http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/2350 Recent articles about Vincent Jackson en-us 2007 was supposed to be the year for the San Diego Chargers… supposed to be. Following a 1-3 start, many questioned the team, especially that first overall pick for many fantasy football owners, LaDanian Tomlinson. It's hard to believe, but Tomlinson had a whopping 130 rushing yards entering week 4. He proceeded to total 132 rushing yards in that game, leading many to believe he was back on top. Congratulations to those of you who bought low early, knowing that Tomlinson wouldn't stay quiet throughout the season. However, week 5, Tomlinson was back to his early season ways, rushing for only 67 yards against a Denver Broncos team the Chargers beat by 38 points. Again, congratulations to those of you who bought low. The reason why?... Tomlinson finished the season with 1474 yards, 19 total touchdowns (including the one he threw), 60 receptions, and 475 receiving yards. Further, the massive stretch run weeks 14-16, likely carried many of his owners to the fantasy football championship. I'm pretty sure Webster's Dictionary has placed a picture of LT next to the word "stud". As for the rest of the Chargers, quarterback Phillip Rivers was a bit of a... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:14:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284907 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284907 Whatifsports looks at the AFC West, led by the San Diego Chargers who are looking at another deep playoff run. The Denver Broncos look to end their playoff drought and the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders will have to rely a lot on their young players. We simulated every game and provide you with team analysis, projected scores and fantasy sleepers. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:06:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277489 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/277489 The review of the AFC West by position continues with wide receivers. The similarities among the four teams are striking: All four teams have young quarterbacks, all four teams have top flight running games, and none of the four have a top tier receiving corps. There are potential super stars abound, but as a whole the receiving corps of the AFC West are unimpressive. Thu, 29 May 2008 04:12:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272010 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272010 An excellent analysis of the wide receivers with the potential to have the highest fantasy impact. Wed, 07 May 2008 09:03:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264218 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264218 Whether you're still alive in your playoff fantasy football league, or have signed up for smaller second-chance leagues, this weekend is "make or break" time. FIO staff writer Rich Lerner runs down the Top 20 fantasy players remaining with only four teams and three contests left in the season. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:07:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/76758 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/76758 The final game of the week is looking to be a blowout as the Chargers who have of course the best running back of the 21st century or maybe ever and the Chargers Defense is looking really good as Merriman and Cromartie are looking to put a whooping on Young and the Tiitans running game. For the Titans to pull out a victory they'll have to get there passing game going with Young throwing to Gage and someone else needs to step it up now that Williams is out.Since the titans will probably put 8 in the box Phillip Rivers needs to step it up and get the passing game together and get Chambers and Vincent Jackson. The last thing the Titans need to do is find a way to stop LT as he'll likely be getting up to 30 carries if not more and looking at the TItans defense it'll be hard for him to find a break in there D because with Vanden Boush and Bulluck and the rest of the defense isn't that bad. I think this game will be closer than the rest of the nation thinks so I'm picking the Chargers 38-31 in a high scorer with a lot of running and little passing. Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:44:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/61301 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/61301 I've asked Rich Campbell, who writes for MVN's Chargers Confidential, four questions about the Chargers regarding Tennessee's game at San Diego this Sunday. The questions and Rich's answers follow... Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:46:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/59104 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/59104 Every season it happens – a key player gets injured or one of your fantasy studs underperforms. As a result, there are many long faces and many championships lost around the world of fantasy football. Often times, these are unforeseeable factors that directly affect our dreams of fantasy glory. With the 2007 regular season all wrapped up, FIO co-founder & editor Matt Hinzpeter takes a look back at Ten of the Biggest Fantasy Letdowns from the '07 Season. Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:29:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/58220 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/58220 For everyone that doubted the Chargers and thought that LT was overrated and last year was just a fluke think again. Even though they started at a disappointing 1-4 after finishing last year 14-2 and losing in the division championship to New England and starting the fiasco with A.J Smith and Marty Schottenheimer and hiring Norv Turner and now 10 month later we're here where we're talking about the 7-5 Chargers well on there way to a spot in the playoffs. Ok now let's talk bout my favorite, your favorite and even vanilla ice's favorite running back Ladanian Tomlinson.Despite the fact he's having a very disappointing L.Tish season with 872 yds with 9 tds.But in today's game vs.the Chiefs today it looked like he's back to his 1,800 yds and 28 tds form with a great showing of 177 yds and 2 tds against a average to bad Kansas City D. So if you want to see L.T out preform the defenses like he did many time last year or you have him on your fantasy team ( like i do) don't worry he'll be there for you in your fantasy playoffs. and p.s please drop vincent jackson from your team if you haven't! Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:31:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/40092 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/40092 It's seems like the right thing to do to blame Norv Turner for the Chargers fall from 14-2 to a (maybe) 9-7 team... but you'd be wrong. It's easy to throw darts at his quite-honestly-frightening complexion, but it's too easy. It's like the Staples Easy button... sure you can push it, but what the hell does it really do? And who buys it? They sell it... SOMEONE is buying it. But I digress... The one to blame is A.J. Smith, the tyrannical GM of the San Diego Chargers. (The same San Diego Chargers who eject you from the stadium for smoking a cigarette 20 feet from the smoking section because that's where a stadium employee accidentally told you to smoke, confiscating a $300 ticket you somehow scored after you drove 2 hours from LA to see SD v CHI opening weekend... Karma's a bitch Powder Blue!) Smith is the one who let Bum's kid go, let Cameron go (Cam Cameron will wind up a quality Head Coach, just maybe in the CFL), and then fired Marty. This team was there. They had the Patriots beat if not for a foolish and freakish fumble by a DB who was too excited he had won the game with a pick. Last year's Chargers, with another year's experience, would be every bit as good as this year's Patriots. They had a better D, a smart coach (whose post-season's failures were legendary, but come on... the man could/can coach) and the best offensive weapon in the league. And, by way of ego alone, A.J. replaced him with Norv Turner. Norv Turner is like a really good chef. Delicious, healthy, organic, with wonderful presentation. Then someone offered to let him run his own restaurant, and it was okay, but not great, and then they fired him. So he became Chef at another restaurant, did great, and they let him run that one... but he did a bit worse once he was in charge again... so they fired him. (It's not like he was running Kottite's House of Flan, but like a bistro that Zagat's never reviewed and that got a B health rating) Then he went back to being a Chef again, and was great. At this point, someone had to notice... this guy is NOT a head coach, but one hell of an OC. So what did Smith do? Hire him as the HEAD COACH. It's not Norv's fault... what's he supposed to do? Say no? Continue as Alex Smith's mentor? Hells no! He took the job, like anyone else would. And he has struggled, as has been his pattern. But you can't blame him for that, he's just doing what he's always done, be mediocre. The fantasy effect has been felt as well. LT2 may wind up still being the #1 RB this year, but it's a far cry from last year's nuclear winter. Gates is still great. Rivers has regressed (but was never that great to begin with). Vincent Jackson has been a BUST. The DST has been a disappointment. But you were wearing powder-blue-colored glasses if you didn't see this coming. The writing was on the wall. Other clichés were there as well. But don't blame Norv. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:13:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39623 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/39623 Another decent week for the FFGeekBlog "Studs and Duds" column, as I was able to prognosticate my way to a 16-8-6 record on the week. Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis, Lee Evans and the Seattle passing game all lived up to their billing, while Steve McNair was absolutely horrendous (as predicted), all helping my cause. On the other side though, Shaun Alexander (who will not find his way onto the "Stud" list for the remainder of the season, no matter the matchup) and the San Diego passing game, did their best to minimize my psychic powers. Of course there was also the insane suggestion that Adrian Peterson might be held in check this past weekend…we all know how that turned out! Anyways, as my recommendations are still proving to be useful (most of the time), here are some for Week 10. Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:41:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/35074 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/35074 Obligatory explanatory introduction for the uninitiated: If you haven't seen my previous "shocker" posts, my definition of a fantasy shocker is a player who comes out of relatively nowhere, has a gigantic, multi-touchdown game, becomes the hottest waiver commodity the following week, and then soon sinks back into the relative obscurity from whence he came. Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:32:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/34211 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/34211 Curtis Conway, David Boston and the late Keenan McCardell represent the Chargers recent failures to field a threatening presence at receiver. Eric Parker may be the latest addition to a recent Charger model-the crisp route running possession receiver, not particularly intimidating in size or stature. However, these patterns shall soon change. Young San Diego Chargers receivers Vincent Jackson and Craig Davis may soon develop to form a formidable duo for quarterback Philip Rivers. With their emergence grows the potential of the entire offense. Eric Parker shall remain the number two receiver and behind him the rookie, Davis will learn and partake limitedly. Since the David Boston experiment, San Diego has not only been reluctant to bring in help through free agency but also have they been unable to start a receiver with size, speed and hands, if Boston accounts to as much. Second round pick Vincent Jackson has the potential to be a legitimate play-making receiver in the mold of recent standouts at the position. And not only has he begun to adapt to the pace and speed of an NFL game, coming on strong at last years end but he has remained steady in assuming the number one role this year. The vertical passing game must develop past Antonio Gates for the Bolts to hoist the Lombardi. At the other end, Eric Parker, not counting last years playoff mishap has been a consistent producer, his yardage and efficiency seemingly increasing every year. He is quicker than fast, tough over the middle and sure handed as they come. His route running continues to impress, as does his off field personality and endless work ethic. His absence from the offense at this season's start has been largely underestimated, especially his contributions on third down. In his stead has risen former LSU receiver Craig Davis. Davis provides the Chargers another weapon at the position, being the team's first round pick and Parker's apparent heir. The development of Davis, coupled with the continued improvement of Jackson shall provide space for both Antonio Gates and Tomlinson to work. It is crucial that at least these three, including Malcolm Floyd develop promptly, for their success, like the offensive lines is crucial to the teams overall offensive effectiveness. Judging alone by the early 2007 season it is obvious eight man fronts have stifled- as of late the explosiveness of the bolts backfield, if Rivers begins to stretch the field he will not only loosen up his team, but provided the much needed space required for Tomlinson to run successfully. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:40:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/30388 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/30388 Saturday's FIO weekly fantasy football column deals with the injury report for the coming weekend - co-founder & editor Matt Hinzpeter lists those players who may be in question for their respective games in Week 4. Check this article each and every week on Saturdays. Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:34:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/29005 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/29005 Each week, FanProphet.com and FIO writer Aaron McGhee will take a look at one NFL match-up with huge fantasy implications. McGhee breaks down the contest and clues you in on how some of your fantasy players involved will perform this coming weekend. This Week: Chargers at Patriots Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:07:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/27270 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/27270