Last week, Shonn Greene had the privilege of being chosen as my Surprise Fantasy Football Star of the Week.  (This is an honor for any NFL running back.)  How did he do?  In a word: Bad.  Well, not really bad, but I wouldn’t call 49 rushing yards, six receiving yards, and one touchdown an amazing game.  (I would call it an average game for a fantasy football RB2.)

In Week 1, I got some fantasy football cred by promising a big game from Cedric Benson (who ended up rushing for 121 yards and a TD).  After Shonn Greene didn’t deliver though, you realized that I am, in fact, human and I do make mistakes.  I am not a robot or super human who has the power to predict the future…or am I?  (I am not.)

This week, I’m going to get it right.  I promise!  It’s redemption time!  The running back ranked too low in ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and NFL.com fantasy rankings who’s going to surprise with a huge game is… RYAN MATHEWS!

Ryan Mathews RB Rankings
ESPN: 18th
Sports Illustrated: 18th
NFL.com: 17th

I predict that this week Mathews will be a top five fantasy football RB.  Mathews has been solid (but not great) so far this year.  In Week 1, he rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries and had three receptions for 72 yards.  Against the Patriots in Week 2, Mathews had 126 total yards from scrimmage and one TD.

Mathews was drafted late in many leagues because people assumed Mike Tolbert would get the majority of the Chargers’ rushing touchdowns and that Mathews wouldn’t find himself in the end zone too often.  This was the case in Week 1 when Tolbert had three TDs and Mathews had none.  In Week 2 though, it was Tolbert who had zero TDs.

What’s really important is that Mathews is the better running back and it’s showing.  Mathews is averaging 4.5 yards per carry.  Tolbert’s only averaging 2.1.   In Week 2, Tolbert gained 10 yards on nine carries.  Pathetic.  Mathews is the top RB on this team and he’s going to start getting an even larger percentage of carries.

The main reason to start Mathews is that the Chargers are playing the NFL’s worst team, the Kansas City Chiefs, this Sunday.  The Chiefs gave up 41 points to the Bills in Week 1 and 48 points to the Lions in Week 2.   They’ve given up 11 touchdowns in two games.  That’s just sad.  After losing to the Patriots 35-21, the Chargers are going to take out their frustration on the pitiful Chiefs.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they scored over 50 points.

And so, Ryan Mathews is your Surprise Fantasy Football Star of the Week.  Go out and prove me right, Mathews.


PREDICTION: 73 rushing yards, 94 receiving yards (8 receptions), 2 touchdowns   

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