Welcome to Week 5 of the 2025 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
Let's roll...
Matt Waldman: Kimani Vidal or Hassan Haskins? Who offers the most fantasy value while Omarion Hampton is out?
Colton Dodgson: If you're attempting to analyze the splits from Week 5 to see how the Chargers view Kimani Vidal or Hassan Haskins, you might have a bad time. They were almost dead even across the board. Snap share, opportunities, routes, you name it.
It was also a unique situation in which extended usage for either player wasn't part of the game plan. I might throw a dart at Vidal where I can. He strikes me as a slightly better receiver than Haskins.
The Chargers are fourth in the NFL in pass rate at 62.6 through five weeks. That's much higher than I anticipated. The health of the offensive line is also a variable.
The player with the better receiving profile should have a slight edge -- and that might be recent addition, Nyheim Hines. There's much unknown here, though.
It's complicated further by the reality that our perceptions of these players don't matter. Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh have their read. We're going to be at the mercy of whatever that call may be.
It's a situation where there isn't a workhorse option. As long as you're aware you likely won't find a plug-and-play volume back in Vidal or Haskins, I don't think there's anything wrong with going with your preference.
I'm not sure either should be considered a resounding favorite to lead over the other.
Will Grant: As Colton pointed out, the sample size from Week 5 is really too small for either back to be considered the clear favorite. Haskins has three seasons of experience compared to Vidal's two, but neither has averaged more than a couple of touches per game for their careers.
Haskins has the size advantage. His 3.0 yards per carry average over his career is partially due to his role as the short-yardage back. He'll likely get the goal-line touches over Vidal. It's not really enough to make him a 'better' option.
If I had to choose, I'd pick up Haskins since he might get more goal-line opportunities to vulture a touchdown. That's hardly a reason to go with him over Vidal without seeing more of how the Chargers will use them.
It is more likely that the Chargers look to add a veteran to their backfield in the short term, with that person being the back to target for your fantasy roster until Omarion Hampton returns.
Mike Kashuba: I have bad news. When J.K. Dobbins missed a month late in 2024, only one player received more than ten carries in a game - Gus Edwards. Even then, he wasn't close to a difference maker, and the backfield became a two or three-man rotation with no fantasy football beneficiary.
Vidal was the lead -- in name only -- between himself and Haskins, but still didn't go over five fantasy points in a single week with Dobbins sidelined. It's going to be messy, and the Chargers might just keep leaning on Justin Herbert to play hero ball.
Forced to start one due to bye weeks or injuries, I'd prefer Vidal with his pass game work and the enticing matchup. But looking ahead to Week 7, it's a brutal matchup, and the team can still add someone.