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    Hampton in timeshare, held to 56 yards in loss

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    LAC Running Back #8
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    Omarion Hampton rushed 15 times for 56 yards in a Week 3 loss to the Bills.

    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.
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  • LAC Quarterback #10
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    Justin Herbert and the flailing Chargers skill position players have appeared almost comically confused about all the pre-snap motion OC Mike McDaniel uses. That came through in the team’s embarrassing Week 6 loss to the Chiefs when players were bumping into each other during pre-snap motion calls from Herbert. Head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged the team is considering narrowing the offensive playbook during their bye week. “Definitely looking at volume and where you can make it to where the players can understand,” Harbaugh said when asked about how Chargers players were adjusting to McDaniel’s complex offense. The Chargers have used pre-snap motion on 74 percent of their snaps, the fourth highest rate in the NFL. Last year they used motion on 56 percent of their snaps. Hopefully these adjustments lead to some production for the NFL’s worst offense.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Hampton was his usual plodding self in this one, with a long rush of four yards in another depressing outing for the LA offense. Kimani Vidal, meanwhile had seven rushes for 21 yards and got much of his work in the first quarter. Keaton Mitchell had just two carries and did not catch his lone target. Hampton led the backfield in routes and targets on the day. His diminishing role and his lack of efficiency has made Hampton nothing more than a touchdown-dependent desperation flex option this year. The Chargers have a bye in Week 7.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Webster’s defines plodding as whatever this was. Hampton picked up a literal third of his yards on one 11-yard carry, and while much of the blame goes to the sheer lack of bodies on the offensive line, it was still mightily unimpressive. Hampton is at best a dart-throw FLEX for Week 6 against the Chiefs.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    “I don’t see any change in terms of the depth chart at all. I felt I was underutilizing a strength,” McDaniel said about the increased usage of Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal. McDaniel’s statement is good for Hampton in the sense that we know Hampton will retain a reasonable role. And it’s bad because McDaniel is all but confirming the pecking order will remain the same. Expect more low-end RB2/FLEX nonsense from Hampton.
  • LAC Running Back #8
    Hampton’s late touchdown that still left the Chargers down by 10 in the middle of the fourth quarter is the only positive of the day. Los Angeles clearly isn’t enamored with the second-year tailback — or at the very best, is concerned about keeping him healthy — right now, and he was clearly in a timeshare again with Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal. He’s at best a FLEX play for Week 5 against the tough Denver defense.
  • 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 #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 #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’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.

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  • SEA Wide Receiver #10
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    Cooper Kupp caught both targets for 20 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs.

    Kupp saw sparse usage as Jaxon Smith-Njigba went off in the first half and the team transitioned to a run-heavy approach while playing with a lead after the break. Fellow receiver Rashid Shaheed departed with a knee injury following a collision with Smith-Njigba in the end zone at the end of the second quarter, which is something gamers will want to monitor ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the Bears on Monday Night Football. Kupp could work his way into the FLEX discussion if Shaheed missing time.
  • SEA Tight End #88
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    AJ Barner caught 4-of-5 targets for 42 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding four yards on three carries.

    All three carries for Barner were tush push plays that resulted in first downs in key situations, while his five targets tied his second most of the young season. Even so, that was not enough to return a usable fantasy week outside of tight end premium leagues, keeping Barner best left on the bench of returned to the waiver wire, regardless of the severity of Rashid Shaheed’s injury.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #11
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    Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 9-of-12 targets for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs.

    Is there anyone in the league doing it better than Smith-Njigba at the moment? The reigning receiving leader put on an absolute show in this one, making two nearly identical bread basket catches down the left sideline in the second quarter, the first of which he snuck inside the pylon for his touchdown. He was forced out at the two on the second, resulting in an end zone interception from Sam Darnold two plays later. Those two long receptions before the break helped push Smith-Njigba to 126 yards and a touchdown before halftime, adding an additional 24 yards on three more receptions in the final two frames as the Seahawks transitioned to a more ground-heavy attack while playing with the lead. Fantasy’s early-season cheat code has now gone over 100 yards in six of seven games while notching a league-leading eight receiving touchdowns. It goes without saying, but Smith-Njigba remains the overall WR1 in a solid matchup against the Bears in Week 8.
  • SEA Running Back #23
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    Emanuel Wilson rushed 24 times for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding 15 yard son one reception.

