| {{ column.label }} |
|---|
| {{ column.value }} |
Gadsden played well enough in 2025 to enter the Chargers’ lead-TE conversation. But added TE competition and uncertainty under a new OC make his 2026 role less secure than the raw production suggests. Gadsden’s an easy avoid with a TE16 ADP.
Customize his projection for your exact league settings inside the Draft War Room.
Gadsden racked up 49 catches, 664 yards, and 3 TDs in 15 games, good for TE15 in total PPR points and TE22 in points per game.
He finished as a top-12 PPR TE in five games, with two other finishes inside the top-15. He also brought the volatility you’d expect from a Round 5 rookie TE: six fantasy finishes outside the top-36.
After healthy scratches in the first two games, Gadsden got his chance in Week 3 with Will Dissly inactive and turned 7 targets into 5 catches for 46 yards against Denver.
From Week 3 on, Gadsden posted a 61.3% route rate and 13.4% target share, with eight games above a 70% route rate and seven above a 17% target share. That works out to fringe top-12 TE usage over a full season.
Gadsden thrived in a mid-range role with a 9.5-yard average depth of target, sixth among 49 TEs with 30+ targets. He also caught all eight of his deep targets (20+ yards downfield) for 235 yards.
Among 49 TEs with 30+ targets, Gadsden ranked:
Gadsden added strong marks in catch rate (73.2%) and yards per reception (13.3).
The Chargers landed 12th in total yards but only 20th in scoring. The passing game checked in 13th in attempts, 18th in yards, and 11th in TDs.
That’s a decent profile, especially factoring in the tough conditions around Justin Herbert. OTs Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater combined to miss 28 games and factored heavily in the QB seeing a league-high 43.3% pressure rate.
Gadsden left Week 10 with a quad bruise but returned the following Sunday.
His more notable injury came at Syracuse in 2023, where a Lisfranc injury to his right foot required surgery and cost him 11 games.
Gadsden projects as the lead TE after his strong 2025, but the margin for error is thin.
The Chargers strengthened the TE room with David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. Njoku missed 11 games over the past two seasons and lost ground to Harold Fannin Jr. in 2025, but his 2023 showed the ceiling. That year, Njoku finished sixth among TEs in catches and yards, tying for second in receiving TDs. (He did it despite playing in a Browns offense that used five starting QBs.)
Kolar is less of a receiving threat, but his blocking could still cost Gadsden snaps, especially after the Chargers gave the former Raven a three-year deal with $17 million guaranteed.
Kolar ranked eighth last year in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade among 53 TEs with 200+ run-blocking snaps.
Beyond TE, the Chargers return a young WR trio of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre Harris. McConkey’s production declined last season, while Johnston remained a complementary piece of the offense with a target share that placed him 57th among WRs. Harris played all 17 games but was a non-factor.
Keenan Allen’s departure vacated 122 targets from last year’s offense, but don’t assume Gadsden automatically claims a large chunk.
Gadsden benefits from the presence of Justin Herbert, who finished ninth in pass attempts and ninth in yards last season despite heavy pressure.
The O-line will bear watching after both OTs underwent offseason surgeries. LT Rashawn Slater and RT Joe Alt are at least on track to participate in training camp.
The Chargers’ personnel moves suggest more two- and three-TE sets, a shift from last year when they ranked last in 12-personnel usage (5.8%) and 23rd in 13-personnel usage (1.9%).
That’s generally positive for the TE, who won’t have to contend with as many WRs for targets.
McDaniel’s Miami offenses also leaned into two-back sets, using them at a 33.25% clip and frequently involving a fullback. That’s up from the Chargers’ 10.9% usage of two-back sets last season. Gadsden probably won’t see a major snap or route reduction as the movement/receiving TE. But new FB Alec Ingold, who spent the past four seasons with McDaniel, adds another potential hurdle to his playing time.
Gadsden could simply get lost in a deep group of pass catchers. McConkey, Johnston, Njoku, Harris, Kolar, and even Omarion Hampton, who caught 32 passes in just nine games as a rookie, give the Chargers plenty of options to spread the ball around.
Unable to load trends.
No trend data is available.
No trend data is available.
Chargers Tight Ends Might be Unusable in Fantasy
Chargers Tight Ends Might be Unusable in Fantasy
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.
David Njoku Ruins Fantasy Outlook for Chargers TEs
David Njoku Ruins Fantasy Outlook for Chargers TEs
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.
Chargers Looking For New OC
Chargers Looking For New OC
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 Resting Justin Herbert for Week 18
Chargers Resting Justin Herbert for Week 18
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.
Oronde Gadsden Left Out of Passing Party
Oronde Gadsden Left Out of Passing Party
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.
See whether Oronde Gadsden II is available in your leagues.
Sign In to Check Your LeaguesNo related articles are available yet.
You have our personal money-back guarantee: If you’re not happy with our service for any reason, just reach out by December 31, 2026, and we’ll give you 100% of this purchase back. No strings attached. You can cancel with one-click from your account page anytime.
