Los AngelesChargers
Air Coryell rewrote how the forward pass gets used and scoring in bunches has been in the DNA ever since. Justin Herbert throws the prettiest deep ball in football, Ladd McConkey gets open against anybody, and Omarion Hampton is a handful to bring down. No shortage whatsoever of talent to enjoy.
The fantasy roster, best rated first
Fantasy-relevant players only. Quarterbacks, backs, receivers and tight ends, which is what HexMetrics prices. 1 of them sit inside the league's top 25, 2 inside the top 50, 3 inside the top 100.
How roster strength is built: the seven slots behind 76.2
HexScore rates a player against others at his own position, so the seven below are not added up: each is weighted by what its slot is worth to an offence, and the weights are in the last column.
The case for the 2026 season
Fifth in Team Power, twelfth in roster strength, and seventy-one per cent of the talent under twenty-five
The Chargers rate 76.2 for roster strength, 13 of 32, and 93 for Team Power, 5 of 32. Both are top-half and the second is top-five, carried by a defense ranked 7 against the pass and 4 against the run. 71% of the club's rated talent belongs to players under twenty-five, which is the highest share in the league. I have read the optimistic version of this before, so the case below is written to survive the part where it usually goes wrong.
The talent, and how it is distributed
Omarion Hampton at 96.2, 24 of 457. Ladd McConkey at 91.7, 47. Quarterback 78.6, tight end 71.4, second receiver 70.0, flex 57.6, second back 37.8.
I read position shares before totals, because a top-heavy roster is more fragile than its total suggests and the total is the thing that gets quoted. This one is less top-heavy than it looks: five of the seven slots are above fifty-nine and the drop-off is at the second back rather than across the board. That is a better-shaped roster than the twelfth-place finish implies.
The defense is the reason for the other number
Pass defense 1.07 at 7 of 32. Rush defense 0.89 at 4. The line ranks 10 of 32 and rush efficiency reads 0.78. Team Power blends those with the offense and lands at 5 of 32.
The forward-looking defensive composite disagrees at 16 of 32, which is the middle. That is a real gap between what the unit has done and what the projection expects, and I am not going to resolve it by choosing. I will note that a seven-place backward ranking and a sixteenth-place forward one is a smaller disagreement than several clubs on this site carry.
The question this market asks first
Availability is a skill and games-played history belongs in every valuation. This site's engine does read durability and health as inputs, which is more than most public rankings do, but they are minor terms and the page does not print them. So the qualification is mine rather than the model's: every number above is what these players are worth when they play.
14 rated players against a league average of 14.3, with the second back at 37.8 and the flex at 57.6. That is the honest depth picture. A club whose ceiling argument assumes a full season from a roster that has not had one is a club making an argument I have watched fail in this market specifically, and I am not making it.
What is left when the qualification is applied
Value-weighted age 24.9, 6 of 32 counting youngest first. 10 of 17 games indoors, 9 of 32. Strength of schedule 15 of 32 counting easiest first, which is the middle, and the bye in week 7.
The case is this, with the qualification already inside it rather than appended: a top-five blended rating, a top-seven defense against the pass, a top-ten line, and the youngest talent base in football, on a neutral schedule with ten games indoors. That is a genuine contender if the roster plays, and a nine-win club if it does not, and the distance between those two outcomes is wider here than anywhere else in this division. Everyone in this market knows which side of it we usually land on. The roster is finally good enough that the question is worth asking again.
The club record
76 players. Read from www.chargers.com on 2026-09-12. Not a HexMetrics rating: this is what the club publishes.
