Last night, the San Diego Chargers finally looked like a good football team in their 34-7 win over Oakland. Attribute part of it to the competition that they were going up against, but it’s safe to say it was their best game since Week 6 against New England, and maybe over the entire season.
But, even so, I was still just a little disappointed with LaDainian Tomlinson’s final stat line. L.T. did run for 91 yards and a touchdown, but he averaged only 3.6 yards per carry. That’s the ninth time in 13 games that he’s averaged less than four yards per carry.
Last night was also the first time since Week 2 of the 2005 season (a 20-17 loss to Denver) that he didn’t have at least one reception.
He’s likely going to end up with 1,000 yards when all is said and done, but as of yet, he still hasn’t had that monster game that he’s so often had throughout his career or put up the numbers that have made him worthy of top pick status by many a fantasy owner for the last few years.
L.T.’s got 242 carries through 13 games, and he’s on pace for 298 carries, the lowest number of carries in his eight seasons. Overall, it’s set to be the lowest number of touches in his career as well, as he has only 44 receptions so far.
Considering his low numbers this season, you can say either Michael Turner should have gotten more touches, Drew Brees/Phillip Rivers should have thrown more passes, or he should start playing in preseason games to get in playing shape, but I think not toting the ball as much/Rivers showing he can air it out/Darren Sproles getting more regular touches will only benefit L.T. in the long run, even if his numbers aren’t as good this year.
Hopefully his fate isn’t that of Shaun Alexander, who’s got all of 11 carries this season as a reserve for the Washington Redskins, only three years after he ran for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns. Or Edgerrin James, whose career has gone downhill since leaving Indianapolis for Arizona. To be fair, L.T. has been a lot more injury-free than either of those, which could also help him in the long run.
For the sake of fantasy owners who might still be counting on him to help win their fantasy league championship this season and for proving he‘s really still got it, he best take advantage of the Chiefs’ porous run defense next week, get over the 1,000 yard mark, and make sure the last three weeks of a disappointing season for both he and the Chargers show signs of (good) things to come in 2009.
