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3 Chargers Breakout Players to Watch in Week 7 vs the Colts

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The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a major victory over the Miami Dolphins, doing so in intense fashion. Whether it was Justin Herbert’s heroics or the Cameron Dicker game-winning field goal, had to do everything possible to win a game against a now 1-5 Dolphins team. A major component of that was multiple young Chargers breakout “ready” players showing flashes throughout the game, giving the Bolts a much-needed offensive boost.

Could Week 7 against the red-hot Indianapolis Colts yield offensive success once more for these young Chargers playmakers?

3 Chargers Breakout Players to Watch in Week 7 vs the Colts

Kimani Vidal – Another Breakout Game To Solidify His Status

Kimani Vidal was fantasy football’s late-round round runningback darling in 2024, but outside of a Week 6 performance against the Broncos last season, his season was generally quiet.

Moving forward into 2025, everything was set up for Vidal to fail. There were rumors of him not even making the roster, which felt far-fetched considering the hype he had from the aforementioned fantasy football community.

These rumors became true, as the once-Chargers breakout candidate started the 2025 season on the practice squad. The addition of Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton were enough to push him off the roster. Those same additions are now on injured reserve, giving way for Vidal to make his first of the season, this last week against the Miami Dolphins.

Vidal proved to the Chargers that he is more than just a practice-squad caliber running back, rushing for 124 yards on 18 carries, coupled with three catches for 14 yards and a touchdown.

With all of this in mind, Vidal is still in need of another game where he impresses to truly show that his Week 6 100+ yard rushing day is a trend, not just some sort of one-off moment. Can Week 7 against the Colts give Vidal the chance to prove he is here to stay as a real playmaker for the Chargers?

Jun 16, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers receiver Tre Harris (9) during organized team activities at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Tre Harris – Everything Is Pointing Toward A Chargers Breakout Candidate

Moving on to the Chargers rookie second-round selection, Tre Harris, a breakout game has been so close since his debut in Week 1. Harris started the season as WR4 on the depth chart, with fellow rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith breathing down his neck for the spot. Lambert-Smith has cooled off due to penalties and mental errors, while Harris has done all of the dirty work early in the season.

Harris only has seven catches for 72 yards on the season, but has been extremely close to doubling that. Whether it is poor protection, other receivers garnering targets, or general offensive ineffectiveness, Harris’ production has suffered to no fault of his own.

Moving on to Week 6 of the NFL season, Harris had his best outing of his young rookie season. His four catches for 27 yards is not eye-popping, but the aforementioned dirty work really showed on tape. A major portion of Vidal’s big game was due to the Chargers rookie second-round selection blocking in the run game.

Even if Harris is doing well in blocking, that is not really enough to warrant him as a Chargers breakout candidate alone. What is enough is that Harris played the most snaps out of all Chargers receivers in Week 6, showing that this staff wants to get him involved even more.

Can Harris continue to stack good days that eventually translate to a big receiving day? Is Week 7 against a weak Colts secondary the day where Herbert and Harris find that connection?

Oronde Gadsden – Offseason Hype Finally Translating?

While the Chargers drafted two exciting playmakers in the first two rounds of their 2025 NFL draft, the Chargers rookie who garnered the most hype during the off-season was Syracuse Tight End, Oronde Gadsden II. A rookie Tight End drafted in the fifth round.

This hype was much warranted as Gadsden II was torching anyone in front of him, whether it was linebackers, safeties, or cornerbacks; the Chargers rookie Tight End had his way. Moving towards the start of the 2025 NFL season, Gadsden was inactive for the first two games of the season, as veterans Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly were the only Tight Ends active.

Once the Chargers rookie Tight End was finally given a chance to suit up, he did not disappoint. A Week 3 matchup against the fierce Broncos defense still gave up 5 catches for 45 yards to Gadsden II. The next two weeks to follow, Gadsden was not very involved, as the offense as a whole struggled to move the ball.

Last week against the Dolphins, the Chargers rookie fifth-round pick had another strong performance, collecting seven catches for 68 yards, playing more snaps than any other Bolts Tight End.

Week 7 against the Colts brings an interesting matchup for Gadsden II, as Colts LB Zaire Franklin has openly trash-talked the Chargers, yet he himself is ranked the eighth-worst in the NFL in coverage grade across all linebackers with at least 100 coverage snaps. Gadsden II could be looking to show what the Bolts are about and torch Franklin to show that the rookie Tight End is a real breakout playmaker.

Main Photo: [Sam Navaro] – Imagn Images

The post 3 Chargers Breakout Players to Watch in Week 7 vs the Colts appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.