Charlie Kolar secured a three-year bag and sits atop the depth chart, yet his profile lacks juice after posting an anemic 3.7-percent Target Share and 19.9-percent Route Participation rate last season. While David Njoku offers 97th-percentile Burst Score athleticism and sophomore Oronde Gadsden II brings slot versatility, Mike McDaniel’s deployment trends suggest a cannibalistic rotation that limits route volume.
Bottom line for fantasy football: Do not chase this fragmented tight end committee, even for Week 1 against Arizona.
The Los Angeles Chargers made tight end Charlie Kolar a ...
The Los Angeles Chargers have signed free-agent tight end ...
Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (arm) has been ...
Los Angeles’ first unofficial depth chart lists Charlie Kolar, Oronde Gadsden II and David Njoku as co-starters, meaning the second year breakout candidate is looking closer to the Chargers’ TE3 than the TE1.
Gadsden flashed serious upside as a rookie, but a potential TE committee with Kolar and Njoku could crush the consistent volume fantasy managers are seeking. The talent is still there, but he may be starved for opportunity in Year 2. For the Chargers, the depth gives Justin Herbert more versatility, but Gadsden is dropping in fantasy drafts. He is PlayerProfiler’s TE19 in the “World Famous” Draft Kit.
Daniel Popper of The Athletic wants you to believe Charlie Kolar is primed to take over the tight end room, pointing to untapped pass-catching potential. Kolar was brought to Los Angeles to play in-line, but his athletic profile is impressive.
Kolar has managed just 30 receptions for 409 yards across four seasons while buried behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. The Chargers have a high-octane offense, and Kolar recently signed a 3-year, $24.3 million contract with Los Angeles. Kolar’s athleticism combined with the organizational commitment and media buzz demands the attention of deep dynasty league managers in tight end premium leagues.
Veteran David Njoku is expected to compliment second-year hybrid weapon Oronde Gadsden and $24 million in-line bruiser Charlie Kolar as Mike McDaniel plans to draw up jumbo packages with “run-pass conflicts” in 2026. Njoku brings a decade of elite yards after catch upside, but he is coming off a massive efficiency cliff where he recorded a meager 12.0% Target Share across 12 games.
Gadsden and his 13.6 Yards Per Reception (No. 3) are undeniable, but if Njoku makes it to Week 1 healthy, Rhim expects him to carve out a meaningful role demonstrating “valuable experience that a guy like Gadsden can learn from.” Meanwhile, Kolar is the highest-paid tight end on the roster, so it is reasonable to assume McDaniel is preparing to call a high rate of 13-personnel packages this season.
Ooof. David Njoku has signed with the Chargers following a recent visit to the team. Coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season, the veteran tight end offers Justin Herbert a reliable weapon, if he can remain healthy.
Njoku’s arrival, in addition to the newly signed Charlie Kolar, signals more 12 and 13 personnel for the Los Angeles offense. While Njoku is not longer a viable fantasy starter, his presence on the roster will unfortunately reduce Oronde Gadsden II‘s target volume.
Popper believes the addition of Charlie Kolar allows Oronde Gadsden II to focus on a specialized receiving role that yielded 664 yards and elite efficiency during his rookie campaign. Under Mike McDaniel’s creative play-calling, Gadsden is poised to become a primary mismatch weapon in an offense designed to maximize his unique skill set. If his route participation sees the projected jump in 2026, he will be a premier late-round target for fantasy managers hunting for sleeper upside.
