries. With Tank Bigsby a full-go during Wednesday’s estimated session, Shipley is looking at a limited amount of touches even if he can go in Week 4.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • SEA Running Back #8
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    Jadarian Price (chest) was limited in Wednesday’s practice ahead of Week 4 against the Chargers.

    Price was able to play in Week 3 despite the chest ailment, although he was benched for most of the first half after giving up a second fumble of the season. If Price can’t go, George Holani and Emmanuel Wilson — not necessarily in that order — would be the replacements, and are likely to be involved regardless.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • PHI Linebacker #53
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    Eagles WLB Zack Baun is in the league’s concussion protocol.

    It’s less than ideal news for the Eagles’ every-down ‘backer with the team on a short week against the Rams. Teams seem to be getting players through the protocol faster than ever of late, but the Eagles’ six-day work week has play-making Baun firmly on the wrong side of questionable.
  • PHI Wide Receiver #6
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    DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was held out of Wednesday’s practice.

    This is the same routine Smith followed last week before ultimately suiting up against the Bears on Monday Night Football. Perhaps the pattern changes with the Eagles on a short week against the Rams, but we would fully expect Smith to be out there as a high-end WR2 this weekend.