Analyze Kimani Vidal's matchup for week 9
Vidal has become the Chargers’ true lead back (18–23 touches in two of his last three) and draws a Titans defense hemorrhaging the most RB fantasy points in 2025, making him a safe floor, high-ceiling RB2/flex start.
Tennessee enters Week 9 as one of fantasy’s easiest run-defense matchups, allowing the most PPG to RBs and regularly coughing up chunk runs plus receiving production. A neutral-to-positive game script should keep L.A. pounding the rock, keeping Vidal in the 15-22 carry range with a handful of targets.
Over the past month Vidal’s role exploded: three straight games as the primary back, two 100-yard efforts on 5+ YPC, and a leap from near-inactive to 18-23-touch workloads with Omarion Hampton on IR.
Volume is king for fantasy backs, and Kimani Vidal now has it. Since the Chargers lost Omarion Hampton to injured reserve, the rookie has handled 50 of the team’s 65 backfield touches, turning 18 and 23-carry outings into 124 and 117 scrimmage-yard performances with a pair of touchdowns. His ability to top 5.0 yards per carry when given 18-plus attempts shows the coaching staff’s trust is translating to production, while his modest pass-game usage (four targets last week) adds a PPR floor. Against a Titans front seven that has already surrendered 14 runs of 20-plus yards and ranks dead-last in both rushing success rate and fantasy points allowed to RBs, that workload should once again be fruitful.
Game-script risk is minimal here: the Chargers are healthier and more efficient on offense, so even on the road they project to control possession. That keeps Vidal on the field for early downs and, importantly, keeps the clock moving. Hassan Haskins remains the theoretical spoiler, but he has averaged only 3.8 yards per carry this season and the staff has already signaled Vidal is the early-down/lead option. Unless Haskins carves out goal-line work on multiple drives, Vidal’s touchdown equity is solid in what profiles as a 24-20 type contest.
Bottom line, you’re looking at a back with 18-22 touch upside in the softest RB matchup on the Week 9 slate. The floor sits around 70 combined yards (roughly 8-9 PPR points) while a single touchdown or long run pushes him into the 18-20 range. In 12-team leagues that makes him a comfortable mid-range RB2; in deeper formats he’s a priority start over most waiver-wire fliers. Keep tabs on Haskins’ injury status through the week, but unless the Chargers unexpectedly sign a veteran, Vidal is a locked-and-loaded volume play with legitimate top-15 upside at the position.