After parting ways with Austin Ekeler this offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers brought in a pair of veteran replacements in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and drafted Kimani Vidal. While the two former Baltimore Ravens backs offer plenty of experience, the rookie could be the most talented of the bunch and has the potential to climb ahead of both on the depth chart.
Dobbins has plenty of talent, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy since being drafted in 2020. He's played only 24 of a possible 67 games, as he missed the entire 2021 campaign because of a torn ACL and suffered a torn Achilles in the season opener last year.
Edwards has helped pick up the slack in Dobbins' absence before, but he's a one-dimensional back who doesn't offer much outside of securing tough yardage on the ground. He should have a place in the Chargers' rotation, but Edwards could remain a backup even if Dobbins goes down for a lengthy stint.
Meanwhile, Vidal was a steal for the Bolts at No. 181 overall after dominating at Troy. He used a blend of vision, elusiveness and burst to leave defenders in his wake, amassing over 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns on his 781 carries.
The 22-year-old profiles as an ideal fit in the Chargers' new-look offense under head coach Jim Harbaugh, especially if he can pad out his pass-catching skills. Availability is an asset L.A. may need most from a running back if Dobbins goes down again, so it helps that Vidal stands a well-built 5'8" and 215 pounds, played 48 games in college and should be able to hold up fine at the next level.
It may take an injury to Dobbins or Edwards for Vidal to get enough touches to become fantasy relevant, but he's still worth the gamble at his ADP of 149, especially if he shines in training camp. Taking a late-round flier on a back with this much upside could pay dividends.
