San Diego Chargers Preview

QB: Phillip Rivers has established himself as a solid QB in the NFL. Although he's not a very mobile QB and has an awkward release, he's shown that he can throw with the best of them with great accuracy. Look for Rivers to have another big year with his receivers.

RB: Rookie, Melvin Gordon looks to fill the hole that the often injured Ryan Matthews left. Gordon is the first RB in a long time to be drafted in the first round. He boasts speed, power, and good hands. His time at Wisconsin showed he can be a great leader as well.

WR: Malcolm Floyd, Keenan Allen: These two receivers are young, but are learning how to play quickly. Allen is already commanding double teams and although he had a tough sophomore season, he is looking to get back into form by getting used to double teams.

TE: Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green: Green is finally going to get a shot while Gates misses some games due to suspension. However, speaking of Gates, is this guy ever going to get old? Still one of the leagues tight ends and he doesn't seem to be slowing down still.

Antonio Gates, longtime tight end of the San Diego Chargers

OL: The offensive line has had some major changes, but the group wasn't the greatest last year, so we'll see if the new group is better or if it can actually get worse.

DL: The defensive line is led by Corey Liuget. He is entering his 5th year in the NFL and is only going to get better. This group must improve as a unit however in order to compete in the AFC West.

LB: Dwight Freeney is gone, but the other backers return including the big name, Manti Teo. This unit has been solid against the run but must improve in their pass defense.

DB: Brandon Flowers is the star of this secondary, and he is going to get better as he learns the system more and more. This unit didn't fair well last year against the pass and will look to improve as they get more comfortable with each other.

Fantasy Draft Time Sleeper of the Day: Ryan Matthews

While many people have Ryan Matthews ranked as one of the top fantasy running backs in the NFL, unless you live on the west coast, he may not be a familiar name. Ryan Matthews is the starting running back for the San Diego Chargers. In the 2013 season, Matthews had a career best 1,265 rushing yards along with 6 touchdowns. These numbers are very impressive considering the fact that Matthews is playing under a pass heavy offense led by quarterback Phillip Rivers. The Chargers were ranked 6th in the league in passing yards. In addition, Matthews does not get all of the carriers. With other running back such as Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown, Matthews does not get the amount of carries that usual #1 running backs get.

In spite of all these hurdles, the 26 year old can easily be a STEAL for any fantasy player in their draft. Expect Matthews to get a heavier load this season due to the success that he had last season carrying the ball. In addition, consistency is one thing that Phillip Rivers struggles with from year to year. He can have one fantastic season, then turn around and perform sub-par the very next year. I do not suggest that he is your first selection at the running back position, but he can be a very good 2nd or 3rd option.

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