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Why NFL Analysts Believe Omarion Hampton Will Have Breakout Year in Mike McDaniel's Offense

HamptonBreakout

There's no question the Chargers have one of the NFL's most innovative offensive minds in their building in Mike McDaniel.

The new offensive coordinator's resumé runs long, including a number of top finishes over the years as playcaller.

Now calling an offense with a quarterback like Justin Herbert could only spell good things for the Chargers offense and the players around them.

"The whole offense is going to benefit because of it," NFL Network's Brian Baldinger said.

But which skill players in particular could flourish in this new system?

Chargers.com posed the question to a number of NFL experts and analysts at Radio Row in the lead up to Super Bowl LX.

A number of different Chargers skill players were named, but there was an overwhelming consensus on which player is poised for a breakout season in McDaniel's offense.

"Omarion Hampton," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler told Chargers.com.

"Omarion Hampton, easy," The Athletic's Dave Helman continued.

"Hampton is going to go absolutely hog-wild," ESPN's Ben Solak added.

The 2025 Chargers first-round pick flashed during his rookie season, rushing for 545 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 192 receiving yards and a touchdown in nine games.

He was a workhorse back for a room that battled some attrition when he was on the field, as he missed some time with an ankle injury in the middle of the season.

Hampton displayed the same physicality and explosiveness he did in college, however, which is one of the things Solak was greatly impressed with.

"I thought he showed a really nice job catching the football, he's an unbelievable tackle breaker, in space especially, when they started getting him on these screens and out there," Solak said about Hampton. "His ability to let contact bounce off of him is really impressive."

Add in McDaniel's track record when it comes to his run games and what he's able to do on the ground, Hampton was an easy choice for Fowler as well.

"He had that ankle issue during the year and was kind of beat up, but I would like to see what he could do with a healthy year," Fowler said. "I like that group for next year with McDaniel, who did a lot with De'Von Achane and the backs in Miami. I think you'll see some of the same."

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The production McDaniel has gotten from his run game as a playcaller has been among the best in the league.

The Dolphins racked up over 8,000 rushing yards over his four seasons calling the offense, including ranking fifth in the NFL with 4.6 yards per carry over that stretch.

Not to mention his time with the 49ers before then, where he was their Offensive Coordinator in 2021 after spending the previous three seasons before that as the team's Run Game Coordinator.

Over those four years, the 49ers racked up the sixth-most rushing yards (8,538), were tied for seventh with 237 total explosive rushes of 10-plus yards and had the ninth-most rushing touchdowns (71).

McDaniel has found ways to get his running backs the ball and open up space, and Hampton can take advantage of it.

"The stuff that Mike McDaniel does, the blocking schemes he has, different ways he can get his best players the football," Helman said. "Omarion Hampton had a nice rookie season that was hampered by injuries, we know how talented he is.

"If Alt and Rashawn Slater are healthy, the different ways he could get him in the ball in space is really exciting," Helman added. "Assuming great health for everybody, I have high expectations for Omarion Hampton."

Solak even had a figure in mind when thinking about what the running back can achieve in 2026.

"Hampton is going to have 1,300, 1,400 yards from scrimmage if he stays healthy and deservedly so," Solak said. "He's a great talent, this is a great offense for him."

The broader message from NFL experts was that under McDaniel, they expect every skill position player to thrive.

That includes more opportunities for players like wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who has totaled over 1,900 receiving yards in his career so far and continued to develop his game in Year 2.

"McConkey has already been good but I think he's going to have opportunities to make plays down the field," The Ringer's Sheil Kapadia said.

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Other receivers were mentioned as well, such as Quentin Johnston and Tre’ Harris, who figure to be big factors and players that McDaniel will know how to maximize.

"He's a guy you want running those runway routes, get the ball in his hands," Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon said of Johnston. "I would love to see McDaniel in those more condensed formations, dynamic pre-snap deployment and getting him off the line of scrimmage.

"For Tre' Harris too, really fascinating player," Harmon continued. "At Ole Miss, just straight-lined, X-receiver on the outside for the most part, I thought that would be the role he would play maybe more of in the NFL. He moved around all three receiver positions and really high in his ability to block in the run game pre-snap.

"I think he's going to play a bigger role than people think and really excited to see him used more as a true receiver, get the ball a little more," Harmon added.

McDaniel's time in the NFL as an offensive playcaller has shown that he's been able to change his offense for what his players do best, something he mentioned at his introductory press conference.

It's why The Athletic's Robert Mays is confident the Chargers offense will be successful playing to the unit's strengths.

"What I love so much about Mike McDaniel is when you look at the offense they were running with the Dolphins, it was not the same offense that the Niners were running when he was in San Francisco," Mays said. "I think he's done a great job of saying, 'Here are the players I have, how do I build this thing through those players.'

Mays added: "I don't even know what the offense is going to look like, but I think it will be an expression of what they do well."

There's a good chance the Bolts offense will enjoy the opportunities that comes with McDaniel and the offense.

"I think we're going to be reading headlines from the players in August just raving about how fun it is to play in this scheme," Kapadia said.

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