NFL Player News

Hampton will be active for Monday night’s game against the Eagles and will likely draw the start. Hampton was seeing a bell cow workload before going down in Week 5’s game against the Commanders, and will hopefully have a healthy role in time for the fantasy playoffs. Hampton has rushed 66 times for 314 yards and two touchdowns, and has caught another 20 passes for 136 scoreless yards. His return likely deals a major blow to Kimani Vidal’s fantasy value, although Vidal could see enough work to remain in the mix as a FLEX play. We’ll have more information to go on after Monday’s game against the Eagles, but Hampton is in the RB2 mix for anybody hoping to start him on Monday night. In addition to Hampton, the Chargers have also activated RB Hassan Haskins (hamstring) from injured reserve.

Gadsden’s four targets actually ranked second on the team behind the five of Ladd McConkey, highlighting the defensive deadlock the Chargers found themselves in against the defending Super Bowl Champions. It has now been more than a month since Gadsden has caught more than three balls, although his emergence in the offense gives offensive coordinator Greg Roman yet another chess piece to attack opposing defenses. Gadsden could be busier in Week 15 when the Chargers take on the Chiefs on the road.

Johnston saw his fair share of lockdown coverage from Quinyon Mitchell in this one, although his three targets were largely a product of only 26 Justin Herbert pass attempts on a night the Los Angeles defense stepped up with five takeaways. Johnston remains a touchdown-dependent fantasy asset in a now-crowded receiving corps due to the emergence of tight end Oronde Gadsden, with the ever-present potential to see his volume curbed due to the strength of their defense and absence of the team’s starting tackles.

McConkey led the team with five targets on a night Justin Herbert attempted only 26 passes, although that hardly helps fantasy managers that were counting on him in the final week before fantasy playoffs. The Chargers managed only 275 yards of total offense, squeaking by with an overtime victory thanks to five Cameron Dicker field goals and five takeaways. McConkey should be busier against the desperate Chiefs in Week 15.

Sadly enough for fantasy managers counting on any Chargers pass-catchers, Harris’ 18 yards ranked third on the team behind Kimani Vidal and Keenan Allen. Quarterback Justin Herbert attempted only 26 passes in the defensive battle, leaving little room for lofty fantasy scores to emerge. Harris continues to see spotty volume as the fifth option through the air, best left on fantasy benches ahead of a difficult matchup with the Chiefs in Week 15.

Allen actually led all Los Angeles wide receivers in both catches and yardage on a night quarterback Justin Herbert attempted only 26 passes, but it was his block to spring running back Omarion Hampton’s touchdown that should be praised the most. His veteran savvy was on full display as he was able to take both his cornerback and a linebacker out of the play through expert blocking, allowing Hampton to walk into the end zone to cap a successful first drive. Allen has now gone seven weeks without usable counting stats in a fantasy setting, best returned to the waiver wire in shallow leagues.

Hampton ceded the start to backfield mate Kimani Vidal but ended with the same number of touches, finding the end zone on the team’s first possession of the game on a four-yard strike to the flat. He walked into the end zone thanks to elite blocking from wide receiver Keenan Allen, who managed to take both his cornerback and a linebacker out of the play. Hampton should continue to see his usage ramped up as he works his way back into game shape, potentially in line to see a heavier workload when the Chargers travel to Kansas City to take on the desperate Chiefs in Week 15.

Vidal drew his eighth consecutive start, this time sharing the backfield with former starter Omarion Hampton after the latter returned from injured reserve. Philadelphia’s vaunted defense made life difficult for Vidal on the ground but he quickly padded his counting stats with a 60-yard reception on the team’s first possession to set up a Hampton touchdown three plays later. The two should continue to share backfield work as Hampton works his way back into game shape, drawing another difficult matchup against the Chiefs in Week 15.

Herbert came into Monday listed as a game-time decision after having undergone surgery to address a broken bone in his non-throwing hand just seven days prior, willing the Chargers to an overtime victory over the defending Super Bowl Champions while leading the team in rushing. His two turnovers contributed to eight total turnovers in a hard-fought defensive battle, with three of those turnover occurring on a wild three-turnover play. Even so, Herbert skillfully led the Chargers down the field in a two-minute drill to tie the game and send it into overtime, again leading the charge in overtime for the would-be game-winning field goal in the extra frame. Herbert took numerous hard hits that had him falling awkwardly to protect his surgically repaired left hand, with the veteran quarterback appearing to flex and favor the hand at multiple points during the game. The win sends the Chargers to 9-4 and into the 5-seed in the AFC, now two games behind the Broncos for the division lead. The get another tough opponent in Week 15 when they travel to face the desperate Chiefs on the road.

Smith’s eight targets ranked third on the team behind A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert, while his 37 yards extended a streak of six games without reaching the century mark. With just three touchdowns and two 100-yard games on the season, Smith has yet to live up to lofty preseason expectations for fantasy drafters that took him in premium rounds. He’ll have every opportunity to return usable counting stats when the Eagles host the Raiders in Week 15.

Goedert was the consistent chain-mover for the Eagles on a night where turnovers were their downfall. The 78 yards were his second most of the season and largest offensive output since his 110-yard game against the Giants on 9 October. The veteran tight end’s massive red zone role was unable to prop his counting stats as the team consistently failed to move the football into scoring position. Goedert gets a much softer matchup in Week 15 when the Eagles host the Raiders.