The Los Angeles Chargers do not have a single clearly locked-in starting running back for 2026 yet, but the battle is centered around Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, with Hampton viewed as the higher-upside lead option if healthy.

Current depth chart picture

  • Recent depth charts and roster listings show Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins, and others (like Jaret Patterson) in the backfield mix for the Chargers.
  • Team materials from early January 2026 list ā€œKimani Vidal OR Omarion Hamptonā€ at the top of the RB line, which signals a true committee/competition rather than a named workhorse.

How the role has evolved

  • Earlier in 2025, Najee Harris was announced as the starter over rookie Hampton, but that was before injuries and the late-season shift in usage.
  • Hampton later took the bulk of carries after Harris suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and flashing big-play ability before his own ankle issue.

What this means for ā€œwho will startā€

  • Going into 2026, Najee Harris is an unrestricted free agent, and reports suggest the Chargers may look for ā€œanother running back,ā€ signaling they are not fully tied to him as their 2026 starter.
  • With Harrisā€™ future uncertain and Hampton already having taken over lead duties when healthy, Hampton profiles as the most likely ā€œ1Aā€ back, with Vidal pushing him and potentially forming a committee.

Fantasy & fan-forum angle

  • For fantasy or betting discussions, early chatter tends to treat Hampton as the upside pick to emerge as the primary starter, with Vidal as a credible threat for touches and red-zone work.
  • Injury history for both Harris (Achilles) and Hampton (ankle) plus possible free-agent moves means the situation is still fluid and could change with free agency or the draft.

Bottom line: Right now, the best read is that Omarion Hampton is the favorite to be listed as the Chargersā€™ starting RB in 2026, but team depth charts and recent notes still frame it as ā€œHampton OR Vidal,ā€ so itā€™s a competition, not a done deal.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.