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- A TE Set To Take The Leap In 2026
We’ve spent a lot of time this week discussing the Miami Dolphins, who are essentially a shell of their former selves at this point.
I think it’s time we pivot our attention to the team that will most resemble the Dolphins teams of the past four years—the Los Angeles Chargers, now led by Mike McDaniel.
In a recent article, Chargers beat writer Daniel Popper shared a bunch of interesting nuggets about what we can expect from the offense this year:
He said that “the Chargers’ offseason so far has been a big bet on McDaniel" and “his fingerprints are all over this free agency cycle."
On recent RB addition Keaton Mitchell: “(His) acceleration and threatening speed to the edge will thrive in McDaniel’s run scheme." (And more on Mitchell below).
He shared that they signed Charlie Kolar for his run blocking and said he "will allow Oronde Gadsden to play in a role that maximizes ... receiving skill set."
The addition of McDaniel is legitimately exciting for fantasy purposes, but some of these spots—especially the RBs—could be very messy for fantasy purposes.
Omarion Hampton is our consensus RB9 right now, but Mitchell (RB62) and Kimani Vidal (RB61) will muddy the waters with their specific roles. In the event of a Hampton injury, Mitchell and Vidal would likely split touches, reducing their standalone and handcuff appeal.
The one angle I’m most excited about here is Gadsden. We’ve seen McDaniel’s scheme pepper targets to the athletic receiving TE with the right personnel (remember the Jonnu Smith season?). Gadsden is our TE11, but I’d have no problem targeting as high as TE9.
Fins down, Bolt up …
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Second Life For Keaton Mitchell In LA?
Most of the major free agent signings have come and gone. There are still a few dominoes yet to fall with free agents who could make an impact in 2026, but the dust has settled enough that we can start to evaluate the winners and losers from a busy free agency period.
In this article, Jonathan Fuller highlights second- and third-tier free agent signings that have the potential to be valuable bench stashes on your dynasty roster. Depending on the size of your league, these are players who might be available on waivers or could be added as a throw-in for a trade that includes premium pieces.
Keaton Mitchell | RB | LAC
I'm a Keaton Mitchell truther. I think he is a good football player who deserves more opportunities to showcase his explosive playmaking ability. Through his first three seasons in the NFL, Mitchell has averaged 6.3 yards per attempt and 4.06 yards after contact per attempt.
He is now another year removed from the major knee injury that cost him most of the 2024 season and landed with the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that just added Mike McDaniel as its OC. Although he didn't turn Miami into a winner, there is little doubt that he is one of the better offensive minds in the NFL. I'm excited to see what McDaniel can cook up for Justin Herbert and the offense in LA.
Mitchell isn't on the same level as McDaniel's last RB De'Von Achane, but he has a similar skill set and should be able to run a lot of the same concepts that McDaniel designed for Achane. Omarion Hampton will be the clear lead back, but the great thing about Mitchell is that he doesn't need huge volume to make an impact for fantasy football. He can be the change-of-pace guy getting 6-10 touches per game and still make a major impact regularly by creating explosive plays.
The Fantasy Fallout of 2026’s Coaching Changes
Fantasy managers spend all offseason tracking player movement, but the biggest mistakes happen when they ignore coaching changes. New coaches don’t just change teams; they change fantasy outcomes. Free agency has already kicked off with a bang, with players flying across the league and reshaping draft boards for 2026. But while everyone focuses on new faces in new places, the real edge lies in understanding the tendencies of the coaches calling the plays.
So, with a little homage to Matthew Berry (company man, of course), here’s Tipp Major’s Love/Hate breakdown of some of the offseason coaching changes—and their fantasy impact. You might even get a bonus.
Eric Bieniemy | Offensive Coordinator | KC
Looking back at the last two seasons in Kansas City, only Rodrick Heffley’s band Löded Diper comes to mind when describing the offense under Matt Nagy—but I’ll get to him later.
Returning like a hero ready to lead the charge, Eric Bieniemy brings the intensity and discipline needed to get this unit back on track. Newly added RB Kenneth Walker has already praised Bieniemy’s demanding coaching style, noting how quickly expectations are set. Adding former Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray as running backs coach gives the room added experience and credibility.
There’s reason to believe the offense is trending upward. During Bieniemy’s previous stint as offensive coordinator (2018–2022), the Chiefs never finished worse than sixth in points per game. Reid and Bieniemy complement each other; Reid shapes the passing attack while Bieniemy establishes the run. From a fantasy perspective, that balance matters: Kansas City averaged just over one rushing touchdown per game in that span, putting Walker in position to reach double-digit TDs for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes thrived in this system, averaging over 38 pass attempts and 2.4 passing touchdowns per game.
With the run game stabilized, the offense should regain efficiency and explosiveness. Keep an eye on Justin Fields, who could complicate early usage while Mahomes works back to full strength, but there’s plenty of time to sort that out. Overall, this reunion should have fantasy managers excited: a more balanced, productive offense means a clear boost in fantasy value across the board.
Fantasy
Around The Watercooler
The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from our merry band of football nerds …
🙏 Must read: A.J. Green’s tribute to his friend, Rondale Moore.
😂 If Kenny Golladay and Michael Pittman had a baby? What a player comp.
👀 A hidden gem in the Texans WR room? A potential late-round target.
😍 Matthew Berry’s Love/Hate from 2026 NFL free agency. Lots to love…and hate.
🤢 Replacement refs? Please no.
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