L.T is Diminishing Just like the Others before Him

Try to remember what happened in the NFL four years ago. Now try to remember it five years ago. Try to remember the trend that started back in 2002.

Do you remember Priest Holmes? How about Shaun Alexander? Larry Johnson? Can you even remember Ahman Green back when he was relevant?

These guys set the trend that LaDainian Tomlinson is currently following.

In 2002, Priest Holmes scored 21 rushing touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry while running for his career-high 1,615 yards with the Kansas City Chiefs. The next year, Holmes scored an astonishing 27 rushing touchdowns.

He has only played in 19 games since then.

Ahman Green rushed for even more yards in 2003 with 1,883 while scoring 15 touchdowns with Green Bay. He never played a full season after that.

Larry Johnson and Shaun Alexander took over the spotlight in 2005 and reached the end zone 20 and 27 times, respectively. The Seahawks lost their best guard Steve Hutchinson and Alexander started his decline. Johnson had some issues off of the football field, suffered some injuries and hasn’t really been the same since.

Then L.T emerged and started his reign over opposing defenses. The very next year in 2006, L.T rushed for his career-high 1,815 yards and scored a league record 28 rushing touchdowns. He even recorded 508 receiving yards. It was simply remarkable.

But now L.T is starting to disappear just like the others. It is just taking a little more time than what we are used to seeing.

Since that amazing year of 2006, Tomlinson’s total rushing yards has decreased each year by at least 300. His rushing touchdowns dropped to 15 in 2007 and 11 in 2008. His yards per carry have also significantly decreased. In 2006, L.T averaged 5.2 yards per carry. In 2007, that stat was reduced to 4.7. It was then dropped to 3.8 the next year.

After a season where he rushed for his career-low 1,110 yards, L.T was supposed to break out again this season. He was fully healthy at the end of training camp and he was supposed to be more explosive than ever.

Now, L.T is going to miss his second consecutive game on Sunday when the Chargers face the Dolphins due to a sprained ankle. That means he will have missed three of San Diego’s last four games, dating back to the playoff loss to the Steelers in January.

It looks like his backup Darren Sproles is better for the team. Philip Rivers looks like he is the leader. And it looks like there isn’t going to be any room for L.T whenever he is ready to comes back. This very well could be the end of the road for L.T and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. It has happened before. So forget about the Madden curse. Start paying attention to the curse of the seemingly unstoppable running back.

But who knows? Maybe Adrian Peterson has what it takes to break this trend. It certainly looks like he does.

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Have a Fantasy Football or Rotisserie Baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who to activate and who the hot prospects are? Ask Dr. Roto. Let Dr. Roto guide your team to a league championship! - Michael Klopman

NFL Week #3 Picks

Last week we were + $72.50 for the week.

Week #1 = + $77.50
Week #2 = + $72.50

Total = $150.00 after 2 weeks.

Remember, we are using a $1,000 betting pot to start out with so we are up 15% after 2 weeks (winnings go to charity). Slow and steady wins the race……

This week we are picking 2 NCAA games and 4 NFL games. Here we go.

Not a knock against higher ranked VT (depending on the poll) but Miami is on a roll and momentum will propel them.
$50 -Miami Hurricanes -3.0 (EVEN)

Nebraska is baacckk…..
$75 - Nebraska Corn Huskers -27.0 (-110)

I think Eric Mangini is starting to regret taking that job.
$50 - Baltimore Ravens -13.0 (-110)

Alright don’t laugh…… It’s gonna happen sometime
$25 - Detroit Lions MONEY LINE (+250)

Singletary’s 49ers are playing with confidence. Gore outrushes Peterson. A long day for Favre…
$50 - San Francisco 49ers MONEY LINE (+250)

John Abraham in Tom Brady’s face all day. Same result as last week
$25 - Atlanta MONEY LINE (+180)

Pittsburgh doesn’t lose 2 games in a row... At least not this one. Grandma Fairchild could be playing safety, they run away with it late.
$30 – Pittsburgh -4.0 (-110)

Robert Fairchild is a professional sports gaming professional. He legally wages on professional and collegiate sporting events for a living. Robert is NOT suggesting that you quit your day job and try to wager on sports for a living. He is contributing his thoughts and experience to assist you in a recreational activity that you as an informed adult may choose to take part in.

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Have a Fantasy Football or Baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who to activate and who the hot prospects are? Ask Dr. Roto. Let Dr. Roto guide your team to a league championship.

Ray Rice is your guy...

Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Marion Barber, Frank Gore…. I’m certain that these were all players off the board early in your football fantasy drafts this year. The obvious ones are easy. How hard is it to know that if you ended up with Adrian Peterson and Drew Breese in your backfield that you did well? But it’s those second level picks that will win you a league championship.

It’s great that you got Peterson, but the other guy has Jones-Drew. It’s great that you have Breese, but the other guy has Brady. Who else do you have? Who’s your second running back? What kind of depth do you have?

I’m here to tell you that Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens is your guy. If you live in the NY Metropolitan area I’m sure you know all about Ray Rice. This 5-8, 210-pound 2nd year NFL player had an All-American career for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights – setting every school rushing record along the way.

In his rookie year Rice had 33 catches for 273 yards (8.3 per reception) and 107 carries for 454 yards (4.2 per carry). He played sparingly learning his craft behind veteran Willis McGahee. Now in his 2nd year Rice is listed number 1 on the depth chart at tail back and is ready to let loose.

Rice no longer has to be taken off the field on crucial passing downs because of complicated NFL blitz protection schemes that almost all rookie backs struggle with and the Ravens can now take advantage of his superior skills as a receiver out of the back field as well as his runs from the line of scrimmage.

In week # 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rice had 19 carries for 108 yards and 2 catches for 12 yards. Assuming he stays healthy I would expect Ray Rice’s year end numbers to be well in excess of 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage.

That’s what you need from your second level running back to win a league title. - Mike Cardano

Mike Cardano is the founder of the Around The Horn (Baseball Blogs) and Extra Point (Football Blogs). Mike is also the founder of the fantasy sports games Ultimate Franchise Baseball™ and Ultimate Franchise Football™.

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Have a Fantasy Football or Rotisserie Baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who to activate and who the hot prospects are? Ask Dr. Roto. Let Dr. Roto guide your team to a league championship!

Monday Morning Quarterback

NFL Week #1 Recap

News, Notes and Tidbits from around the league

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

QB’s

Drew Brees, Saints, matched a franchise record with six touchdown passes, finishing with 358 yards in a 45-27 victory over the Lions.

Tony Romo, Cowboys, threw for a career-best 353 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 34-21 victory over the Buccaneers.

Joe Flacco, Ravens, threw for career highs of 307 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead 31-yard score to Michael Clayton in a 38-24 victory over the Chiefs.

Matt Ryan, Falcons, threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in a 19-7 victory over the Dolphins.

Peyton Manning, Colts, was 28 of 38 for 301 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 14-12 victory over Jacksonville.

RECEIVERS

Brandon Stokley, Broncos, only caught one pass — but it was a big one. He grabbed a deflection and ran 87 yards with 11 seconds left to give Denver a 12-7 win over the Bengals.

Reggie Wayne, Colts, had 10 catches for 162 yards and what wound up being the decisive touchdown, a 35-yarder in the third quarter of a 14-12 win over Jacksonville.

Devery Henderson, Saints, caught five passes from Drew Brees, finishing with 103 yards and a touchdown in a 45-27 win over the Lions.

Patrick Crayton, Cowboys, had four catches for 135 yards and one of Tony Romo's three touchdown passes in a 34-21 win over Tampa Bay.

Tony Gonzalez, Falcons, caught five passes for a team-high 73 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown in a 19-7 win over Miami.

John Carlson, Seahawks, had six catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-0 win over the Rams. The tight end also opened running lanes for Julius Jones, who had 117 yards rushing.

RUNNING BACKS

Adrian Peterson, Vikings, ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns, including a 64-yard run in the fourth quarter that sealed a 34-20 win over Cleveland.

Thomas Jones, Jets, ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-7 win over Houston.

Mike Bell, Saints, ran 28 times for 143 yards in a 45-27 win over Detroit.

Ray Rice, Ravens, carried 19 times for 108 yards in a 38-24 victory over Kansas City.

Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers, ran 13 times for 97 yards and a touchdown while splitting time with Derrick Ward in a 34-21 loss to Dallas.

SPECIAL TEAMS

DeSean Jackson, Eagles, returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown — the second longest in franchise history — during a 38-10 rout of the Panthers.

Jeff Reed, Steelers, kicked a 33-yard field goal with 10:28 left in overtime to give Pittsburgh a 13-10 victory over Tennessee.

Joshua Cribbs, Browns, scored on a 67-yard punt return for Cleveland's first touchdown in a 34-20 loss to the Vikings. His seventh career punt return TD tied Eric Metcalf for most in franchise history.

Hunter Smith, Redskins, scored from 8 yards on a fake field goal in the first half of a 23-17 loss to the Giants.

