newsweek
Running back Omarion Hampton was supposed to be a Rookie of the Year contender for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025.
Instead, injuries cut his first pro season short.
The 22nd overall pick out of North Carolina was thrust into a featured role early after Najee Harris tore his Achilles in Week 3.
Hampton answered the call, putting up 242 rushing yards and 122 receiving yards over three games in Weeks 3 through 5.
However, he fractured his ankle in Week 5, which cost him roughly two months.
He finished the year with 545 rushing yards, 192 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns across nine games.
But heading into the 2026 NFL season, he's healthy and in a much better system.
Pro Bowl tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are both expected back after missing significant time with their own injuries, giving Hampton a much sturdier offensive line to run behind.
The Chargers also just brought in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who has consistently produced explosive rushing attacks across his time in Miami and San Francisco.
More news: Baltimore Ravens Top Breakout Candidate in 2026 More news: Houston Texans Top Breakout Candidate in 2026 Hampton has already expressed excitement about the new offense, and McDaniel himself has even drawn comparisons between Hampton and Hall of Famer Terrell Davis.
With a full season to rehab and no lingering ankle concerns heading into camp, Hampton looks ready to take on an enormous workload this season.
LA didn't bring in any real competition at the position either, signaling belief that he can handle a larger role.
Hampton came into the league after a dominant final year at UNC, where he led the ACC with 1,660 rushing yards and 373 receiving yards along with 17 total touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and earning first-team All-American honors.
Leading up to the draft, some even viewed him as the top back in the entire class, ahead of Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty.
Chargers fans never truly got to see that version of him due to the injuries, and health remains the biggest concern.
But assuming he's available for all 17 games, the pieces around him put him in line to break out and emerge as one of the best running backs in football.
More news: New York Jets Top Breakout Candidate in 2026.