Who Should I Start? Kimani Vidal or Dylan Sampson


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.3 13.5 0.1 0.7 5.9 0.0

Kimani Vidal News

Kimani Vidal Operates as the Chargers RB3 in Their Second Preseason Game

Saturday, August 22, 9:22 AM

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal had four carries for six yards in his team's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francsicio 49ers Thursday night. Vidal also had two catches for 10 yards on two targets. The 24-year-old entered the game with the second-team unit and played the rest of the first half. Vidal operated as the third back in the rotation and didn't get playing time until after Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell were pulled. McDaniels' plan for his running back rotation becomes a little clearer with how much the three backs have played and, more specifically, when they played during the game. Vidal looks to be utilized as the No. 3 back in the three-man rotation. With fantasy drafts ramping up, he should be viewed as a handcuff back in the later rounds.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
6.1 16.9 0.1 1.9 14.8 0.1

Dylan Sampson News

Dylan Sampson Can be a Receiving Outlet for Veteran QB

Wednesday, August 26, 8:52 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson remains in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but he should still carve out a role this season as a key pass-catching option for veteran starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Sampson had 33 catches for 271 receiving yards (and just 175 rushing yards) as a rookie last year. For the most part, he operated behind fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins and mostly saw the field on passing downs. Judkins is expected to be the lead back once Week 1 comes around, so the big question is whether Sampson can have enough involvement to get on the weekly fantasy radar. It's not as simple as Judkins getting the early downs and Sampson getting the passing downs, as the former is a very capable pass catcher, and the latter does earn some carries from time to time, too. For now, Sampson has a little bit of RB3/flex appeal in deeper full-PPR leagues, but in all other formats, he's a better fit as a handcuff for fantasy managers who already have Judkins on their roster. Sampson is the RB53 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR and full-PPR draft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.


Kimani Vidal vs. Dylan Sampson

Still trying to decide between Vidal and Sampson? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kimani Vidal is projected to score 3.3 points this week while Dylan Sampson is projected to score 6.1 points.