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    McDaniel won’t bench an RB if he is playing well

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    LAC Running Back #8
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    Speaking on NFL Daily about his backfield rotation, Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said, “if a player is playing really well, I’m not going to take them out.”

    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.
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  • LAC Running Back #8
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    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.
  • 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.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    McDaniel said you could see how focused Hampton was between the offseason program and the start of training camp. Coaches praising their players is nothing new, but it can’t hurt for a second-year back to catch the eye of one of the most successful play-callers in the NFL. Hampton appeared in only nine games as a rookie, and his role declined in the second half of the season. Currently going off the board as fantasy football’s RB8, Hampton needs to improve in year two to pay off his lofty ADP.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Adding some passing-game viability would be excellent news for Mitchell’s fantasy value, and the fact that we’re getting it straight from the coach’s mouth is a big update. We still don’t know how often Mitchell will play behind Omarion Hampton and alongside fellow backup Kimani Vidal, but it sounds like McDaniel is working on ways to get Mitchell involved, calling him “a playmaker that I’m very excited about.”
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Per Popper, the Chargers really like Mitchell’s ability to “press the edge and get explosives to the outside.” That said, Popper believes Vidal will “give Mitchell a push” for the role. He also believes that both players will make the final roster, regardless. If this is how the depth chart shakes out, one wonders whether Vidal could sneak onto the field in certain passing situations, potentially reducing Mitchell’s standalone viability. Mitchell was seen working in the passing game last week, though — something he rarely did in Baltimore — so it is too early to tell.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    “If McDaniel can build a top-five offense, Hampton will be an essential part in that process,” Popper writes while noting that he “has a chance to be one of the best running backs in the league. That is not hyperbole.” It seems some of you have already caught on as Hampton is being drafted ahead of backs like Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Walker, and Derrick Henry as a top 10 RB by ADP. Assuming he can avoid the injuries that derailed his rookie season, Hampton has a chance to finish as one of the best backs in fantasy football this season.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Huge, if true. For his part, Hampton seemed unfamiliar with Davis’ game but vowed to “check out his highlights.” This might seem like a silly summer storyline — and, to be clear, it is — but it does at least serve to highlight that Hampton remains comfortably ahead of free agent addition Keaton Mitchell, who has taken up lots of digital ink this offseason. McDaniel’s comparison means very little, but you don’t throw out the name Terrell Davis for a back you aren’t planning to be one of the cornerstones of the offense. Currently being drafted in the low-end RB1 range, Hampton’s ADP is sky high considering his limited rookie accomplishments, but he could end up being in the right place at the right time with McDaniel’s proven fantasy system coming to Los Angeles.
  • LAC Running Back #30
    Vidal, Moton said, could drop to RB3 on the Chargers’ depth chart this offseason if free agent signing Keaton Mitchell is healthy following a 2024 knee injury that kept him sidelined for much of the 2025 season in Baltimore. The Chargers in march re-signed Vidal to a one-year deal as an exclusive rights free agent after he ran for 643 yards and three touchdowns during the 2025 season. He also caught 16 passes on 20 targets, mostly when Omarion Hampton was sidelined with injury. Look for Mitchell to gain steam in fantasy circles if Vidal leaves LA in the coming weeks or months.
  • LAC Running Back
    Popper, like other observers and analysts, says Mitchell is a great fit for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s rushing offense. Mitchell last week signed a two-year contract with LA worth $9.3 million. The explosive Mitchell, who last season ran for 341 yards at a 5.8 yards per carry clip in Baltimore, compares favorably to De’Von Achane, who was one of the NFL’s most efficient backs in McDaniel’s system in Miami. Though Omarion Hampton is likely to remain the Chargers’ lead back in 2026, Mitchell could see a handful of designed touches that might make hum flex viable in what should be a run-first Bolts offense. Mitchell would have a shot at RB1 duties in 2026 if Hampton once again struggles with injuries.
  • LAC Running Back #34
    Mitchell became an unrestricted free agent after the Ravens chose not to tender him. It’s hard to imagine much of a better landing spot for the speedster. Chargers OC Mike McDaniel turned De’Von Achane into a home run machine in Miami, and Mitchell is one of the few players who can match Achane’s top-end speed. Mitchell will be parked behind Omarion Hampton in LA, but he should hold some fantasy value if he can secure the RB2 gig. Mitchell ran for 341 yards at 5.8 yards per carry last year. His career average is over six YPC. Even as strictly a backup, Mitchell will be an intriguing fantasy bet in 2026.