    Wilson handily outperformed former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker in the latter’s return to Seattle, spiking his fantasy production with a 21-yard touchdown scamper late in the fourth quarter with the Seahawks in ice mode. The outburst went down as the second time in Wilson’s career in which he hit the century mark in rushing, pleasing fantasy managers that were forced into his services in Week 7 through both byes and injuries. Wilson’s days as the lead back in Seattle are likely numbered with veteran Zach Charbonnet reportedly nearing a return from his 2025 torn ACL. That could occur as early as Week 8 when the Seahawks face the Bears.
  • SEA Quarterback #14
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    Sam Darnold completed 20-of-28 passes for 257 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Seahawks’ 20-3, Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding 17 yards on two carries.

    Darnold continued to flaunt his connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with zero regard to the naysayers, feeding his alpha 12 targets on 28 pass attempts, the latter of whom accounted for 157 of the 257 pass yards for Darnold. As you probably guessed, Smith-Njigba was also the recipient of Darnold’s lone touchdown throw, which was a dime down the left sideline on a corner route that the veteran signal caller dropped into the bread basket. The two would connect on another similar play later in the the same quarter in which Smith-Njigba was forced out at the two, with the result of that drive Darnold’s interception in the end zone. Darnold continues to do just enough for his team and not enough for fantasy managers that thought they could grab cheap production late in drafts, better sent back to the waiver wire than inserted into starting lineups. The Seahawks next face the Bears on the second half of back-to-back Monday Night Football games, where Darnold remains a shaky fantasy option.
  • KC Wide Receiver #1
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    Xavier Worthy caught 3-of-6 targets for 11 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    Worthy struggled to separate from primary coverage of the Seahawks throughout, also committing a drop in a crucial situation in the second half. The Chiefs continue to show hesitancy in utilizing Worthy in a downfield role, which is of particular concern for his fantasy managers considering the absence of Tyquan Thornton. Worthy is better left on fantasy benches ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the stingy Broncos, particularly if Rashee Rice returns from injury.
  • KC Wide Receiver #13
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    Cyrus Allen caught 1-of-2 targets for 18 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    Allen was the recipient of Patrick Mahomes’ first target of the game, which he took down the right sideline for a tidy 18-yard gain. He would disappear into oblivion the rest of the way as he continued to play behind Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals, with Justin Watson also worked into the game plan in this one. Head coach Andy Reid has a long history of taking his time to develop rookies, meaning fantasy managers are likely forced to be patient. In other words, keep Allen on fantasy benches, for the time being.
  • KC Tight End #83
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    Noah Gray caught all three targets for 44 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    The fact that the team’s top two tight ends tied for the most production through the air at a modest 44 yards tells the story of how the game went against the Seahawks, who limited the Chiefs to just 213 yards of total offense. The absences of the team’s top two receivers continues to place stress on an offense with no true vertical threat, although their primary downfield option was lost for the season prior to their bye. Gray remains unlikely to return weekly fantasy value for as long as Kelce remains healthy.
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    Travis Kelce caught 4-of-8 targets for 44 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    While Kelce moved into sole possession of the No. 5 spot on the NFL’s all-time receptions list, the Chiefs suffered their first defeat of the season as they struggled to the move the football against the tenacious Seattle defense. Their offense lacked any downfield threat in the absence of their top two receivers, while Xavier Worthy drew primary coverage. Much of Kelce’s aerial work remains tethered to the short areas of the field in his age-37 season, lacking the burst and YAC ability that once defined his game. Even so, achieving such a lofty accomplishment is a testament to his lasting and standout career. That said, fantasy managers are sure to be disappointed with the early-season as the veteran tight end has surpassed a modest four receptions just once through six games. He gets another difficult matchup on the interior against the swarming Broncos defense in Week 8, where fantasy managers are likely best off leaving him on the bench.
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    Kenneth Walker rushed 14 times for 36 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks, adding 21 yards on four receptions.

    Walker was held to below 4.9 yards per carry for only the second time this season while also failing to find the end zone for the second time through six games, with his longest rush going for a meager seven yards. Seattle had all the answers on the defensive side of the ball as they held the Chiefs to just 213 yards of total offense on just over 24 minutes in time of possession. One of fantasy’s breakout stars in the early going of the 2026 season will face another difficult matchup on the road against the Broncos in Week 8, where he remains an elite RB1.