Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Harbaugh on Herbert’s decision-making: ‘Be better’

    Link copied to clipboard!

    LAC Quarterback #10
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Justin Herbert must “be better.”

    It’s hard to write these quotes without sounding “clicky,” but Harbaugh was forthright at his Monday press conference when asked about Herbert’s decision-making. “Be better. Be better,” Harbaugh said before attempting to soften the blow. “And that drives Justin, that drives me, that drives his position coach, that drives (OC Mike [McDaniel). I mean, drives us all.” Harbaugh also said the team could look to simplify McDaniel’s complex scheme. “As far as the scheme going forward, all options are open,” Harbaugh claimed. When asked what that might entail, the coach responded “run, pass, up the middle, motion, no motion.” Alrighty then. It’s shocking to hear a coach talk this frankly — especially Harbaugh about Herbert — but the situation really is that dire in Los Angeles. Herbert is in the crossfire, but it could be McDaniel who is on something of a hot seat with his play-calling. Sitting at 0-3, the Chargers face the unwelcome prospect of a “must win” Week 4 contest against defending Super Bowl champion Seattle, itself coming off a rough loss. We will be benching Herbert in fantasy for that one.
Florio: Hurts controversy needs full examination
Mike Florio explains why unanswered questions remain in the Jalen Hurts controversy, including whether the NFLPA will seek a formal investigation and whether Hurts could consider legal action.

Related Player News

  • LAC Quarterback #10
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    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 Quarterback #10
    Herbert’s hellish season continued unabated on Sunday against a Kansas City defense that swamped the beleaguered Bolts quarterback on seemingly every drop back. After throwing exactly one touchdown in each of his first five outings, Herbert didn’t have any against the Chiefs. He had a negative EPA per drop back and was 10 percent below his expected pass rate in the loss. Ladd McConkey was ruled out with a head injury in the first half, further complicating OC Mike McDaniel’s efforts to stop the bleeding for the LA offense. The team’s wideout injuries and the predictability of the offense means Herbert should be dropped in most one-QB fantasy formats ahead of the Chargers’ Week 7 bye week.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    Schefter reached out to the team after a league source told him the Chargers could get upwards of three first-round draft picks in exchange for Herbert. The Chargers source told Schefter the team has “never” discussed the idea of dealing Herbert, even as the Chargers start the season 0-5 and rank near the bottom in almost every offensive category. It would seem unlikely that the Chargers would consider trading Herbert even if they go all in on a rebuild following the 2026 season. Herbert, 28, who ranks 33rd out of 34 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per drop back this year, is signed through the 2029 season.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    Herbert was without his top wideouts, his top offensive lineman, and the fact he was able to put up even this type of statline is somewhat impressive, if you squint very hard. The 28-year-old quarterback was constantly under pressure, and was at his best when he was able to escape the pocket and use his underrated wheels. That being said, he could have had more turnovers than this, and his interception was an inexcusable throw right into the hands of the Broncos defender. Even if Herbert gets his weapons back, fantasy managers should be looking elsewhere in Week 6 in standard leagues with a tough matchup against the Chiefs.
  • LAC Tackle #70
    The injury, sustained during the Bolts’ Week 4 loss to the Seahawks, will cost Slater between four and six weeks, Rapoport said. It’s yet another massive blow for the struggling Chargers offense. Through Week 4 the Chargers rank 30th in ESPN’s pass blocking win rate and fifth in run blocking win rate. Justin Herbert’s weekly prospects take a hit with the oft-injured Slate sidelined, as do the prospects of LA’s pass catchers.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    It really wasn’t this close. Herbert and Sam Darnold became the first quarterbacks since 1991 to throw interceptions on their first throws of their game. Things didn’t get less weird, nor less shaky for the now 0-4 Chargers. He threw both his picks to linebackers, and outside of a 26-yard scramble, there just wasn’t much there from a quarterback who had (much) loftier expectations coming into the year. His only touchdown was a flip to Kimani Vidal that left Los Angeles down two scores. There’s a lot of football left, but this is ugly. Herbert will try and get going in Week 5, but the Broncos make for a tough team to get that ship righted.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    On one hand, Herbert was under constant pressure in this game behind a beat-up offensive line and was able to evade pressure regularly and extend plays. On the other hand, he really wasn’t able to get anything going down the field. His one touchdown “pass” was on a handoff where he essentially let go of the ball and Keaton Mitchell took the “forward pass” into the end zone on a jet sweep. Herbert’s interception was a terrible pass in the end zone when the Chargers were up 13-10 and looking to put the game away. The Bills also dropped two other potential interceptions. Herbert looks pretty firmly like a QB2 here, and it’s hard to get overly excited about playing him next week against the Seahawks.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    The Chargers were an uncoordinated mess in this one. They committed loads of procedural penalties on offense, had several drops, and botched multiple handoffs or snaps. Their final penalty was holding in their own end zone, resulting in a safety. David Njoku handed Herbert’s first interception to a defender, but the second pick was all his fault. Herbert fired into a non-existent window on a deep shot and was easily intercepted by the Vegas secondary. Herbert also committed two fumbles, though both were recovered by the Chargers. Sitting at 0-2 with murderer’s row of opponents on deck, something has to change in a hurry for the Chargers. Herbert will shuffle into the QB2 ranks for his Week 3 date with the Bills.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    Herbert shredded the Arizona secondary in the Bolts’ first drive of the game. From there he struggled to complete even routine passes and got nothing going downfield. Ladd McConkey’s exit from the ballgame in the third quarter all but ended Herbert’s production for the day. Herbert, to his credit, tried to push the ball downfield, averaging 10.8 intended air yards per attempt, the fourth highest mark of Week 1. The Cards’ time of possession domination limited play volume for LA, torpedoing fantasy prospects across the board. Hopefully for Herbert, the Chargers will have McConkey back for Week 2 against the Raiders. Herbert will be a borderline top-12 option.
  • LAC Quarterback #10
    McDaniel said the team has worked diligently on the quick passing game during offseason practices and training camp. McDaniel said he knows Herbert can excel on the “long developing plays” but wants to create more easy drop backs with schemes that “nullify the pass rush” and allow Herbert to get the ball out quickly to his pass catchers. This should lead to plenty of easy-button targets for Ladd McConkey and the team’s tight ends as Quentin Johnston continues operating as Herbert’s primary deep ball guy. Under McDaniel, the Chargers will likely be run-first with a far more efficient passing attack than they had under former OC Greg Roman.

