Fantasy Football News

Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden drew just 3 targets in Sunday's loss at Buffalo and caught none of them. But it wasn't for lack of availability. Gadsden ranked third on the team in routes, running 28 to 32 for both Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. That edged Tre' Harris (26) and represented 73.9% of QB Justin Herbert's dropbacks. TE Hayden Rucci stayed close to Gadsden in playing time, getting 28 snaps to Gadsden's 39. That gap proved smaller in the first half, when Gadsden played 17 of the Chargers' 34 snaps and Rucci played 13.

Chargers TEs David Njoku and Charlie Kolar will be placed on IR with the injuries they suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Raiders, HC Jim Harbaugh said. Kolar's forearm injury will cost him "about a month," a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. We're still waiting for details on Njoku's knee injury, but he's also out at least 4 weeks.

Update: Njoku has a fibula injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, but there's still no timeline for his return.

Chargers TE Charlie Kolar left in the second half of Sunday's game vs. the Raiders with a forearm injury and is questionable to return. L.A. lost TE David Njoku to a knee injury earlier in this one, leaving TE Oronde Gadsden atop the depth chart.

The Chargers ran two TEs out with the first unit for Thursday night's brief appearance against the 49ers. Neither of those guys was second-year TE Oronde Gadsden. Charlie Kolar and David Njoku each played two of Justin Herbert's three snaps before clear starters left the preseason contest. Njoku played three more snaps before his night ended, while Kolar played six more. Gadsden wound up tallying 2 catches for 24 yards among 3 targets, but his first look didn't come until early in the second quarter on the team's third possession.

The Chargers appear headed for a TE rotation that could sap the fantasy value of all three members. Oronde Gadsden carries plenty of long-term intrigue after a nice debut as a fifth-round rookie. But the team added Charlie Kolar on a three-year deal with an $8.1 million average in free agency, followed by David Njoku arriving on a one-year, $3 million pact.

The Chargers have agreed to a one-year deal with TE David Njoku, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The contract will be worth "up to" $8 million. That max value would tie him for 19th among TEs in average annual salary for 2026, $100,000 behind new teammate Charlie Kolar. This addition points to a three-man committee.

The Chargers fired OC Greg Roman. The offense was disappointing this season, but an injury-wrecked offensive line was a much bigger culprit than Roman's scheme or play-calling. The Chargers lost LT Rashawn Slater to a season-ending torn patellar tendon in August and then watched RT Joe Alt go down with his own season-ending ankle injury in Week 9. Los Angeles finished bottom two in Pro Football Focus' run- and pass-blocking grades and ESPN's run- and pass-blocking win rates. QB Justin Herbert was pressured on a league-high 43.6% of his dropbacks. We'll see who the Chargers tab to replace Roman. But the offensive line should be much better in 2026 with better health. With Herbert, plus RB Omarion Hampton, WRs Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre Harris, and TE Oronde Gadsden, this is a prime bounce-back offense to target in fantasy drafts.

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh announced Monday that QB Justin Herbert won't play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Broncos. The Chargers sit tied with Houston and Buffalo at 11-5, so there's some potential mobility to their seed with Week 18 results. But Harbaugh has clearly decided that getting Herbert -- and potentially others -- healthier for the playoffs matters more than the difference between the No. 5 and No. 7 seeds.

The Chargers' passing game came back to life for Sunday's win at Dallas, producing 300 yards for just the third time all season and first since Week 7. TE Oronde Gadsden, however, managed just 1 reception on one target for the game. That marked the third time in the past four games that Gadsden finished with just 1 catch.

WR Ladd McConkey led the Chargers in pass routes in Sunday's win over the Chiefs, according to Pro Football Focus numbers. But that didn't equate to usable fantasy production. He managed just 2 receptions for 20 yards while trailing three teammates in targets. WR Keenan Allen led the team with seven targets and 5 receptions. Allen took those for just 36 yards, though. TE Oronde Gadsden and WR Tre Harris tied for second at five targets. Gadsden posted a 4-61 receiving line, ranking second on the team in catches and leading the way in receiving yards. Harris tallied 3 receptions for 49 yards.

The Chargers went understandably run heavy in Monday night's OT win over the Eagles. They had QB Justin Herbert just a week removed from surgery for a fracture in his left hand, plus they got rookie RB Omarion Hampton back for the first time since Week 5 (ankle injury). But the final tally of 38 team rushes to just 26 pass attempts obscures the true play breakdown. Herbert ran a season-high 10 times for the game, but that included a season-high eight scrambles vs. just two designed runs. Those designed rushes didn't come until the Chargers' final possession of regulation and then their first of OT. And that fourth-quarter carry was actually designed to go to Vidal. Herbert decided to keep it after seeing a pair of defenders disrupt the blocking.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert (hand) got in a limited practice on Thursday. He was sporting a bulky brace on that left hand in the portion of practice open to the media. OC Greg Roman said afterward that he's "optimistic" Herbert will be able to play vs. the Eagles on Monday night. We continue to project Herbert to play, which would be good news for Los Angeles' skill-position players. But Herbert will not be a recommended start in 1-QB leagues.

Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden managed just 1 catch for 27 yards on two tagets in Sunday's win over the Raiders. He ranked just fifth on the team in targets and receptions, trailing the top four WRs.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a fracture in his left hand, HC Jim Harbaugh said after the win over the Raiders. Herbert got hurt in the first quarter but returned with protection on his left hand and played the rest of the game. Harbaugh said the team doesn't know yet whether Herbert will miss time. He'll have an extra day to heal ahead of next Monday night's game against the Eagles -- although that could also leave fantasy owners in a tough spot if Herbert's status isn't known by Sunday. We'll keep you updated throughout the week. Herbert's absence would put Trey Lance under center for the Chargers. He'd be a big downgrade for the team's pass catchers but would have some fantasy appeal thanks to his rushing ability.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for 81 yards and 1 INT in Week 11. Backup QB Trey Lance finished out the 35-6 road loss in Jacksonville.

Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden (knee) put in a full week of practice and is off the final injury report. He’s ready to roll for Sunday’s plus matchup vs. Jacksonville’s 31st-ranked TE defense.

Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Although he's listed with a knee, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Monday that the rookie escaped last week's win over the Steelers with just a quad bruise. Regardless, Gadsden is clearly on track to play in Sunday's game vs. the Jaguars' 31st-ranked TE defense.

Oronde Gadsen owners can exhale. Monday's MRI revealed a quad bruise but no knee injury for the Chargers TE, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Gadsden is considered "day to day" and seemingly has a chance to play vs. the Jaguars on Sunday. We'll keep you updated on his status throughout the week.