X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

2014 Outlook for Ryan Mathews: Biggest 2013 Breakouts

By Jeffrey Beall (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Evan Okulanis recaps the NFL fantasy football season by looking at the top fantasy 10 breakouts from the year - #9 is Ryan Mathews, running back for San Diego.

Some NFL prospects come into the year with expectations that are completely unreasonable. This can be due to a variety of reasons, but many times it is because the prospect follows in the footsteps of a true great. In this article, we talk about a fantasy football breakout player from 2013, Ryan Mathews, and his struggles to replace one of the best running backs in NFL history.

 

Biggest Fantasy Breakouts of 2013: #9 Ryan Mathews

Ryan-Mathews-NFL-fantasy-football-2013-advice-analysisRyan Mathews was the 12th overall pick out of Fresno by the Chargers.  He was expected to fill some of the biggest shoes in NFL history, left behind by LaDanian Tomlinson, an act that is almost impossible to repeat.  Mathews was listed at 6’ and weighed 215 pounds, a great size for a running back that uses power and vision for his game without sacrificing speed.  His production at Fresno was impressive, however injuries were a concern.  The Chargers didn’t hesitate to make him an early round pick as he had the makings of a future star in this league.

Expectations were sky high for Mathews.  The Chargers were excited to have him as their lead back while fantasy owners were drafting him as high as the late first round.  But it was almost impossible for Mathews to meet those expectations, as few rookies do.  His first season in the NFL, while not completely disappointing, was not good by any means.  He finished averaging 4.3 yards per carry, but only rushed for 678 yards, struggling with fumbles and injuries.  Owners and the Chargers were clearly disappointed with the season, but the future was still bright.  The next year, Mathews combined for 1,500 total yards, but missed two more games with injury.  In 2012, injuries once again hobbled Mathews as he broke his clavicle twice, and he also lost carries to the talent-inept Jackie Battle.  He went on to rush for only 700 yards.  2013 was seen as the "last chance" for Mathews, and fantasy football experts were not confident in his chances.  The Chargers offensive line was a mess and Philip Rivers was coming off his worst season as a pro.  They had no exciting offensive weapons outside Danario Alexander, who tore his ACL in training camp.  Keenan Allen was seen as a raw rookie at that point.  Mike McCoy was brought in from Denver, an offensive guru who worked with Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow, but the negatives still outweighed all the positives.  However, against all odds, Mathews and the Chargers were motivated.

 

The Stats

Mathews finished the 2013 NFL season with 1,255 yards rushing, 189 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns.  He had 6 games with over 100 yards and came close in a few others.  His most impressive game was against Denver in week 15, where he was asked to lead San Diego’s offense in order to keep Peyton Manning off the field, rushing for 127 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.  He also didn’t miss a single game this season to injury.

 

The Analysis

Not many people saw this coming.  Mathews was coming off a statistically down year in 2012, and the Chargers offense was not a powerhouse anymore.  Owners drafted him as the 25th running back off the board on average, and for good reason.  However, with a new coach, the entire Chargers offense was rejuvenated.  Mike McCoy brought a different style than Norv Turner, one focused on power runs and a less vertical attack.  It suited the strengths of Rivers, Mathews and the below average offensive line.  The emergence of Keenan Allen, and the resurrection of Antonio Gates, Philip Rivers, and Mathews was proof that the system truly worked.  Mathews was probably the most impressive out of all these guys, a true testament to his great season.  In just about every game he was able to fight for touch yards in between the tackles while also showing some burst.  His receiving yards were down because of the signing of Danny Woodhead, but he finally seemed to have fixed his fumbling issues, losing just one fumble on the year.  Mathews seemed to be in new form and stayed healthy for a majority of the season, outside of a concussion and pretty severe ankle sprain late in the season that hobbled him in the postseason.

 

Looking Ahead

Mathews has all the talent in the world, and the Chargers have a bright future.  Keenan Allen should continue to develop, and the emergence of Ladarius Green gives Philip Rivers yet another offensive weapon. The offensive line should do nothing but improve, and Mathews should be motivated to be in the best shape of his life as he approaches his contract year.  If Mathews didn’t have an injury prone label, he would be an interesting late first round pick next year in fantasy football drafts.  However, he is coming off his first “healthy” season where he played all 16 games.  I quote healthy because he clearly should not have played in the playoffs because of his injury.  Mathews has a great opportunity to have the best season of his career next year, but the only question is whether he can play a full season next year.  If he falls in the draft, he would be a great value pick late in the second or early in the third round, but any earlier would be a risk given his extensive injury history.

Dynasty owners would be wise to sell high on Mathews.  There are plenty of running backs in this and next year's rookie draft that are just as, if not more exciting, than Mathews.  While he is just 26 years old, we can’t see him having many more years that go as well as the one he just had.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Austin Riley

Leaves Game Early on Friday With Abdominal Tightness
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Rafael Devers

Dealing With Back Inflammation
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Returning on Friday
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Rhamondre Stevenson

Heading into an Important Season
Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension
Tua Tagovailoa

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami
Rashawn Slater

has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done
Byron Buxton

Returns on Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Jake Meyers

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain
Brandon Lowe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness
Kodai Senga

Reinstated to Start on Friday
Alex Bregman

Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Chicago Bears

Bears Extend General Manager Ryan Poles
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
MarShawn Lloyd

in a "Much Better Spot" Heading Into Training Camp
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Dustin Hopkins

Browns Still Counting on Dustin Hopkins
Demarcus Robinson

Sentenced to Three Years of Probation
Jalen Nailor

In Line for WR3 Role in Minnesota
Andrew Thomas

Could Miss Start of 2025 Season
Alex Bregman

Expected to Return on Friday
Julio Rodríguez

Julio Rodriguez Won't Suit Up for Midsummer Classic
Trey Smith

Chiefs, Trey Smith Expected to Work Out Long-Term Extension
Bernhard Raimann

a Candidate for an Extension This Summer
C.J. Stroud

Could Sign Multi-Year Deal Before 2026 Season
Kyle Juszczyk

Says Christian McCaffrey Looks Healthy, Explosive
Kyren Williams

Showing Improved Explosiveness
Christian Barmore

"Dominant" this Spring
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups