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    McDaniel: ‘Good news and bad news, fantasy owners’

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    LAC Running Back #8
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    Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said “I’ll use all three of those guys probably every game” when asked about the backfield.

    Speaking to reporters Monday, Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said that all three of Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal will be featured in the backfield this season. “Good news is I see all three of those guys performing at a very high level,” McDaniel said. “Kinda play hot hand once you’re into games.” While that’s not the best news for fantasy managers that invested second round picks into Hampton, the opportunity for the Chargers to turn heads on the scoreboard could result in a case of “a rising tide raises all ships.” McDaniel famously, and recently, made two backs top-six producers in fantasy points per game in the same season, with both Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane finishing 2023 in that range. Whether a similar situation transpires in Los Angeles remains to be seen.
Young, Shough have interesting situations
Chris Simms and Mike Florio discuss the outlooks for both Bryce Young and Tyler Shough in 2026, examining if both quarterbacks will finish the 2026 season as starters.

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  • LAC Running Back #34
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    Mitchell missed the last six practices due to an undisclosed injury but was on the field Monday participating in drills. The Chargers don’t need to disclose any specifics regarding Mitchell’s injury until Wednesday, when they release their first official injury report of the season, but his return on Monday is an encouraging sign. Mitchell is expected to work into the mix with Omarion Hampton, who will serve as the unquestioned RB1 for the Chargers this season. Whether or not Mitchell sees enough work to be fantasy viable is to be determined, but there’s some belief he could see some work in the passing game, which could establish a decent floor for him in half and full-PPR leagues. Mitchell is an intriguing stash in fantasy leagues, but managers shouldn’t be rushing to put him in their starting lineups just yet.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Popper makes clear that RB Omarion Hampton will be an offensive centerpiece, but Mitchell should have his own helpful role as well. Mitchell will be involved in the passing game, at times lining up outside and getting involved “vertically” as a receiver. Mitchell will need to maximize his touches if he is going to warrant FLEX treatment as Hampton’s sidekick, and his health remains a question at the moment, as he deals with an undisclosed injury. On the plus side, Popper did not mention the ailment at all, which could be taken as a positive.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Popper fielded a question about Hampton’s top-10 chances as a guest on the Locked On Chargers show. The metrics for measuring this feat were left undefined, but rushing yardage or scrimmage yardage are the two most likely baselines. While OC Mike McDaniel has teased a potential hot-hand approach, Popper has remained steadfast in his stance that Hampton is set for bellcow duties thanks in part to speed, physicality and scheme versatility. He warrants RB1 treatment right out of the gate.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Mitchell has been out of action for more than a week after experiencing a “minor setback” for an undisclosed injury. This could be a situation where we’re all left in the dark until the team is required to disclose injuries in the week leading up to Week 1, leaving fantasy managers to plan for contingencies. Any missed time from Mitchell would be a measurable boost to the weekly expectations of Omarion Hampton.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    This comes on the heels of a missed session on Sunday for the fourth-year back. The team has yet to release a complete injury update for Mitchell after failing to disclose an injury status the previous day, leaving fantasy managers stuck in limbo with less than three weeks until the start of the regular season. “We sustained a mild setback with Keaton, but realistically, that’s a position that you’re always wanting to have three, and I like what our young guys are doing to press into that group,” McDaniel said Monday. It is difficult to read too far into McDaniel’s remarks without further context, keeping Mitchell a strong streaming option in shallow leagues, for the time being.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    This is worth keeping an eye on. Mitchell’s preseason usage indicates he is the Chargers’ clear-cut No. 2 running back, operating in what could be a FLEX-viable role. Mitchell played on 10-of-10 possible snaps across the Chargers’ second and third drives in last week’s preseason game before taking a trip to the blue medical tent. He avoided a trip to the locker room and was allowed to return to the sidelines thereafter. Although the latter aspect is encouraging, today’s absence suggests he is at least a minor injury. The coaching staff is not required to divulge injury information until Week 1 practices begin. Hopefully, someone digs up something useful on this, though. For now, keep drafting him as planned, but be on the lookout for updates.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Mitchell’s box score would have looked a lot better if his 21-yard reception on a route out of the backfield had not been called back due to a penalty. Chargers starting RB Omarion Hampton played all three snaps on the opening drive before giving way to Mitchell, who played 10-of-10 snaps on the second and third drives. Fellow backup RB Kimani Vidal took the field as the Chargers’ kick returner to begin the game. He made his first appearance on offense on the Chargers’ fourth drive. Mitchell could return standalone FLEX value with big-play upside in this role. He reportedly visited the blue medical tent, but was allowed to return to the sideline. Hopefully, this is a non-issue.
  • LAC Running Back #28
    Vidal stayed in for two drives and did not catch his only target. Tonight’s start suggests Vidal is behind RB Keaton Mitchell on the depth chart. Mitchell did not play, nor did starting RB Omarion Hampton. Vidal is a proven, capable fill-in starter, but he should only be drafted as the Chargers’ RB3 at this time.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Earlier this week, McDaniel said he plans to employ a hot-hand approach at the running back position and plans to “use all three of those guys probably every game.” NFL Daily co-hosts Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue helpfully followed up on those comments, specifically regarding their fantasy football implications. McDaniel encouragingly prefaced his response by saying, “no one has to worry,” adding that benching productive players is “bad business.” If you were already bullish on one or more of Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal, these comments can be taken positively. Reading between the lines, if Hampton, the starter, proves his value as the team’s RB1, he should receive a fantasy-friendly workload.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    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.

Rotoworld

  • NYG Wide Receiver #1
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    ESPN’s Dan Graziano said it “sounds like” Malik Nabers (knee) will play in Week 1 against the Cowboys.

    Coming back from a 2025 ACL injury, there’s been speculation that Nabers might not be ready for the Giants’ opening game against Dallas on Sunday night. Graziano seems to think the Giants releasing veteran WR Darius Slayton over the weekend is a sign Nabers will be a go for Week 1, and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said Nabers “seems to be trending in a positive direction” five days ahead of New York’s season opener. The Giants won’t practice Tuesday. Nabers’ Wednesday practice status could tell us whether he’s a full go against the Cowboys.
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    The Patriots and CB Christian Gonzalez are in agreement on a four-year, $135 million deal, according to ESPN’s Ian Rapoport.

    It’s $102 million guaranteed for the 24-year-old Gonzalez, who is entering his fourth season after being drafted 17th overall in 2023. Gonzalez went without an interception during the regular season last year, but he was a Pro Bowler anyway and he did come up with a huge pick in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship versus the Broncos. The Patriots had him under control for two more years after exercising his fifth-year option in April.
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    49ers OC Klay Kubiak said TE George Kittle “looks good” for Week 1.

    Asked whether Kittle would play in Week 1, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said, “We have two more practices, but Kittle looks good.” That was not as explicit as defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ quote on Nick Bosa’s expected status just minutes earlier, but it certainly seems to confirm mounting reports that Kittle is on track to suit up for Week 1. Kubiak added at the end of his response that Kittle’s “workload will be determined,” also reinforcing earlier reports that the team was likely to monitor his snap rate closely. Fantasy managers are likely better off taking a wait-and-see approach with Kittle until he has proven to be capable of a normal workload.
  • SF Defensive Lineman #97
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    49ers DC Raheem Morris said DE Nick Bosa is going to play in Week 1 against the Rams.

    During a media sessions late Monday, Morris was asked if Bosa would be able to go in Week 1 against the Rams, to which he responded, “Oh, he’s going out there. He’s going.” There’s no room left for interpretation about that quote, meaning Bosa is expected to make his return to the field after tearing his ACL in Week 3 of the 2025 season. Don’t expect a normal allotment of snaps in his first game in almost a calendar year, but the veteran pass-rusher can still make a significant impact when on the field. IDP managers will want to confirm his status on the team’s injury report Tuesday before making plans to insert him into Week 1 lineups.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #15
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    Seahawks WR Tory Horton (hamstring) was limited in practice Monday.

    It was the second straight day with the same level of participation for the second-year receiver, who could be headed for a game-day injury designation for the team’s season opener. We were kept in the dark regarding Horton’s ailment after he missed the final three weeks of camp, with a hamstring injury now labeled as the cause. Although Jake Bobo’s season-ending ACL tear all but guaranteed Horton a spot on game-day rosters, he remains unlikely to contribute meaningful counting stats playing behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp. Second-year undrafted free agent Montorie Foster Jr would be in line to serve as the team’s fourth receiver on Wednesday should Horton be unable to go.
  • SEA Free Safety #39
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    Seahawks S Ty Okada (hamstring) did not practice Sunday.

    It’s the second straight missed practice for Okada as he tends to a hamstring injury, while fellow starting safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle) is thought to be doubtful to suit up against the Patriots Wednesday, per those close to the team. The team’s final injury report of their Week 1 preparation will be released Tuesday, upon which we’ll receive final game designations. Keep a close eye on the transaction reports from Seattle to gauge the expected level of health of both players. Considering the Seahawks carried only three safeties on their initial 53-man roster, any practice squad elevations from the secondary could signal expected absences from one, or both, players.
  • SEA Running Back #26
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    Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald said Zach Charbonnet (knee) is on target to meet his “aggressive” timetable for a return.

    Macdonald wouldn’t reveal what the timetable was for Charbonnet’s return, but said the fourth-year back has looked “dang good” as he continues his rehab. Charbonnet will open this season on the PUP list, meaning he’ll be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season before the team can consider activating him to play. Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in last year’s NFC Divisional Round game against the 49ers and is less than seven full months removed from the reconstruction surgery that took place on February 20th. The timing of his injury, coupled with the surgery, led many to believe Charbonnet would miss a significant portion of the season, but this talk of an “aggressive” timetable suggests he could be back far earlier than expected.
  • TEN Linebacker #33
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    Titans LB Cedric Gray is in concussion protocol.

    According to Titans beat Jim Wyatt, Gray was entered into concussion protocol after being involved in an accident while in an ultra terrain vehicle. The Titans released a statement saying that Gray “sustained a concussion and minor injuries” and that they expect him to be on the field once he clears concussion protocol. Gray is entering his third year in the league and is coming off a 2025 season in which he totaled 164 tackles, one sack, and two fumble recoveries while starting all 16 games he appeared in.
  • FA Wide Receiver #18
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    Giants released WR Darius Slayton.

    The longest-tenured Giants player is now in search of a new home after the team opted to release the 29-year-old receiver on Monday. Slayton was reportedly at risk of not making the initial 53-man roster out of camp, but survived the initial cuts only to be released a week later. During his seven seasons with the Giants, Slayton totaled 296 receptions for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns while serving primarily as a field stretcher. He posted four seasons of 724 or more receiving yards and had an impressive rookie campaign when he went for 48-740-8 as a rookie fifth-rounder out of Auburn. Slayton should have no trouble finding a new home in the coming days, but it may take some time before he’s back to seeing the field in a meaningful capacity.
  • ARI Running Back #4
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    Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur said he feels “good” about Jeremiyah Love’s (ankle) chances of playing in Week 1 against the Chargers.

    LaFleur said Love is “progressing” well from the high ankle sprain he suffered this preseason and said the rookie running back “was out there moving around today.” It was reported last week by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that he had a 50/50 chance of playing in Week 1, but it sounds like he’s trending toward being ready for the season opener. The Cardinals will release their first official injury report on Wednesday, which should give us a better sense of Love’s availability before the weekend.