The Dolphins were world-beaters on the offensive side of the ball when they were humming. From the start of 2022 through the end of 2023, Miami was a top-5 unit in yards per play, yards per game, and red-zone efficiency. The skill position players were great, but the trigger man wasn’t nearly of the caliber that McDaniel now has access to, hence the appeal.
Should You Draft Omarion Hampton in Fantasy Football?
Hampton’s ADP in PFN’s Free Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator is 17.4, going right around the middle of the second round. Our consensus positional rank, between me and my colleague Kyle Soppe, is RB12. He’s projected for 15.26 fantasy points per game.
I must admit Hampton is one of the toughest players for me to figure out this season, because his rank is based on a whole lot of projection. If we look at the prospect, you understand the appeal. He’s a strong 221 pounds with the ideal frame for a lead runner. He had a 4.46 40 time, which is certainly fast enough. He’s got a solid receiving background, headlined by an 11.3% target share in his best collegiate season. On paper, we’ve got a three-down back here.
But start with the backfield itself. Kimani Vidal really showed himself last year filling in for an injured Hampton. He forced his way into the RB1 role, and he looked like a guy who can certainly play. Is he going to have some sort of role this season? Mike McDaniel certainly alluded to it when he said that he’s going to ride the hot hand. In theory, if Hampton is the best running back in this backfield, he will be that hot hand. But Keaton Mitchell is explosive, and Vidal has proven himself already. There is a world where Hampton’s volume is not as much as we want it to be, and certainly not as much as his ADP suggests it is.
My real concern here is the talent. I am genuinely not sure if Hampton is that good at football. He might be. I’m not saying he isn’t. I just don’t know. When we look at his numbers from last year, his overall stats are fine, but they’re heavily boosted by one game against the worst rushing defense in the league.
I want to credit Datarama on Twitter for this one. If you look at Hampton’s metrics against every other team outside of that one game, his 3.68 yards per carry would have ranked 37th out of 43 qualifying backs. His 2.03 yards of contact per attempt ranked 30th. His explosive run rate ranked 20th. His success rate of 45.1% ranked 37th. That is not a running back who screams guy you should take in the middle of the second round, or the top of the second round. That is not a guy who can be an anchor for your backfield.
Yes, we certainly believe in Mike McDaniel and what he can do for this Chargers offense. With how Tua Tagovailoa is performing, we’re seeing that McDaniel really is a miracle worker for making that Dolphins offense potent at times with Tua as his quarterback. McDaniel can work magic, and if Hampton is his guy, then I don’t think he’s going to bust. I don’t think he’s going to bust anyway at his cost. I’m just worried that the 20 points per game upside that we think exists in a Mike McDaniel offense simply isn’t there for Hampton.
Am I fully fading Hampton? No. I want to take a running back in the second round, especially if I pick at the back end. If I’m picking anywhere in that 8 to 12 range, I want to double-tap running back. With the injury to Ashton Jeanty, concerns about that offense, and Derrick Henry’s age, Hampton certainly looks more appealing. Sophomore running backs coming off 15.2 points per game as rookies are typically good bets. But I just can’t bring myself to push the button on Hampton there. If he’s the last one left of that group of running backs, I’ll probably take him, but I will do so reluctantly. He is someone I’m more okay with just letting somebody else draft this season.
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Omarion Hampton’s Week 1 Fantasy Outlook
Analysis provided by PFN Analyst Kyle Soppe.
The Bolts weren’t hesitant to get Hampton work in the opener last season (17 touches in the win over the Chiefs), and his touch count ramped back up at the end of last regular season (15 touches in his return from a two-month absence, followed by 16, 17, and 22).
It’s a new system, and that demands our attention as Mike McDaniel wasn’t in town for the drafting of Hampton. I think that’s more of a courtesy than a real worry: he’s well aware of how impactful a versatile bellcow can be, and he’s got access to a star who could run for 1,200 yards.
Or catch 60 passes.
Or both.
He’s an RB1 for me this week against the sixth-worst post-contact rush defense last season, and he’s going to hold steady at that level of expectation until I have a real reason to move off of that prior.
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Where Hampton Ranks Among 2026 Running Backs
- Saquon Barkley | PHI
- Chase Brown | CIN
- Derrick Henry | BAL
- De'Von Achane | MIA
- Kenneth Walker III | KC
- Omarion Hampton | LAC
- Jeremiyah Love | ARI
- Ashton Jeanty | LV
- Javonte Williams | DAL
- Travis Etienne Jr. | NO
- Breece Hall | NYJ
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