Rotoworld

  • DET Wide Receiver #18
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    Isaac TeSlaa caught 0-of-3 targets in the Lions’ preseason Week 1 game against the Bengals.

    The Lions’ established starters did not play. Lions WR Greg Dortch could be challenging TeSlaa’s WR3 role, although Dortch went 0-for-1 as a receiver as well. TeSlaa out-snapped him 15-7 on the first three drives. TeSlaa took two more snaps on the fourth drive, sans Dortch, which ended in a turnover. This is a position battle to keep an eye on.
  • CIN Wide Receiver #80
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    Andrei Iosivas caught 2-of-2 targets for 20 yards in the Bengals’ preseason Week 1 game against the Lions.

    Iosivas was on the field for two drives, taking 10 of the first 13 snaps and playing alongside QB Joe Burrow. Fourth-round rookie WR Colbie Young subbed in, taking one snap on the second drive and remained on the field after the starters left. He looked good hauling in a 20-yard gain on 3rd-and-16 from QB Joe Flacco. The battle for the Bengals’ WR3 role continues with Iosivas seemingly ahead of the rookie.
  • GB Wide Receiver #11
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    Jayden Reed caught 1-of-2 targets for 19 yards in the Packers’ preseason Week 1 game against the Steelers.

    Reed played 7-of-9 snaps on the first drive before calling it a night. He was in the slot for all seven snaps. Reed snagged a 19-yard pass via a post route from the slot on 3rd-and-5. He was targeted again on a corner route just outside the end zone on 3rd-and-4 from the Steelers’ 19-yar4d line, but the pass was broken up. Packers WR Matthew Golden led the first-team offense with nine snaps.
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    Seahawks signed CB Terrion Arnold, formerly of the Lions.

    ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the NFL must decide whether to put Arnold on the Commissioner’s Exempt List regarding his February arrest in relation to a robbery and kidnapping. Arnold reportedly has eight pending felony charges. The Lions drafted Arnold in the 2024 NFL Draft’s first round. They waived him in June. He notched four pass breakups and one interception in eight games last year.
  • LAC Running Back #8
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    Speaking on NFL Daily about his backfield rotation, Chargers OC Mike McDaniel said, “if a player is playing really well, I’m not going to take them out.”

    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.
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Packers TE Tucker Kraft (knee) is on track to play in Week 1 against the Vikings.

    According to Rapoport, the “biggest question” Kraft faces is whether he will get a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL before the season kicks off. Kraft led the team in receptions (16) and receiving yards (225) when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9 last year. At 25 years old, he is early in his prime.
  • GB Quarterback #10
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    ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports that Packers QB Jordan Love will start in the team’s preseason Week 1 game against the Steelers.

    Although a potential, albeit brief, matchup against Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is intriguing, the Packers’ wide receiver rotation is the real reason to tune in. Packers WR Christian Watson should be the team’s top target earner this season, and Love said WR Matthew Golden is set to assume X-receiver duties. Will slot WR Jayden Reed get to take snaps in two-receiver sets? That is to be determined.
  • PIT Quarterback #8
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    ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports that Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers could play one or two series in the team’s preseason Week 1 game against the Packers.

    Rodgers may not play at all, and reports indicate that he, personally, could go either way on the matter. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy plans to play quarterbacks in three groups. The first two will split first-half reps, while the third plays for the entire second half. Shortly after this report, during pre-game warmups, Pryor said that “all signs are pointing to Rodgers being on the bench tonight.”
  • FA Outside Linebacker #52
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    Free agent EDGE Za’Darius Smith worked out for the Browns on Thursday.

    Smith, 33, retired in October 2025 as a member of the Eagles. The team released him from the reserve/retired list in June, officially making him a free agent. He is apparently hoping to continue his career. Smith played for the Browns in Weeks 1-9 during the 2024 season before being traded to the Lions.
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    Patriots placed RB Terrell Jennings on injured reserve.

    Jennings spent time on the active/non-football injury list this summer. He was activated 10 days ago. It is unclear whether the same issue that sidelined him then caused his injured reserve placement. The Patriots correspondingly signed RB JaMycal Hasty.