Strong debut for Ryan Mathews
If you want Chargers rookie running back Ryan Mathews on your fantasy football team, it's going to cost you a high draft pick.
On average (via Mock Draft Central), Mathews is going in the middle of the second round ahead of experienced backs like Cedric Benson, Ryan Grant, Jamaal Charles and Pierre Thomas.
In his NFL debut last night, Mathews finished with 50 yards on nine carries after vomiting in the locker room before the game due to "nerves."
“It was crazy at first,” Mathews said, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “My adrenaline was going.”
Earlier in the off-season, Chargers coach Norv Turner said he expected Mathews to get in the ballpark of 250 carries. Only nine backs had more than that in 2009.
If last night's performance is a sign of things to come and he gets the touches Turner expects, Mathews is well worth the high pick.