Coaching staff
31 coachesHead Coach
- Head CoachJim Harbaugh
Defense
- Defensive CoordinatorChris O’Leary
- Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs CoachSteve Clinkscale
- Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line CoachMike Elston
- Defensive Run Game SpecialistMike Hiestand
- LinebackersSean Spence
- SafetiesAdam Fuller
- Outside LinebackersDylan Roney
- Assistant Defensive LineJulian Campenni
- Assistant Outside LinebackersDenzel Martin
Offense
- Offensive CoordinatorMike McDaniel
- Offensive Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks CoachShane Day
- Assistant Offensive LineNick Hardwick
- Wide ReceiversSanjay Lal
- Offensive Run Game Coordinator/Offensive LineButch Barry
- Tight EndsChandler Henley
- Running BacksMax McCaffrey
- Passing Game SpecialistAdam Gase
- Offensive AssistantRob Everett
- Offensive AssistantKirk Campbell
- Assistant Wide Receivers/Assistant Special Teams CoachJosh Hammond
Special Teams
- Special Teams CoordinatorRyan Ficken
- Assistant Special TeamsChris Gould
Player Performance
- Executive Director of Player PerformanceBen Herbert
- Head Strength & ConditioningJonathan Brooks
- Head Strength & ConditioningDevin Woodhouse
- Director of Performance AnalyticsBen Rabe
- Performance AnalystLincoln DeWolf
Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellow
- Alex G. Spanos Coaching FellowJarrod James
- Alex G. Spanos Coaching FellowBeau Snuggs
- Alex G. Spanos Coaching FellowJimmy Thompson
Read from www.chargers.com on 2026-09-12.
Depth chart
Offense
- WR
- Ladd McConkey91.7
- Tre' Harris57.6
- Derius Davis
- LT
- Rashawn Slater
- Trey Pipkins III
- Travis Burke
- LG
- Kayode Awosika
- Trey Pipkins III
- Logan Taylor
- C
- Jake Slaughter
- Jacob Spomer
- RG
- Cole Strange
- Trevor Penning
- Alex Harkey
- RT
- Joe Alt
- Travis Burke
- Alex Harkey
- TE
- Charlie Kolar10.5
- David Njoku49.1
- Oronde Gadsden71.4
- WR
- Quentin Johnston70.0
- Brenen Thompson8.6
- KeAndre Lambert-Smith0.0
- QB
- Justin Herbert78.6
- Trey Lance0.6
- FB
- Alec Ingold
- RB
- Omarion Hampton96.2
- Keaton Mitchell37.8
- Kimani Vidal18.8
Defense
- EDGE
- Khalil Mack
- Akheem Mesidor
- DL
- Jamaree Caldwell
- Nick Barrett
- DL
- Dalvin Tomlinson
- Justin Eboigbe
- DL
- Teair Tart
- EDGE
- Tuli Tuipulotu
- Bud Dupree
- LB
- Daiyan Henley
- Troy Dye
- LB
- Del'Shawn Phillips
- Marlowe Wax
- CB
- Tarheeb Still
- Cam Hart
- Deane Leonard
- S
- Derwin James Jr.
- Tony Jefferson
- RJ Mickens
- S
- Elijah Molden
- Genesis Smith
- Kendall Williamson
- CB
- Donte Jackson
- Cam Hart
- Rodney Shelley
Special Teams
- K
- Cameron Dicker
- P
- JK Scott
- KO
- Cameron Dicker
- H
- JK Scott
- LS
- Josh Harris
- KR
- Derius Davis
- Keaton Mitchell37.8
- Kimani Vidal18.8
- PR
- Derius Davis
- Brenen Thompson8.6
