Fantasy football owners of Chargers running back Omarion Hampton will be without him for at least the next four weeks after he was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury on Monday.
If you own Hampton or want someone to add to your roster, Los Angeles has two backs worth considering: Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal.
When Hampton got hurt, Haskins was the back who took over. He got some playing time before the injury and played eight of nine snaps after Hampton left the game and handled all of the early-down work before the starters were pulled.
Additionally, Haskins has been with the Chargers longer and has experience from playing with head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. In his final college season in 2021, Haskins ran for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Vidal saw the field in the fourth quarter, turning four carries into 18 yards and recording one reception. He was on the field with the backups at the end of the game.
The former sixth-round pick has been active in just two games this season, but he’s flashed in his limited opportunities, especially catching the ball out of the backfield, dating back to his rookie campaign in 2024. He rushed for 155 yards on 43 attempts while adding 62 receiving yards on five catches.
Los Angeles is likely to explore all avenues to address the running back room while Hampton is sidelined, so it’s tough to say if there will be a new member of the group between now and Sunday when they play the Dolphins.
But as of now, adding either Vidal or Haskins could provide depth to your fantasy roster. In my opinion, Vidal seems to have the higher upside, especially in PPR formats, given his pass-catching abilities.
Keep in mind that injuries have decimated the Chargers’ offensive line, so unless you’re thin at running back or you have someone on a bye week, then it’s best to stash either one and wait and see how it plays out this weekend before starting them.