DEFENSE

Sheldon Brown and Darren Howard, Eagles. Brown made two of their five interceptions, and Howard had two of their five sacks in a 38-10 win over Carolina.

Kroy Biermann, Falcons, forced an early fumble in a 19-7 win over Miami. The backup defensive end also had a pair of sacks.

Victor Abiamiri, Eagles, picked up Jake Delhomme's fumble and plunged 2 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter of what turned into a 38-10 rout.

Osi Umenyiora, Giants, ran back a fumble 37 yards in his return from a knee injury, leading the Giants to a 23-17 win over the Redskins.

YES A FRANCHISE CAN HIT ROCK BOTTOM IN WEEK #1

The Bengals have found plenty of ways to lose a ballgame over the last few years. This one may have trumped them all. Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley grabbed a deflected pass from quarterback Kyle Orton and raced 87 yards with 11 seconds left to give Denver a 12-7 victory. Stokley even burned a few extra seconds by taking his time going into the end zone.

EXPENSIVE MISCUES

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme was benched after completing only 7 of 17 passes for 73 yards and throwing four interceptions. He also lost a fumble in the 38-10 rout by the Eagles. Delhomme tossed five picks and lost a fumble in the Panthers' 33-13 playoff loss to Arizona in January, but still got a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension in April.

ROOKIE REPORT CARDS

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was impressive in his first career start, completing 18 of 31 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 24-7 win at Houston. Sanchez became the fourth rookie quarterback since the merger to win his first start on opening day on the road. The Panthers' Chris Weinke beat Minnesota 24-13 in 2001; the Broncos' John Elway beat Pittsburgh 14-10 in 1983; and Buffalo's Joe Ferguson beat New England 31-13 in 1973.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't fare nearly as well in his debut, completing 16 of 37 passes for 205 yards with three interceptions in a 45-27 loss to the Saints.

FITTING TRIBUTE

The Eagles' defense did more than just wear a decal on their helmets in memory of late defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, who died of cancer, they also put together a tremendous performance against Carolina. Led by new coordinator Sean McDermott, Philadelphia had five interceptions and five sacks while allowing only 169 total yards in a 38-10 rout.

MILESTONES

Carolina's seven turnovers in a 38-10 loss to Philadelphia matched a team record. ... Baltimore amassed a franchise-record 501 yards in its 38-24 win over KC. ... Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez became the 21st player in NFL history with 11,000 yards receiving. ... Peyton Manning tied Johnny Unitas' Colts franchise record with his 118th victory. ... Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber had his 24th career sack against Dallas, adding to his record total for a cornerback. ... Joshua Cribbs' seventh career TD punt return tied Eric Metcalf for most in Browns history.

TRENDS

The Browns fell to 1-10 in season openers since 1999 with their 34-20 loss to Minnesota, but they did score their first offensive touchdown in seven games. ... Broncos coaches are 9-0 in regular-season debuts, not counting interim coaches, after Josh McDaniels got an improbable 12-7 victory at Cincinnati. ... The Cardinals' 20-16 loss to San Francisco was their first to an NFC West team in two seasons.

STATS

The Falcons scored 10 points off turnovers in their 19-7 victory over Miami. ... Chiefs RB Larry Johnson managed only 20 yards on 11 carries at Baltimore. ... The Vikings outgained the Browns 225-89 on the ground, led by 180 from Adrian Peterson in a 34-20 victory. ... The Saints were 9 of 13 on third-down conversions in their 45-27 win over Detroit. ... The Chiefs' Brodie Croyle is 0-9 as a starting quarterback. ... The Rams committed 10 penalties in their 28-0 loss to Seattle, including two personal fouls by OL Richie Incognito.

INJURED

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb cracked a rib during a 38-10 rout of Carolina. Coach Andy Reid did not rule him out for their next game. ... Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez strained a knee ligament against Jacksonville. ... Giants RB Danny Ware dislocated his left elbow returning the opening kickoff against the Redskins. Giants rookie WR Hakeem Nicks sprained his left foot. ... Seahawks LB Leroy Hill hurt his groin and LB Lofa Tatupu injured his hamstring. ... Texans WR Andre' Davis suffered a concussion.

SUNDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Aaron Rodgers finally has his signature game-winning drive, throwing a 50-yard rainbow to Greg Jennings with 1:11 remaining to give the Green Bay Packers a come-from-behind 21-15 victory over the division rival Chicago Bears in Sunday night's opener.

QUOTES

Joe Namath, praising rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, who led the Jets to a 24-7 win at Houston.

"His offensive line did a hell of a job, but he did a great job of finding time with his feet, just to move subtly. ... I don't doubt even a little bit that he doesn't have poise at this stage."

Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams who took the place of Terrell Owens who is now with Buffalo, after Tony Romo threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-21 win over Tampa Bay.

"Career-high passing yards? Without T.O.? No, it's good. It's good for him. It's good for this team. It was a team effort. Everybody contributed.”

TONIGHTS GAMES

Buffalo at New England (7 p.m. ET) Terrell Owens takes the spotlight in his first regular-season game with Buffalo, against a Patriots defense that wants to prove it's just as strong missing five veteran starters.

San Diego at Oakland (10:15 p.m. ET) The Raiders, an NFL-worst 24-72 the past six seasons, try to show they're headed in the right direction against LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers. Oakland has lost its last 10 appearances on Monday night.

Mike Cardano is the founder of the Around The Horn (Baseball Blogs) and Extra Point (Football Blogs). Mike is also the founder of the fantasy sports games Ultimate Franchise Baseball™ and Ultimate Franchise Football™.

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Have a Fantasy Football or Rotisserie baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who to activate and who the hot prospects are? Ask Dr. Roto. Let Dr. Roto guide your team to a league championship.

Purple Haze

Every season, unannounced rookies come in and dominate the fantasy football world. Last year we were witness to Steve Slaton, Matt Forte, and Matt Ryan. These guys were not as hyped as Jonathan Stewart or Rashard Mendenhall and that made them fantasy gold! They each outperformed their ADPs by 10+ rounds and carried many a team to fantasy titles.

Every now and again a player comes along that lives up to the hype. We know it’s not going to be Michael Crabtree this season. There is a universal man-crush on players like Knowshon Moreno and Beanie Wells. Some players are moving up the boards and are no longer flying under the radar. These players include Donald Brown, Bernard Scott, and James Davis. All of these players have the talent, but do they have the opportunity?

Percy Harvin is the one rookie that is best positioned for immediate success and he will live up to the hype (barring injury). Take that in for a moment. Out of all the glory praise for rookie RBs, I am touting a rookie WR to be my Rookie of the Year. Against the grain? Absolutely. About as against the grain as Harvin’s ACL snapping cuts…

This kid ran a 4.32 forty… as a freshman in high school

This kid was a National Champion in high school.

He was the #1 ranked high school player coming out… Rivals.com. (http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp)

As a collegiate freshman, he was a National Champion, the SEC championship game MVP, and the SEC Rookie of the Year.

Now, he is in the NFL. He is a rookie again.

He is not going to be considered the best player on the field…

This is a kid that has proven time and again that he rises to the occasion.

The NFL is not going to be too fast for Harvin.

In fact, he may be too fast for the NFL…

Yes, he failed a drug test at the combine…

Yes, he may be a bit of a primadonna…

Yes, Florida Gator WRs generally don’t pan out…

Why am I so high on Harvin?

First, the NFL is a new challenge for him. New environments bring out his best.

Second, teammates like Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, and the Minnesota Offensive Line.

Defenses have to strategically game-plan around stopping the established players in Purple Jesus and that ancient QB. He teams with the best running back in football and the best quarterback of this generation. This is going to leave the door wide open for one of the NFL’s newest and most dynamic playmakers to make an immediate impact on the game.

Harvin is a hybrid player – WR, RB, and sometimes QB. No one position is enough for this kid. He is going to get carries, he is going to get receptions, he is going to manage the wildcat, and he is going to score touchdowns. Who, on defense, is going to be able to cover Percy Harvin? If a team commits anyone to Harvin, Peterson and Favre are going to roll. Harvin is too fast for any linebacker or any safety and the cornerbacks already have their assignments. The Vikings coaching staff knows what they have here and defenses are not going to know what hit them. They are scripting a new chapter in the Minnesota playbook as we speak.

Percy Harvin is now in the NFL.

Can he slow the NFL game down as he slowed all of the other levels of play? He is an absolutely dominating player that doesn’t have a position… he has three. The best place for Percy Harvin is on the field. In this offense, he is the ultimate long distance threat. He’s everything you want Reggie Bush or Darren McFadden to be.

There’s a new sheriff in rookie town, and his name is Percy Harvin (aka Purple Haze). - Jack Winn

Jack Winn is a fantasy football sports columnist from the New York City area. A growing reputation for concrete insight is reflected not only in his articles, but in his yearly performance in fantasy leagues. As a 15 year commissioner of multiple high-end fantasy leagues, Jack understands the strategic thought process of many ultra-competitive gamers. His philosophical approach is conservatively aggressive and astonishingly effective. We hope you enjoy the content of his articles.