KeatonMitchell

Oct 12

Kimani Vidal may have emerged as the new top back on Los Angeles' depth chart.

Omarion Hampton started the season playing 75% of early-down snaps, 18. 8% of third-down snaps and 40% of snaps during two-minute drills, with Vidal and Keaton Mitchell taking the passing-down work. During Weeks 3 and 4, Hampton's role dropped to 53. 6% of early-down snaps, 13. 6% of third-down snaps and 4. 2% of snaps during two-minute drills. Vidal was slowly but surely getting more involved, while Mitchell was making some big plays. This week, Hampton fell to 43. 6% of early-down snaps and didn't play any third-down or two-minute drill snaps. Hampton still ran the ball 14 times but gained just 33 yards. Vidal had eight carries, including a 42-yard touchdown run, but gained only 13 yards on his other seven attempts. Mitchell also struggled in the running game, finishing with six carries for 11 yards. Mitchell remains the team's top receiving back, catching three passes for 18 yards this week. The Chargers have a very difficult upcoming schedule, and their offensive line problems are unlikely to improve anytime soon. As long as Mitchell and Vidal continue taking the passing-down work, Hampton‘s role could decline further. Mitchell and Vidal are worth considering off the waiver wire in case their roles continue to expand. For now, it will be difficult to trust any of the three in fantasy starting lineups.

Oct 8

Entering the game, Herbert tied for 34th among quarterbacks in percentage of pass attempts to players that started in the backfield, at 9.1 percent. By game’s end, Herbert had increased the clip to 13.4 percent, tied for 24th in the NFL....So, upon review: Herbert forced passes on both of his interceptions and was faced with porous pass protection on third downs. His second-half solution: Take the easy stuff. A healthy run game also helped....Herbert’s first two completions of the second half included a tight end screen to Gadsden for 5 yards and a swing pass to running back Keaton Mitchell for 2 yards. ... Then it was back to the short stuff, as Herbert found Mitchell out of the backfield for 3 yards, and then Gadsden wide open on a well-designed out route from a bunch set. That set up the aforementioned fourth-and-4 on which Herbert somehow squeezed the ball to Gadsden in a tight window while he was in the process of being sacked. The shovel pass to Vidal, who compiled some impressive yards after catch, capped things for six.