One of the toughest things to predict when it comes to the 2024 Los Angeles Chargers is how the team's running attack will look. We know that Jim Harbaugh will focus on the run, but is Gus Edwards a credible option for the team's lead role?
According to Daniel Popper who covers the team for The Athletic, the answer to that question seems to be yes.
Daniel Popper of @TheAthletic sees Gus Edwards as “the clear lead back” for the LA Chargers, and predicts the current RB depth chart as this:
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 10, 2024
1. Gus Edwards⁰2. J.K. Dobbins⁰3. Kimani Vidal⁰4. Isaiah Spiller⁰5. Elijah Dotson⁰6. Jaret Patterson pic.twitter.com/EFchrAB2WP
The Chargers signed Edwards quickly once the free-agent market opened and though the signing of J.K. Dobbins looks a lot better on paper, it seems the team will give Edwards the first shot at leading the charge. That would be big for the veteran Edwards, as he's never held that role before.
Gus Edwards is leading the charge for the Chargers' rushing attack
Edwards put forth an impressive tenure in Baltimore, rushing for nearly 3,400 yards. He is also coming off of a career season in which he carried the ball for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns.
But everything he ever did in Baltimore was opened up by injuries on the roster. The team found a way to work him in as an effective runner, but he was never seen as a true RB1. The Chargers are set to change that.
Popper's predicted running back depth chart is similar to the one I came up with ahead of training camp and while his words towards Edwards are encouraging, there is still a full training camp and preseason slate where things could change.