Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton is one of the most exciting players in fantasy football. Selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the UNC product landed in a near-perfect environment with Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers. Now running behind a top-10 offensive line with a great quarterback in Justin Herbert, can Hampton be an immediate RB1, or will the uncertainty surrounding Najee Harris and his fireworks injury prevent him from reaching his ceiling?
Fantasy Football: Where to Draft Omarion Hampton
Before we talk about his fit on the Chargers and his ceiling in fantasy football, we must first discuss Omarion Hampton as a player to see how he projects at the professional level. While there’s no way to know with 100% certainty whether or not Hampton will succeed in the pros, he checks just about every box you can imagine. His film speaks for itself; he produces in a high-volume role, has first-round draft capital, and is an early declare.
Hampton’s running style is also a perfect fit for the Los Angeles Chargers. The UNC product is at his best playing in a bruising, physical offense, and head coach Jim Harbaugh loves those types of players. As far as the passing game goes, he won’t make anyone forget about prime Alvin Kamara, but he has soft hands and can make plays in the screen game and as a checkdown option.
All in all, Omarion Hampton has the tools to dominate fantasy football for years to come. In dynasty, he’s the clear 1.02 behind generational prospect Ashton Jeanty. However, Najee Harris was the only factor keeping him from potentially dominating in 2025. Harris is no superstar, but he’s a starting-caliber back who provides a veteran presence that Hampton simply can’t replicate.
The Eye Injury
However, you can’t make the team from the sideline, and Harris remains unable to play following his fireworks-based eye injury. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Harris is using echolocation to get around, and while that’s obviously a joke, all the best jokes contain a grain of truth. If Harris still can’t see properly one month after the accident, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll even suit up in 2025. Even if he does, he’s missed too much time to earn the starting job.
Seeing as the Chargers don’t have much depth behind Harris, the sky is the limit for Omarion Hampton in fantasy football. As of this posting, the rookie is going off the board as the RB9 in redraft, just between Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs. This feels about right, but you could easily argue Hampton should be above Taylor if Harris remains sidelined.
Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football, and Omarion Hampton has the skillset to be one of the game’s best three-down backs. While Taylor already has the three-down role we’re projecting onto Hampton, Hampton has a considerably better quarterback, offensive line, and supporting cast. Taylor admittedly has the safer floor, but if you’re truly chasing a title, Hampton is more likely to finish as a league-winning force in 2025.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
