The Chargers head into a 2026 season filled with high expectations. The addition of Mike McDaniel is set to do wonders for the entire offense and for second-year running back Omarion Hampton.
Many expect Hampton to take his game to another level in 2026, including CBS Sports' Douglas Clawson.
Clawson provided one bold prediction for each NFL team, and for the Chargers, he predicts Hampton will win the rushing title.
"Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. He doesn't want to see Justin Herbert lit up for 50-60 sacks again, and he has Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back, plus additions of Jake Slaughter, Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange to the interior of the offensive line. That means Harbaugh is going to ride 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton to a rushing
title."
After an injury-riddled rookie season, the expectation is that Hampton will bounce back in a major way.
Hampton showed flashes of his potential, but injuries and a depleted offensive line limited what he could do. With a healthier offensive line and a run-heavy scheme under McDaniel, Hampton should have a better opportunity to show what he can be in 2026.
While McDaniel recently mentioned that the Chargers will depend on the 'hot hand,' make no mistake: it is Hampton's spot to lose. The Bolts are high on the 23-year-old entering the 2026 season after drafting him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers’ Omarion Hampton receives bold prediction ahead of season