Rotoworld

  • DAL Wide Receiver #9
    Player Stats
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cowboys ruled out KaVontae Turpin (ribs) for Week 7 against the Eagles.

    Turpin’s absence will be felt most on special teams, with the team now forced to find a replacement on punt and kick returns. Otherwise, there is almost zero fantasy impact as the team’s WR4.
  • ATL Cornerback #24
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Falcons activated A.J. Terrell (groin) from injured reserve.

    The Falcons have been attackable on the perimeter while playing most of the season without Terrell. Fellow cornerback C.J. Henderson is listed questionable for Week 7, but the reintegration of Terrell provides a much more difficult matchup for the injury-riddled 49ers.
  • DEN Running Back #20
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Broncos activated Jonah Coleman (ankle) from injured reserve.

    Coleman missed the minimum four games as he tended to an ankle injury suffered in Week 2. He led the team in snaps in that contest and could return to the primary rushing role considering the inefficient play of J.K. Dobbins in his absence, making him worthy of a start in fantasy circles in a plus matchup against the Cardinals in his first game back.
  • BAL Quarterback #8
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Ravens ruled out Lamar Jackson (ankle) for Week 7 against the Bengals.

    Tyler Huntley will draw the start under center for the third straight game as Jackson continues to rehab a high-ankle sprain. Jackson reportedly took most of the first-team reps at practice Friday and was close to being able to play in Week 7, with the team ultimately siding with caution for their franchise quarterback. The Ravens enter a 15-game stretch in which they play three games starting in Week 8, which could have influenced their decision to hold Jackson out one more game. Expect him back for Week 8 against the Bills. His absence greatly influences the upside of the remaining skill position players considering Declan Doyle has halved his usage of play action and completely eliminated RPO with Huntley under center.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Dallas Goedert (knee) was removed from the injury report Saturday and will play against the Cowboys in Week 7.

    Goedert reportedly aggravated his previous knee injury but got back on the practice field for a full session Saturday before being removed from the injury report. He could be stepping into a massive target share with both DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks ruled out. Fantasy managers can start him as an upside TE1 in a great matchup against the Cowboys in Week 7.
  • PHI Running Back #26
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is questionable for Week 7 against the Cowboys.

    Although getting in a full practice Saturday, the Eagles head into Monday’s game against the Cowboys with Barkley listed as questionable following a two-game absence. Fantasy managers have a decision considering the Eagles play in Week 7’s final game on Monday Night Football, with no clear fall back options should he be unable to play. It would seem prudent to make alternate plans at the position.
  • PHI Wide Receiver #6
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Eagles ruled out DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) for Week 7 against the Cowboys.

    The Eagles will be without their top two receivers but got good news Saturday with the removal of Dallas Goedert from the injury report. Saquon Barkley is listed as questionable and appears to be a true game-time decision. Considering the low involvement of the backfield in the pass game this season, Goedert stands to benefit the most from the absences at wide receiver. He can be started as an upside TE1 in a solid on-paper matchup against the Cowboys.
  • MIN Running Back #27
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Vikings plan to activate Jordan Mason (thumb) from injured reserve.

    Mason came into the season as the presumed lead back in a timeshare with Aaron Jones, the latter of whom has performed as a true workhorse in Mason’s absence. Although it could take a week or two for Mason to fully regain the lead back role, his presence significantly mutes the potential of Jones. Expect a near-even split when the Vikings take on the Colts in Week 7.
  • CLE Running Back #22
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Browns activated RB Dylan Sampson (knee) from injured reserve.

    Sampson was limited in practice throughout the week and listed as questionable for Week 7 against the Titans. Now that he’s officially been activated from injured reserve, he’s likely to be Cleveland’s change-of-pace back behind Quinshon Judkins this week. Sampson is worth stashing on fantasy benches, but is truly just a desperation FLEX play coming off a knee injury that’s sidelined him since Week 1.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #7
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that several teams believe the Jaguars could trade WR Brian Thomas Jr.

    Appearing on ESPN Saturday morning, Fowler, citing Thomas’ zero catches over the last two weeks, said something has to give in this situation. According to several teams the NFL Insider talked to, Thomas could be traded over the next few weeks. Fowler listed the Chiefs and Steelers as potentially interested teams and was emphatic that there will be suitors for Thomas. If you have Thomas in fantasy, it’s hard to imagine his value getting worse with a change of scenery. The Jaguars would appear content to roll with Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Travis Hunter as their top receivers in the event of a Thomas trade.