Fantasy Sleeper Profile: RB Ryan Mathews (San Diego Chargers)

In most fantasy league drafts, Ryan Mathews is being picked in the 50th – 60th overall selection range, but he has the potential to be a top NFL running back worth a 20th – 30th overall pick. You should take him with a 40th – 50th overall pick and consider it a steal. Here’s why:

Although Mathews carries the reputation as a first round bust, it was only last year that he was able to play every game in a single season and he was more than effective. His rushing total of 1,255 yards was seventh-most of all running backs in 2013, better than the more-heralded options of Eddie Lacy (1,178 yards), Frank Gore (1,128 yards), and DeMarco Murray (1,121 yards).

There is a legitimate concern that fellow Charger Danny Woodhead will steal carries away from Mathews. This is true to an extent, but Woodhead was on the team last year and had just over a 100 carries, but even still Mathews had a healthy 285 carries, averaging 4.4 yards a carry to his 1,255 yard total. Woodhead is only a concern for Mathews in PPR leagues as he will soak up all the screen passes. In standard leagues, Woodhead is not much of a threat to Mathews’ production.

There is no Joe Thomas or Evan Mathis on the San Diego o-line, but there are no weak links either. King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker give the Chargers solid bookend tackles, and center Nick Hardwick and guard Chad Rineheart are effective in the middle. Like last year, Mathews will benefit from solid run-blocking.

The situation in 2014 is much the same as it was in 2013 for Mathews. And if he can once again be a top 10 NFL leading rusher, he is well worth a 4th round pick in your fantasy league.

 

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