Omarion Hampton is having a nightmare season, plain and simple, yet Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport still slots him as the third-best second-year running back in the entire league. Talk about a head-scratcher when you look at the raw numbers and the winless Chargers’ complete trainwreck of a season.
The Wheels Have Come Off for Hampton in 2026
It’s been a brutal start for Hampton in 2026. This dude was supposed to be a young phenom, remember? NFL insider Jordan Schultz even went out on a limb, predicting Hampton would lead the league in scrimmage yards and hit 12+ touchdowns. Fast forward to now, and he’s barely on pace for that touchdown mark and is hardly even on the field. We’re talking about a player who came into the league at 23 with huge expectations, tabbed to be a lead back right out of the gate. And let’s not forget those two lost fumbles in the first two weeks of the season. You gotta wonder what kind of spirits he’s in right now, especially with the Chargers being an absolute mess and still looking for their first win.
Talent Is There, But the Situation Is a Nightmare
Despite all that rough going, Gary Davenport just re-ranked the second-year backs, and Hampton is sitting at third, only behind Ashton Jeanty and TreyVeon Henderson. Davenport puts it bluntly: “Omarion Hampton has had little opportunity to establish a rhythm.” When the Chargers drafted him 22nd overall last year, everyone expected him to be the featured guy from day one. He absolutely balled out at North Carolina, showing first-round talent over two wildly productive seasons. His rookie year, even with an ankle injury sidelining him for almost half of it, he was effective. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry, punched in five touchdowns, and gave them nearly 82 total yards per game. But then 2026 rolled around, and man, the wheels just fell off. Coach Mike McDaniel’s decision to run a three-back committee has basically marooned Hampton, making it impossible for him to find any kind of groove. He’s only topped 15 carries once this season, and his yards per carry have dropped by almost a full yard. Davenport sums it up perfectly: “The talent is there, but the situation is a nightmare.”
So, is Davenport right to hold Hampton in such high regard when his current situation is so dire? Or should he be much lower? It’s a tough call when you’ve got a guy with that much raw ability stuck in what looks like an impossible spot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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