Among the many disappointments the Los Angeles Chargers have experienced this season, perhaps none have been more deflating than the injuries to both Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, who were meant to make up one of the most dynamic backfield duos in the league.
Yet, as Harris enters free agency this offseason, the Chargers will still have the chance to bring him back, both giving him an opportunity to ressurect his career following his devastating Achilles injury and granting Omarion Hampton an ideal partner as he aims to take over lead back duties.
Granted, the risk of re-injury is real, and there a number of viable running backs available on the market this offseason. Yet, a Harris-Hampton backfield, when both players are at their best, could be one of the most explosive in the league, and the Chargers could afford to take the risk given the dividends it could pay.
As crazy as it may seem, a Harris-Hampton backfield may still be the Chargers' best option
Harris, before this season, was known largely for his durability, having not missed a single game through his first four seasons in the league and having rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of those campaigns.
Combined with his reliability as a short-yardage rusher, Harris projected to be the perfect fit alongside Hampton, who proved to be one of the most dynamic runners in all of college last season.
Both players found moderate success in the time they played this year, with their carries being limited by the pass-first approach that Los Angeles's offense took on early in the season (largely as a result of the sub-par play of the interior of their offensive line). Yet, in the time they played together, the two were highly effective as a pair, with Harris rushing for an 86.7% success rate and Hampton posting a 47% mark (across his full six games) in that same category.
With a, hopefully, revamped interior to their offensive line in 2026, the Chargers' should be able to lean much more heavily into their run game between the tackles, opening up a berth of new opportunities for whoever their backs might be.
There are a number of viable backs that will be available in free agency this summer, and it would be unwise not to explore those options. However, given the resources the Chargers will need to devote to revamping both their offensive line and portions of their defense, they could ultimately be priced out of some of the higher-end availabilities such as Breece Hall, Rico Dowdle or even J.K Dobbins.
Obviously, it depends upon Los Angeles's confidence in Harris's ability to bounce back from such a devastating injury, but, if he is able to recover before the start of next season, he could be a buy-cheap option that still represents many of the qualities that Jim Harbaugh and the team's coaching staff coveted in the first place.
Harris and Hampton had the potential to be season-defining for the Chargers alongside their burgeoning passing game, and, hopefully, they will get another opportunity to prove it next season.