- Ladd McConkey91.7
Full roster
14 of 60 rated| # | Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | Age | Exp | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active54 | |||||||
| Offense | |||||||
| 5 | Trey LanceRated | QB | 6-4 | 226 | 26 | 6 | North Dakota State |
| 10 | Justin HerbertRated | QB | 6-6 | 236 | 28 | 7 | Oregon |
| 8 | Omarion HamptonRated | RB | 6-0 | 220 | 23 | 2 | North Carolina |
| 28 | Kimani VidalRated | RB | 5-8 | 215 | 25 | 3 | Troy |
| 34 | Keaton MitchellRated | RB | 5-8 | 191 | 24 | 4 | East Carolina |
| 30 | Alec Ingold | FB | 6-1 | 240 | 30 | 8 | Wisconsin |
| 1 | Quentin JohnstonRated | WR | 6-2 | 208 | 25 | 4 | TCU |
| 9 | Tre' HarrisRated | WR | 6-3 | 210 | 24 | 2 | Mississippi |
| 12 | Derius Davis | WR | 5-8 | 165 | 26 | 4 | TCU |
| 15 | Ladd McConkeyRated | WR | 6-0 | 185 | 24 | 3 | Georgia |
| 84 | KeAndre Lambert-SmithRated | WR | 6-1 | 182 | 24 | 2 | Auburn |
| 89 | Brenen ThompsonRated | WR | 5-9 | 170 | 23 | R | Mississippi State |
| 83 | David NjokuRated | TE | 6-4 | 246 | 30 | 12 | Miami |
| 86 | Oronde GadsdenRated | TE | 6-5 | 236 | 23 | 2 | Syracuse |
| 88 | Charlie KolarRated | TE | 6-6 | 250 | 27 | 5 | Iowa State |
| 70 | Rashawn Slater | T | 6-4 | 315 | 27 | 6 | Northwestern |
| 76 | Joe Alt | T | 6-8 | 322 | 23 | 3 | Notre Dame |
| 77 | Travis Burke | T | 6-9 | 315 | 23 | R | Memphis |
| 79 | Trey Pipkins III | T | 6-6 | 307 | 30 | 8 | Sioux Falls |
| 65 | Logan Taylor | G | 6-7 | 312 | 24 | R | Boston College |
| 69 | Cole Strange | G | 6-5 | 305 | 28 | 5 | Tennessee-Chattanooga |
| 73 | Alex Harkey | G | 6-6 | 327 | 25 | R | Oregon |
| 74 | Kayode Awosika | G | 6-3 | 312 | 27 | 5 | Buffalo |
| 60 | Jacob Spomer | C | 6-3 | 290 | 25 | R | Fresno State |
| 66 | Jake Slaughter | OL | 6-4 | 308 | 23 | R | Florida |
| 75 | Trevor Penning | OL | 6-7 | 325 | 27 | 5 | Northern Iowa |
| Defense | |||||||
| 91 | Nick Barrett | DL | 6-3 | 327 | 23 | R | South Carolina |
| 92 | Justin Eboigbe | DL | 6-5 | 292 | 25 | 3 | Alabama |
| 93 | Teair Tart | DL | 6-2 | 315 | 29 | 7 | Florida International |
| 94 | Dalvin Tomlinson | DL | 6-3 | 317 | 32 | 10 | Alabama |
| 99 | Jamaree Caldwell | DL | 6-1 | 340 | 26 | 2 | Oregon |
| 0 | Daiyan Henley | LB | 6-0 | 225 | 26 | 4 | Washington State |
| 43 | Troy Dye | LB | 6-3 | 225 | 29 | 7 | Oregon |
| 53 | Del'Shawn Phillips | LB | 6-2 | 230 | 29 | 7 | Illinois |
| 58 | Marlowe Wax | LB | 6-1 | 236 | 23 | 2 | Syracuse |
| 45 | Tuli Tuipulotu | OLB | 6-3 | 266 | 24 | 4 | Southern California |
| 48 | Bud Dupree | OLB | 6-4 | 269 | 33 | 12 | Kentucky |
| 50 | Caleb Murphy | OLB | 6-3 | 254 | 26 | 4 | Ferris State |
| 52 | Khalil Mack | OLB | 6-3 | 269 | 35 | 13 | Buffalo |
| 90 | Akheem Mesidor | OLB | 6-3 | 280 | 25 | R | Miami |
