Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers are acquiring quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Not only is starting quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) recovering from plantar fasciitis in his foot, but backup Easton Stick regressed in training camp and the preseason. The 31-year-old Heinicke will be an upgrade at the QB position behind Herbert entering the regular season next week. In Atlanta, the Falcons were expected all along to try and trade Heinicke after taking rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the first round in April. Heinicke made his NFL debut back in 2017 with the Houston Texans and has appeared in 38 games (29 starts) since then with four different teams. His best year came in 2021 with Washington, when he threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 picks on 321 pass attempts over 16 games (15 starts).

The Los Angeles Chargers claimed running back Hassan Haskins off waivers from the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, according to the league's transaction wire. The former Michigan product wasn't able to make the Titans' 53-man roster out of training camp and will now join the Bolts for the 2024 campaign, most likely starting on the practice squad. In LA, Haskins will provide extra RB depth behind Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson and rookie Kimani Vidal. The 24-year-old former fourth-round selection in 2022 missed all of last season due to an upper-body injury after seeing 25 carries his rookie season that he turned into 93 scoreless yards in 15 games (one start). He also caught 11 passes for 57 yards in 2022. Haskins remains well off the fantasy radar for the time being.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that rookie wide receiver Brenden Rice and safeties Tony Jefferson and JT Woods were among the players that made the final 53-man roster heading into the 2024 regular season. Rice made the final cut after impressive during training camp and the preseason. The 22-year-old son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice was taken in the seventh round of April's NFL draft out of USC. He might be worth stashing in deep dynasty/keeper leagues, but for his rookie season, he'll merely be a depth option for the Bolts behind Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, rookie Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Simi Fehoko and Derius Davis. Rice excels with his route-running and also plays with a physical style on contested catches down the field. Initially, he might be a red-zone weapon for a new-look Chargers offense in 2024.

Los Angeles Chargers backup quarterback Easton Stick has very little job security as the preseason wraps up, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. While Popper projects that Stick will make the team's initial 53-man roster, he notes that the Chargers could look to upgrade the backup quarterback role by signing someone who is cut by another team when rosters trim down on Tuesday. Los Angeles previously signed Luis Perez to compete with Stick, and while Perez likely didn't do enough to win a roster spot, all signs point to the Chargers seeking an upgrade over Stick. Of course, this news has minimal fantasy football implications as Justin Herbert is the Chargers' starting quarterback and has an incredibly firm hold on his job. He ranks as a fringe top-12 fantasy quarterback heading into the 2024 campaign.

Daniel Popper of The Athletic projects that Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal will make the roster and be listed third on the depth chart behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. The competition for the third running back slot appeared to be wide open heading into the Chargers' final preseason game, with Vidal, Jaret Patterson, and Isaiah Spiller all competing for the role. Vidal didn't play in the preseason finale, which could suggest that he's already locked up a roster spot. The rookie led the team in rushing yards during Week 2 of the preseason, and he also caught two passes. Even if Vidal is confirmed as the Chargers' No. 3 running back, he should be avoided in fantasy football given his depth role behind Edwards and Dobbins.