4. Sony Michel
The newest Charger could end up having a big impact on the team this season. I will admit, there is also a chance that Sony Michel does not end up having that big of an impact as he has not been the most consistent throughout his career.
That being said, the Chargers are not asking him to be the RB1 of this offense and instead, Michel is adding a different dynamic as a power back behind Austin Ekeler. The running back depth was such an issue for LA and it is nice knowing that the team has an established starting-quality back that is still young behind Ekeler.
There is only so much a depth running back can do so it might seem absurd to include him in this list of players that can make the Chargers unstoppable. However, there is a chance that Michel is the best depth back the Chargers have had since Melvin Gordon left and that would be huge in the grand scheme of things.
First of all, it would allow the Chargers to properly stagger Austin Ekeler's playing time to keep his workload down and keep him fresh for the playoffs. Second of all, it gives the Chargers another option in the playoffs themselves if the team needs to explore more creative looks on offense.
How often do we see these backup running backs play a big role in the playoffs? Whether it be Jerick McKinnon last season for Kansas City or Leonard Fournette for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 Super Bowl run. Having a second back you can trust is massive.
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The Chargers may finally have that and while it seems small now, it could legitimately swing a playoff game. That is huge.