In a rookie class loaded with running back talent, ESPN’s Mike Clay sees one first-year back emerging as a key red zone weapon: Los Angeles Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton. In Clay’s recent 2025 stat projections, Hampton is predicted to score 11 total touchdowns—outpacing fellow rookie Ashton Jeanty of the Las Vegas Raiders, who is projected for nine.
Hampton, a first-round pick out of North Carolina, enters a crowded Chargers backfield that already includes Najee Harris, signed this offseason to a sizable free-agent deal. But Clay anticipates Hampton will seize the lion’s share of the workload. “Touchdowns by rookies have been on the decline, with fewer than 140 in three of the past four seasons,” Clay noted. “But the loaded RB class might get things back on track.”
ESPN’s Mike Clay Predicts Los Angeles Chargers Omarion Hampton Will Outscore Ashton Jeanty in Touchdowns
Hampton fits a trend: of the 23 rookies to reach 10 touchdowns over the past decade, 16 were running backs, including high picks like Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, and Leonard Fournette. Clay adds, “I have Hampton ahead of Jeanty in total touchdowns because the Chargers’ offense will likely outscore the Raiders’ unit over the course of the season. Los Angeles will likely score more rushing touchdowns, too.”
The only caveat? The Chargers’ interior offensive line. Despite adding veteran tackle Mekhi Becton, the unit remains largely unchanged from last season. If the line struggles, Hampton’s touchdown ceiling could be limited.
Still, if the offense lives up to its potential, there’s a clear path for Hampton to thrive. With strong goal-line instincts and a nose for the end zone, he could quickly become a scoring threat—and a favorite in Los Angeles—while surpassing his fellow rookie backs in the process.