Ryan Mathews Fantasy News 2012/2013

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Ryan Mathews (questionable, clavicle) is unlikely to play against the Titans in Week 2.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Beat reporter Michael Gehlken suspected as much on Thursday. Week 2 might have been on the optimistic side of a Mathews return, and it didn't work out. He practiced on a limited basis throughout the week and failed to take any significant hits since suffering the injury in early August. Week 3 against the Falcons is a more likely date for Mathews to return, six and a half weeks after the initial injury. Expect Curtis Brinkley and Ronnie Brown to split duties in the San Diego backfield. Neither one is a fantasy option.
Sep. 16 - 10:00 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table width="100%" align="center"><tbody><tr vAlign="top"><td class="vaLabel" colSpan="3">Ryan Mathews - RB - SD - Sep. 17 - 3:19 p.m. ET </td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" colSpan="3">Coach Norv Turner expects Ryan Mathews (clavicle) to practice on Wednesday, and the Union-Tribune San Diego reports "all signs point" to Mathews playing in Week 3 against the Falcons.
Although Mathews was listed as questionable on the Week 2 injury report, he was never under real consideration to play due to a lack of first-team practice reps. He'll get that this week. Mathews should immediately return as San Diego's workhorse runner, although we'll be keeping tabs on indications about his workload all this week. Fantasy owners should pencil him in as an RB1.
Source: Michael Gehlken on Twitter
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[HacheMan]

<table width="100%" align="center"><tbody><tr vAlign="top"><td class="vaLabel" colSpan="3">Ryan Mathews - RB - SD - Sep. 19 - 4:53 p.m. ET </td></tr><tr><td vAlign="top" colSpan="3">Ryan Mathews (clavicle) participated in Wednesday's practice.
Mathews' exact participation is unclear, but it was likely full. The Union-Tribune San Diego has suspected all along the Chargers were targeting a Week 3 return for their lead back, and reported Monday that "all signs point" toward Mathews suiting up against Atlanta. He can be penciled in as a RB1 against a Falcons' run defense that's been gashed for 270 yards through two games.
Source: Michael Gehlken on Twitter
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[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyCopy">ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Ryan Mathews (clavicle) is expected to play on Sunday against the Falcons.</td></tr><tr><td>

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Sep. 23 - 10:04 a.m. ET</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Chargers coach Norv Turner said Monday that the team may "limit" Ryan Mathews' carries in certain situations to help cut back on his fumbling.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Mathews fumbled inside the five-yard line in his first game back from a collarbone fracture Sunday against Atlanta. He fumbled ten times in his first two seasons. Turner says the Chargers are charting Mathews' fumbling history to get a grip on when they specifically occur. We're not worried about his workload, but Mathews would help himself and his team by holding onto the football.
Sep. 24 - 4:32 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Marty Caswell on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

Chargers coach Norv Turner insists Ryan Mathews' limited Week 4 role was not about sending a message, but because Jackie Battle gave the team its "best chance to win."


Apparently Turner has taken up creative writing in his spare time. The Bolts can spin it whichever way they want, but Mathews' five-touch first half indeed had all the hallmarks of a message being sent. However, it's a message that's extremely unlikely to be repeated in Week 5 as the Chargers revert back to playing competitive football teams. It's a frustrating situation, but Mathews is simply too good for the Chargers to stick with the stone-footed Battle. Mathews should have a field day against the Saints' 32nd ranked run defense, and is the top "buy low" in fantasy football this week.



Source: Michael Gehlken on Twitter
Oct 1 - 3:23 PM

 

[HacheMan]

Coach Norv Turner told Ryan Mathews last Wednesday that he wouldn't start versus the Chiefs.


The Chargers did a good job of keeping a tight lid on that tidbit. Turner also accepted a portion of the blame for Mathews' Week 3 fumble for using him too heavily in his first game back. The message having been sent, Mathews is expected to assume starting duties this week. It's quite possible that he's lost goal-line work to Jackie Battle, however.



Source: Union-Tribune San Diego
Oct 2 - 2:27 PM

 

[HacheMan]

According to the Chargers, Jackie Battle vaulted Ryan Mathews on the team's official depth chart because "he just started last week, so that's why he's there."


In other words, it's semantics. Although the Chargers' actions have officially gone beyond simple message sending, it's clear they're not on the verge of a sea change in the backfield. Battle's big week came against a non-competitive Chiefs team, and the 29-year-old spare part simply isn't talented enough to out-carry Mathews when games are on the line. Beat writer Michael Gehlken "wouldn't read into" the depth chart shenanigans, and believes it's "likely only a matter of time" before Mathews moves back ahead of Battle. However, Gehlken does expect Battle to remain involved in Week 5, perhaps as the goal-line back. That would be unideal for Mathews' fantasy value, but he's simply too talented not to re-emerge as a RB1, and soon. Mathews remains the top buy-low candidate in all of fantasy football.

Related: Jackie Battle

Source: Michael Gehlken on Twitter
Oct 3 - 3:14 PM

 

[HacheMan]

Coach Norv Turner indicated that Ryan Mathews' weekly workloads will increase back to the full-time variety following Sunday's loss to New Orleans, saying "I expect him to be one of the league's leading rushers."


"Ryan was outstanding," Turner said following Mathews' 139-total yard, one-score effort, in which he was ultimately underutilized. "Everything I’ve said about him in the offseason, every time he’s had adversity, he’s come back stronger. People want to count him out or say, ‘Hey, you can’t count on this guy,’ but he’s come back stronger." In order to finish among the NFL's lead rushers, Mathews has some ground to make up and Turner knows it. It's still very much attainable against one of the league's most cakewalk schedules to close out the year. The buy-low window on Mathews has officially closed.



Source: chargers.com
Oct 8 - 3:14 PM

 

[HacheMan]

Chargers coach Norv Turner is "confident" Ryan Mathews and LT Jared Gaither (groin) will be fine for Week 6 after both were limited to mental reps in Wednesday's unofficial practice.


Mathews is in no danger of missing Monday Night Football. Turner also took time to praise Mathews Wednesday, insisting he has "great confidence" in his third-year back. "Every time he has a setback, he comes back stronger," Turner said. "A mentally tough guy." Mathews is ready to be unleashed following his questionable Week 4 and 5 usage.

Related: Jared Gaither

Source: Michael Gehlken on Twitter
Oct 10 - 4:11 PM

 

[HacheMan]

Ryan Mathews is expected to start Monday's game against the Broncos.


Mathews returned to practice Thursday after resting on Wednesday. Jackie Battle got the nominal start in Week 5, but touched the ball just six times. Mathews was the feature back with 18 touches and also handled the "high leverage" situations coach Norv Turner loves to talk about. Since his Week 3 fumble, Mathews has done nothing but say all the right things and excel on the field. "He's made the progress we'd like," Turner said. Expect Mathews to push for 20-plus touches as a high-upside RB1 Monday night.

Related: Jackie Battle

Source: Union-Tribune San Diego
Oct 11 - 1:09 PM

 

[HacheMan]

Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune San Diego expects Ryan Mathews to receive "25-plus" touches on Monday Night Football versus Denver.


We considered not posting this due to the obvious jinxing factor, but knocked on some wood before we did. It's obviously noteworthy. Mathews is expected to be unleashed Monday night against the Broncos after Norv Turner pulled his reins back the past two weeks. Look for him to be an every-down back in prime time.



Source: Kevin Acee on Twitter
Oct 15 - 5:39 PM