Omarion Hampton Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production

Hampton led the ACC in carries and rushing yards each of the past two years. He increased his 115.7 yards per game from 2023 to 138.3 last season, while maintaining his 5.9 yards per rush.

Hampton also increased his receiving production each year. He posted a career-best 9.8 yards per catch in his final season at Carolina, racking up a 38-372-2 receiving line en route to 2,033 total scrimmage yards.

Usage & Role

Hampton dominated backfield usage over his two starting seasons at UNC. His 253 carries in 2023 led No. 2 RB British Brooks by 178.

Hampton then climbed from 19.5 carries per game that season to 23.4 per game in 2024. His nearest RB teammate tallied just 67 carries across 13 games (one more than Hampton played). And Hampton’s efficiency came despite Carolina losing QB Drake Maye to the NFL.

Efficiency Metrics

Among 161 RBs with 100+ carries last season, Hampton ranked 12th in yards after contact per carry (4.35). That marked a bump from his 4.22 YAC per carry in 2023.

Factor in the matching numbers in total yards per carry, and that means Hampton was getting less help at the start of runs in 2024.

Hampton ranked 15th among FBS runners in Pro Football Focus’ elusive rating. Only five RBs forced more missed tackles.

Athletic Testing

Hampton checked in at 6’0 and 220 pounds at the Combine. His 4.46-second 40 time at that size generated a 91st-percentile speed score among RBs. PlayerProfiler lists Jonathan Taylor as the best comparable player.

Hampton added an 85th-percentile vertical and 96th-percentile broad jump, flashing his explosiveness.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

HC Jim Harbaugh raved about every single aspect of Hampton after his team added the RB with the 22nd pick of Round 1.

He talked up the incoming rookie’s running style, receiving ability, pass protection, football IQ – even said he got ringing endorsements before the draft on how good a person Hampton is. The coach said he was “shocked” the RB made it to them in Round 1.

That selection came a little more than a month after the Chargers signed RB Najee Harris.

The former Steeler brings plenty of name value and NFL production. But Harris also managed just a one-year, $5.25 million contract at the start of free agency, ahead of his age-27 season.

Harris has averaged just 3.9 yards per rush through four seasons and had seen both his carries per game and receptions per game decline for two straight years before 2024. (Jaylen Warren’s early injuries helped both numbers rebound.)

Don’t be surprised if Hampton opens the year splitting worth with Harris to some degree. But the new guy is the bigger talent, in all facets.

Supporting Cast

The Chargers finished 12th in total offensive DVOA in the first season under Harbaugh, despite a lackluster backfield. The team landed just 21st in rushing DVOA; eighth in passing DVOA.

The passing game should remain good, thanks primarily to Justin Herbert. Ladd McConkey returns off a stellar rookie season. Quentin Johnston improved significantly over a bad rookie campaign. And the Chargers drafted WR Tre Harris in Round 2.

But what about the run game? The problem goes beyond last year’s limited backfield.

The O-line played below average in 2024 … but it also marked improvement.

The Chargers ranked just 23rd in adjusted line yards in 2024. But that beat rankings of 30th in 2023 and 26th in 2022. And the team climbed from 32nd in PFF run-blocking grade in both 2022 and 2023 to 21st last season.

L.A. looked to upgrade further by adding G Mekhi Becton in free agency. Becton has rated better as a run blocker than a pass blocker so far in his career.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Greg Roman has spent 11 seasons as an NFL OC, including the five he has worked under Harbaugh. Those 11 seasons have produced a 49.9% run rate. Last year’s 45.5% run rate marked the second-lowest in that group, trailing only the 2021 Ravens, who lost their top three RBs to injuries before the season and Lamar Jackson for the final five games.

Harbaugh adds a run-heavy college background, including a pair of Stanford teams with QB Andrew Luck and two years of first-round QB J.J. McCarthy starting for him at Michigan.

Harbaugh and Roman present rushing pedigrees. And that staff has spent its first-round picks so far on RT Joe Alt and Hampton.

It’s worth noting that the Chargers operated at the second-highest neutral pass rate in the league from Week 6 on (after their bye) last season. That span followed Herbert dealing with early foot and ankle injuries. It also included 10 combined missed games between Dobbins and Edwards.