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Disappointing Tomlinson could finally produce
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 9:36 a.m.
Every year seems to generate a few major disappointments with players who are drafted early and don't produce either because of a new offensive system, injuries or just an overall bad team vibe where nothing clicks.
This season's leader of the fantasy football lemons is San Diego Chargers running LaDainian Tomlinson, who was taken late in the first round in nearly every league.
The signs were all there to stay away from Tomlinson. He had the lowest rushing total of his career in 2008, and it was apparent he had lost a step or two after piling up 2,657 rush attempts and 510 receptions over eight seasons.
Tomlinson rushed for only 55 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, but most fantasy owners knew they were doomed when Tomlinson sprained an ankle. He sat out two games, returned in Week 4 against Pittsburgh with seven carries for 15 yards and then rested during a bye last week.
Tomlinson finally might pay dividends this week against Denver. The favored Chargers host the Broncos on Monday, and while the Denver defense has been stingy, ranking No. 6 in the NFL against the run, this will be the Broncos' first real road test against a quality team, and a healthy Tomlinson could produce.
In Tomlinson's past three seasons at home against Denver, he has seven touchdowns and 316 yards rushing. He ran for 96 yards and three touchdowns in last season's finale, which essentially was a playoff game, with the winner taking the AFC West crown.
This week's circumstances are somewhat similar, and for the Chargers to win, they'll need to feature the running game. If there is a time to play L.T., this would be it.
• BYE SHOPPING -- Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami and San Francisco are on bye weeks, meaning two top quarterbacks and three top tight ends have to be replaced.
For substitutes, consider New Orleans tight end Jeremy Shockey, Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard and Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Shockey, who has become a go-to guy over the middle for Drew Brees, faces his former team, the New York Giants, and has had this date circled on his calendar. Garrard will put up numbers against a weak St. Louis pass defense, and look for Delhomme to connect frequently with Steve Smith against Tampa Bay.
• MARSHALL PLAN -- Now is a prime time to trade for Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall, who has scored a touchdown in his past three games and has four overall to tie him for the league lead.
You can see the trust building between quarterback Kyle Orton and Marshall, who has 24 receptions. His catches and yardage will continue to rise with Orton's confidence, and Marshall will be Denver's go-to guy in key situations from here on out.
If you don't have Marshall on your roster, try to deal for him and use just about any wideout on your roster in an offer.
• BREES OR CUTLER? -- I received an e-mail from Joe in Reno asking my thoughts on who he should start this week at quarterback, Brees or Chicago's Jay Cutler.
The Giants' defense will be tough on Brees. He should get his yards and probably won't be shut out of the end zone as he was in his past two games, after throwing for nine TDs the first two weeks.
However, Cutler is playing in Atlanta, where he had one of his best road games last year and handed the Falcons their only home loss. He's on a roll with seven TDs in his past three games as he gets more comfortable with the talent around him.
Ultimately, the Saints look like they'll adapt to the Giants' style with the running game featured more. The Bears, and a stat-hungry Cutler, will be passing all day. Of the two, it appears Cutler could have the better numbers.
Micah Roberts is a Las Vegas-based writer who will contribute weekly fantasy football outlooks for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at MM.Roberts7@gmail.com.
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LT was the ideal player to put on your exclude list this season.
First round players should be guys that do not have known risks associated with them and LT's age plus recent history has forever moved him out of the first few rounds of any winning team's draft.