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Chargers

Great news. Johnston is firmly on track to play in the Charges’ Monday Night Football game against the Eagles in Week 14. Johnston tends to rely on touchdowns and explosive gains to return FLEX value, making his floor a bit shaky. This game’s overall environment should be fairly fantasy-friendly, though. Expect the Chargers to give him a few opportunities to produce chunk gains, either via screen passes or shots downfield.

The Athletic’s Daniel Popper observed Hampton wearing “a blue jersey and participating in [a] red zone walkthrough” early on, which was a good sign for his involvement in scoring position whenever he gets activated. The fact that Hampton ended up practicing fully is a great sign for his Week 14 availability. He is on the positive side of questionable at this time.

The prudent move is to consider Herbert as questionable to play, though his continued participation is a good sign. Chargers OC Greg Roman also said yesterday that the team is “really optimistic” about Herbert’s availability for Monday night. Herbert was seen taking snaps under center in red zone drills, which is a great sign for his ability to grip the football in his non-throwing hand.

Johnston is on track to play this week, despite being listed with a new injury. The streaky perimeter wide receiver remains a weekly FLEX candidate, and his team’s Week 14 game against the Eagles should be a fantasy-friendly environment. Hopefully, he practices fully tomorrow.

Hampton’s limited participation is encouraging. The Chargers’ starting running back had his 21-day practice window opened on November 25th, though, so the team still has a way to go before they have to make an official decision on his status. Hampton has a chance to play this week. Hopefully, we will have word by the end of the day on Saturday regarding his Week 14 availability.

Herbert could be seen throwing passes while sporting a cast or brace on his left, non-throwing hand. We expect him to be listed as a limited participant later on, but joining the team for the week’s first official practice is a great sign regarding his availability. The Chargers face the Eagles on Monday night.

This is today’s second encouraging news item regarding Herbert’s hand injury. The Chargers’ quarterback missed a portion of his team’s second drive last week after trotting into the locker room with a swollen hand and his ring finger askew. He played through the pain after that. Herbert gets the benefit of an extra day off, with the Chargers facing the Eagles, sans DT Jalen Carter (shoulders), on Monday night.

Herbert fractured a finger on his non-throwing hand. He wasn’t on the practice field yesterday, but both Herbert and head coach Jim Harbaugh have told reporters he plans on playing this week. Even a limited practice in the next day or two would bode well for his odds of suiting up. If he can’t go, the Chargers will turn to Trey Lance. Either way, expect a run-heavy approach as Harbaugh attempts to protect his quarterback versus a stout Philly pass-rush.

Herbert underwent successful surgery on his left hand earlier this week, ahead of a Week 14 matchup on Monday night against the Eagles. According to the Athletic’s Daniel Popper, he said the fracture on his non-throwing hand successfully “stabilized” and he is preparing to play Monday. Official practice reports from later this week will tell just how ready Herbert will be; given the Chargers have a tough matchup against the Eagles, all Chargers pass-catchers are downgraded even if Herbert plays. Herbert is a shaky fantasy QB2 if he does suit up for Week 14.

Harbaugh did not go as far as to say that Hampton will play this week, but it certainly sounds like he is on the right side of questionable. Fantasy managers, of course, will need to stay locked into this situation heading into the final week of the fantasy football regular season. Hampton would return for an RB2 ranking versus an Eagles defense that was just carved up by the Bears on the ground. If he is held out another week, Kimani Vidal would force his way to the top of the RB2 ranks.