| 4 | Tarheeb Still | CB | 6-1 | 196 | 24 | 3 | Maryland |
| 20 | Cam Hart | CB | 6-2 | 207 | 25 | 3 | Notre Dame |
| 24 | Rodney Shelley | CB | 5-11 | 180 | 24 | R | Georgia Tech |
| 26 | Donte Jackson | CB | 5-10 | 180 | 30 | 8 | Louisiana State |
| 3 | Derwin James Jr. | S | 6-2 | 215 | 30 | 9 | Florida State |
| 22 | Genesis Smith | S | 6-2 | 204 | 21 | R | Arizona |
| 23 | Tony Jefferson | S | 5-11 | 212 | 34 | 12 | Oklahoma |
| 27 | RJ Mickens | S | 6-0 | 210 | 25 | 2 | Clemson |
| 32 | Kendall Williamson | S | 6-0 | 203 | 26 | 2 | Stanford |
| 2 | Elijah Molden | DB | 5-10 | 192 | 27 | 6 | Washington |
| 33 | Deane Leonard | DB | 6-0 | 195 | 26 | 5 | Mississippi |
| Special teams | |||||||
| 11 | Cameron DickerRated | K | 6-1 | 216 | 26 | 5 | Texas |
| 16 | JK Scott | P | 6-5 | 208 | 30 | 8 | Alabama |
| 47 | Josh Harris | LS | 6-1 | 224 | 37 | 15 | Auburn |
| Reserve/Injured3 | |||||||
| 63 | Tyler Biadasz | C | 6-4 | 318 | 28 | 7 | Wisconsin |
| 81 | Dalevon Campbell | WR | 6-4 | 220 | 24 | 1 | South Carolina |
| 6 | Denzel Perryman | LB | 5-11 | 240 | 33 | 12 | Miami |
| Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return2 | |||||||
| 44 | Scott Matlock | FB/DL | 6-4 | 296 | 26 | 4 | Boise State |
| 71 | Branson Taylor | G | 6-6 | 330 | 24 | 1 | Pittsburgh |
| Reserve/Non-Football Injury1 | |||||||
| 67 | Isaiah World | T | 6-8 | 318 | 22 | R | Oregon |
Practice squad
1 of 16 rated| # | Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | Age | Exp | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice Squad16 | |||||||
| Offense | |||||||
| 7 | DJ Uiagalelei | QB | 6-4 | 252 | 25 | 1 | Florida State |
| 31 | Gregory Desrosiers | RB | 5-11 | 200 | 25 | R | Memphis |
| 35 | Amar Johnson | RB | 5-10 | 205 | 23 | 1 | South Dakota State |
| 82 | Theo Wease Jr.Rated | WR | 6-2 | 210 | 25 | 1 | Missouri |
| 87 | Gary Jennings | WR | 6-1 | 216 | 29 | 2 | West Virginia |
| 49 | Evan Svoboda | TE | 6-5 | 251 | 23 | R | Wyoming |
| 81 | Patrick Herbert | TE | 6-5 | 255 | 25 | 1 | Oregon |
| 78 | Laekin Vakalahi | T | 6-5 | 327 | 23 | 1 | |
| 68 | Josh Kaltenberger | C | 6-6 | 308 | 25 | 1 | Maryland |
| Defense | |||||||
| 64 | Terry Webb | DL | 6-3 | 313 | 23 | R | SMU |
| 95 | Jordan Jefferson | DT | 6-2 | 316 | 24 | 3 | LSU |
| 25 | Junior Colson | LB | 6-3 | 247 | 23 | 3 | Michigan |
| 57 | Lander Barton | LB | 6-5 | 240 | 22 | R | Utah |
| 51 | Andre Carter II | OLB | 6-6 | 256 | 26 | 2 | Army |
| 29 | Kaiir Elam | CB | 6-1 | 191 | 25 | 5 | Florida |
| 46 | Nikko Reed | CB | 5-10 | 180 | 23 | 2 | Oregon |
Chargers news
Loading the Chargers newsroom.
Published by the club, tagged by which feed it came from rather than by reading the headline. HexMetrics does not host or edit any of it. All club newsrooms.
npm run build-team-cases to reproduce them.