Omarion Hampton is the ultimate 'boom-or-bust' fantasy RB
Yahoo Sports fantasy analysts Josh Norris and Hayden Winks discuss how the Chargers running back has the potential to be a monster option for fantasy managers in 2026. Check out the full conversation on "Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh and Hayden" - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
And this is one of the best conversations that we've had 12 times this summer, and let's do it for a, the 13th, all right?
The latest from Daniel Popper says that, quote, "This is not that confusing to me.
It's not that complicated.
Omarion Hampton is really, really, really good at football.
I wouldn't overthink it here from a fantasy perspective.
Omarion Hampton is the guy."
That is good news to me.
I have him as the ninth running back.
You have him as the 11th.
I have some skepticism that he's really, really, really good at football.
But at the same time- Mm-hmm I think that Mike McDaniel is very, very, very good at calling rushing schemes and offenses.
And, if Omarion Hampton stays healthy and gets off to a great start, we could be in for a fantastic season that makes him better than the running back 11.
I like how we have the tiers, where those top 10 players have, like, done it before, feel very good about it.
They have, like, nothing left to prove.
Like, just copy/paste.
And then the next couple players, I would put the boom bust RB1 labels on them, where their floor is definitely lower because we just don't know how good they are, exactly what role they have.
But they can easily be a top five running back.
Omarion Hampton's absolutely that player.
220 pounds.
He's very fast.
I thought that he was playing between the tackles a little bit too hesitant for me, and maybe a little bit too upright at times, where I, I didn't think that he was, like, one of the top 10 running backs in the NFL.
But the good news is, McDaniel's gonna point him to the perimeter and kinda use him like Derrick Henry, where just like, you're too big, too fast.
Yeah.
Get him on some stretch runs and pitches and see what happens.
He can catch the ball.
I thought his pass protection was weak, but he can catch the ball, similar like Davante Adams, where just like throw him the ball.
Don't ask him to pass protect.
And you figure the rest out.
To me, it just comes down to is Kamalei Vaitai actually gonna be out there in pass protection?
We'll see about that.
And then number two, is Keaton Mitchell, like, actually involved, or is this just, like, four or five touches per game like every other running back deals with?
But if that's 10 touches per game, that is how Omarion Hampton, like, quite doesn't get there.
The Chargers interior offensive line makes me very nervous.
We're talking about a rookie- Yeah center, two very below average guards next to them.
We'll see if Joe Barry and Slater can stay healthy.
So very much boom bust.
You guys have been drafting closer to the boom side of that.
I'm not gonna call him a bust.
I'm a little bit lower on him.
I got him 18th overall.
Yeah, he's going 18-- Well, I should say he's ranked 18th overall in consensus rankings right now.
I, I just believe in the fit, just from big man runs fast.
Yes.
And then with Mike McDaniel, with his offense ranked fifth in yards per rush attempt, fifth in success rate, and first explosive run rate over his time with Miami.
And we know on 52 runs where Hampton was contacted beyond the line of scrimmage, which is gonna be Mike McDaniel's job, he averaged 7.4 yards per rush.
That was seventh of 49 runners in the league last year.
So, this is one I can't wait to track as the season goes along.
Oh, yeah.
And correct me if I'm wrong, I think Keaton Mitchell was kind of banged up heading into the season too.
