The 2025 NFL preseason formally bought underway final Thursday with the Los Angeles Chargers hammering the Detroit Lions 34-7 within the annual Corridor of Fame Sport in Canton, Ohio.
To no shock, fantasy soccer standouts like Jahmyr Gibbs and Justin Herbert didn’t swimsuit up as each Dan Campbell and Jim Harbaugh opted to sit down most of their respective starters for this early exhibition. As an alternative, backups like Trey Lance bought their probability to showcase themselves because the August 26 roster cutdown date looms giant.
The sport additionally allowed for a handful of rookies to get their first style of motion within the Nationwide Soccer League, some being featured prominently all through the night time. Whereas their utilization on this recreation gained’t present a full image of how they’ll be used within the common season, they may present some early clues for curious fantasy managers as draft season unfolds.
Let’s see what we realized about fantasy rookies for the Chargers and Lions within the Corridor of Fame Sport.
Omarion Hampton, RB, LAC
The rookie working again out of North Carolina bought the beginning for the Chargers, logging two carries for 9 yards on the workforce’s opening drive earlier than being shut down for the remainder of the night. In keeping with Nathan Jahnke of Professional Soccer Focus, he additionally ran two routes throughout his transient time on the sphere.
Because the Chargers’ first-round choose within the 2025 NFL Draft this previous April, Hampton has been capturing up fantasy draft boards with good motive. Harbaugh’s M.O. all through his profession has been establishing a robust floor assault with bodily working backs and at 220 kilos, the rookie suits that mildew effectively.
Hampton has additionally been getting a bunch of run in coaching camp because of the absence of veteran offseason signing Najee Harris, who has been sidelined with an eye fixed harm attributable to a fireworks accident on July 4th. Him getting the beginning over Kimani Vidal is an indicator of the employees’s belief within the rookie and there’s a robust probability that he might assume that position once more towards the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Whereas it’s too early outright to declare Hampton RB1 in L.A., the rookie again might cement himself as such by the top of camp and justify the preseason fantasy hype.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, DET
Dan Campbell has had a wonderful draft file since taking up as Lions head coach and TeSlaa could also be his newest hidden gem. The third-round wideout out of Arkansas bought important burn through the Corridor of Fame Sport, logging 32 snaps with two receptions for 46 yards.
At 6’4” with a 4.43 40-yard sprint time, one can see why he’s producing buzz in Lions coaching camp. The presence of established names like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams will make it tough for him to get important seems early on, his reps as a particular groups gunner within the exhibition could point out Campbell’s willingness to get him on the sphere in no matter capability. Maintain tabs on him all through the month.
Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, LAC
One other pair of rookies that made their debut for the Bolts had been wideouts Lambert and Harris, who each logged a handful of snaps within the victory. The previous was focused simply as soon as within the exhibition whereas the latter stood out in his quick time on the sphere, making a powerful 24-yard reception earlier than discovering the endzone within the second quarter.
The Chargers want to solidify their receiver depth behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, opening the door for each fifth-round rookies to see motion through the common season. Whereas they could not supply up a lot worth in redraft leagues simply but, dynasty managers ought to preserve them on their radars as potential late-round sleepers that they will stash away.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, LAC
The Chargers have a pair of veteran tight ends in Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly, the latter of whom caught a landing within the preseason opener whereas the previous sat. However don’t sleep on the rookie Gadsden, who began alongside Dissly within the contest.
The son of the previous Miami Dolphins receiver had only one goal for seven yards however as PFF identified, he was on the sphere for the Chargers’ solely snap in a non-goal line, 11 personnel grouping. We’ll see if that was only a coincidence or an indicator that the rookie might be L.A.’s prime tight finish receiving goal.
