On the debut of NFL Fantasy LIVE's Top 50 Players of 2016, running back Ryan Mathews was named as the No. 41-ranked player on Monday night.
Signed by the Eagles in 2015, Mathews had 539 yards rushing, 20 receptions for an additional 146 yards receiving and seven total touchdowns despite playing only 21 percent of the team's offensive snaps. Mathews was by far the team's most efficient rusher with a 5.1 yards per carry average, good for fourth best in the entire NFL.
After the Eagles traded DeMarco Murray to Tennessee this offseason, Mathews is in place to be the team's feature back.
A former first-round pick of the Chargers, Mathews has two 1,000-yard campaigns under his belt. In 2013, Mathews set a career high with 1,255 rushing yards on 285 carries. He earned Pro Bowl honors after the 2011 season when he had 1,091 yards rushing, at a clip of 4.9 yards per carry, 1,546 yards from scrimmage and 50 receptions.
How will new head coach Doug Pederson utilize Mathews? Kansas City lost Pro Bowl rusher Jamaal Charles after five games in the 2015 season. As Kansas City's offensive coordinator, Pederson utilized Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware who combined for 232 carries, 1,037 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Chiefs went 10-1 after Charles' injury and reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Will another Eagle be named to the Top 50 list? The series continues tonight at 8 PM.
