Omarion

Hampton

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.

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.

Hampton will come off injured reserve for his first game since he suffered his ankle injury against the Commanders in Week 5. The 22-year-old first-round selection may see a more limited snap count in his first game back, but he’s in the RB2 range for the Monday Night Football tilt against an Eagles team that gave up 281 rushing yards to the Bears in their previous contest.

Hampton practiced in full on Friday and Fowler passes along that the Chargers feel good about his progress. The 22-year-old running back appears to be on the right side of questionable. Hampton is an RB2 against the Eagles in Week 14.

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.

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.

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.

We were beginning to suspect a rug pull between the Chargers signing Jaret Patterson to the 53-man roster and adding Royce Freeman to the practice squad over the last couple of days. Hampton also was spotted in a non-contact jersey for Friday’s practice. This story probably has some more unfolding to do, but the Chargers would likely be relying on Hampton in a big way on Monday night after what the Bears did to the Eagles on the ground on Black Friday. Especially with Justin Herbert (hand) potentially playing through injury.

Vidal deserves credit in this one. The fill-in starting running back served as the engine of the offense, touching the ball six times on the Chargers’ opening drive. He ripped off a 59-yard touchdown on the fifth drive, shooting the gap created by OL Jamaree Salyer after catching the pitch from QB Justin Herbert. Vidal easily strode through a shoestring tackle and broke loose down the left sideline for the score. Vidal could still be FLEX-viable against the Eagles next week if RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) returns from injured reserve. but he has an RB2 case if Hampton remains sidelined.

The lanky rookie speedster must continue biding his time. He likely would have been active if fellow rookie WR Tre’ Harris (jaw) had been sidelined today. The Chargers could get their star rookie running back, Omarion Hampton (ankle), back from injured reserve next week. He practiced in a limited capacity in Week 13. The Chargers face the Eagles in Week 14.