Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton should make his return to the lineup on Monday Night Football, but that doesn’t mean Kimani Vidal will quietly go away. Entering the season with Hampton and veteran Najee Harris atop the depth chart, Vidal was nothing more than an afterthought in the offense. However, when both backs landed on the injured reserve, the former sixth-round pick stepped up and became everything the Chargers could have hoped for. Through nine games, the Troy product has recorded 543 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 121 attempts while adding 13 receptions for 63 yards and a score.
Omarion Hampton is more athletic and has more physical gifts, but Kimani Vidal looked like an NFL-caliber starter while filling in for the injured rookie. In a recent interview, head coach Jim Harbaugh said the “played like a number one back,” which suggests Hampton won’t receive a full-time role when he returns to the field.
HC Jim Harbaugh on RB Kimani Vidal: "The proof is in the pudding with the way he's played…He's played like a #1 back."
He said it "warms the cockles of the heart" to see Vidal embrace contact and take on defenders.
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) December 3, 2025
Jim Harbaugh’s Latest Kimani Vidal Comments Should Worry Omarion Hampton Fantasy Football Managers
As is the case with most rookies, Omarion Hampton did not set the world on fire early in the season. During his five healthy games, the UNC product recorded 314 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries (4.8 yards per attempt) while adding 20 receptions for 136 yards and no touchdowns. While his rushing average looks impressive, it’s worth noting that he only had one game where he averaged more than 3.7 yards per carry, and that came against a poor New York Giants team. Additionally, his 73.0 PFF grade is impressive, but it’s worse than Vidal’s 79.4 grade.
Since Hampton’s injury, the Chargers have suffered blow after blow to the offensive line, and what was once a major strength is now a glaring weakness. Given the state of the offensive line, Omarion Hampton’s extended absence, and Kimani Vidal’s success in less-than-ideal circumstances, don’t be surprised if the first-round pick spends his first few games as Vidal’s backup.
Projected Usage
If Omarion Hampton takes the starting job from Kimani Vidal, he could be a league-winning force in fantasy football. However, that’s a big ‘if.’ The Chargers finish the season with contests against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos, and they’ll likely be fighting for their playoff lives right to the finish line.
If Los Angeles were out of the playoffs or even had a locked-in spot, it might be willing to let Omarion Hampton gain experience as the starter, even if he was marginally less effective than Kimani Vidal. However, given the difficult schedule, they’re going to ride the hot hand, which means Vidal will start for at least the next game or two. You should grab Hampton if he’s available in your league, but don’t plan on starting him until you see him earn a high-volume role in this offense.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images
