The 2025 NFL preseason formally obtained underway final Thursday with the Los Angeles Chargers hammering the Detroit Lions 34-7 within the annual Corridor of Fame Recreation 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 take a seat most of their respective starters for this early exhibition. As a substitute, backups like Trey Lance obtained 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 evening. Whereas their utilization on this sport received’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 Recreation.
Omarion Hampton, RB, LAC
The rookie operating again out of North Carolina obtained the beginning for the Chargers, logging two carries for 9 yards on the staff’s opening drive earlier than being shut down for the remainder of the night. In line 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 cause. Harbaugh’s M.O. all through his profession has been establishing a robust floor assault with bodily operating backs and at 220 kilos, the rookie matches that mildew properly.
Hampton has additionally been getting a bunch of run in coaching camp as a result of absence of veteran offseason signing Najee Harris, who has been sidelined with an eye fixed damage resulting from a fireworks accident on July 4th. Him getting the beginning over Kimani Vidal is an indicator of the workers’s belief within the rookie and there’s a robust probability that he may assume that function 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 may cement himself as such by the tip of camp and justify the preseason fantasy hype.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, DET
Dan Campbell has had a wonderful draft report since taking on as Lions head coach and TeSlaa could also be his newest hidden gem. The third-round wideout out of Arkansas obtained important burn through the Corridor of Fame Recreation, 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 appears to be like 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. Preserve 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 formidable 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 might not provide up a lot worth in redraft leagues simply but, dynasty managers ought to hold them on their radars as potential late-round sleepers that they’ll 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 will likely be L.A.’s high tight finish receiving goal.
