For the Los Angeles Chargers, it’s been no Najee Harris, no Omarion Hampton, no problem. Despite placing three of their top running backs on injured reserve, the Chargers have managed thanks to a breakout season by second-year pro Kimani Vidal, who has accumulated 62 carries, 291 yards, and a score across Hampton’s stint on the IR, helping lead Los Angeles to three wins and helping it stay in second in the AFC West ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hampton isn’t yet ready to return despite being eligible to be activated from IR, so Vidal should remain the Chargers’ RB1 entering Sunday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hassan Haskins had been his backup, but Haskins, too, is on IR with a hamstring injury, so Jaret Patterson, dropped back to the practice squad this week, will likely be re-elevated in advance of Sunday’s contest. Patterson served as Vidal’s RB2 in Los Angeles’ win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday and out-produced him, turning his nine carries into 44 yards while Vidal managed only 30 yards on 12 carries.
It was Vidal’s second quiet game as a starter, following a nine-carry, 20-yard effort in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts that was sandwiched in between two brilliant efforts against the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings. I don’t think he’s in any danger of losing his starting spot to Patterson after two games in which Patterson has been fine, not great, but he probably hasn’t proven enough to keep his snap share whenever Hampton returns from his injury, though his ability as a pass-blocker should help.
Advanced analytics do grade Vidal kindly: according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, he’s gained 1.12 yards over expectation per rushing attempt, the fifth-most in the league. That’s a double-edged sword, though; the fact that he’s gained just 4.7 rushing yards per attempt, merely the 14th-best figure among qualified running backs, despite being among the league’s best at making something out of nothing, is a damning indictment of the Chargers’ offensive line. By Pro Football Focus’ standards, Los Angeles ranks dead last in run blocking, and it should get even worse now that Joe Alt, the team’s top run blocker, is out for the season. It’s no surprise that Vidal has generally chosen to run down the left side, where Alt plays.
Thanks to the Chargers’ horrible offensive line, I wouldn’t consider Vidal a must-start against Pittsburgh, even if he gets his typical RB1 workload. The Steelers have expectedly had a solid rushing defense this season, allowing the 14th-fewest rushing yards per game, the 16th-fewest yards per attempt, and the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. They aren’t perfect: Pittsburgh would be easier to take advantage of, with the seventh-fewest expected points added on running plays and the 12th-lowest run defense grades at PFF. Still, the Steelers have more gettable through the air, allowing the most passing yards per game, and Los Angeles should lean on its best player: quarterback Justin Herbert.
