ESPN's Dan Graziano visited Chargers camp this week and came away with this note: "Keaton Mitchell, if healthy, should be a factor in this offense."
What They're Saying: Hampton Leads; Mitchell Intrigues
More from Graziano: "Omarion Hampton ... is the No. 1 in a trio of running backs the Chargers like a lot. But they absolutely have a role planned for Mitchell, the speedy change-of-pace back they signed away from the Ravens in free agency. They think he can help in the passing game in particular."
OC Mike McDaniel: "He's as dynamic as they come with the ball in his hands in space. He's a matchup issue for every defense. I think he has a lot of pass-game value that he hasn't been able to really represent in his career, but it's showing so far in camp. He's a playmaker that I'm very excited about."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: There Will Be Points
This isn't the first time we've heard of McDaniel's excitement for the speedy RB. The former Dolphins HC reportedly hanged "wanted" posters around team headquarters with Mitchell's face on them.
The question with Mitchell, of course, is how he fits into the offense -- specifically what kind of touch outlook we can expect. But following that path too far could be a mistake.
McDaniel's 2023 Dolphins found room to get Raheem Mostert to RB3 and De'Von Achane to RB5 in PPR points per game. That was Achane's rookie year, and Mostert fell off at age 32 the following season. So we didn't get a chance to see sustained two-RB success. But we at least know it's possible.
Mitchell's not Achane, but he's similar in size and style. (Feel free to re-read that McDaniel quote above.) Hampton's probably better than Mostert, but he's also heading into just his second season after a nine-game rookie year. So he hasn't established much.
Vidal crowds the situation and should be more of a factor than Jeff Wilson or Jaylen Wright were for those McDaniel Miami teams. But he also doesn't look good enough to block anything the Chargers want Hampton or Mitchell to accomplish.
But Who Should We Buy?
Of course, we can make an upside case for any of the three players. The question is who makes sense at cost.
Hampton's best ball ADP and consensus PPR ADP both put him early in Round 2, among the top eight RBs off the board. That's a bit expensive for the leader of a backfield trio.
Mitchell, meanwhile, doesn't come off the board until mid-Round 12 in best ball and mid-Round 13 in redraft. That's a low-risk range. Vidal follows him in the Round 17-18 range, presenting even less risk.
Mitchell looks like the better bet for standalone value when all are healthy. He and Vidal would likely share work if Hampton went down, leaving neither looking like a true handcuff.
None presents positive value by our ADP Market Index. But the offense's upside makes the two late-round options well worth your consideration. Mitchell brings the higher ceiling between them.
McDaniel isn't making up the receiving value. Mitchell totaled just 19 receptions across three seasons in Baltimore, but he tallied 60 -- at 9.7 yards per catch -- across three years at East Carolina.
