Tomlinson: Tomlinson Better Than Peterson

NFL News - September 2nd, 2009 - Written by John

If you have yet to draft your fantasy team, perhaps you should show pause and reconsider your running back rankings. Then again, maybe not.

LaDainian Tomlinson responded to an article, which Jim Brown argued that Adrian Peterson, not he, was the most complete running back he has seen in a long time. Football fans are saying the same thing, ranking Peterson as the top running back in the draft in both Yahoo! and ESPN leagues. Peterson's average draft position in Yahoo! leagues is 1.2 and is similar in ESPN games at 1.4. And Peterson looked like an animal against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, taking the first play of the game 75 yards to the house, part of his 117 yards on the night. The Chargers' 30-year old back conceded that Peterson is a powerful, elusive runner, but comes short of the "complete back" title.

"The difference with me is you can put me out on that field and there will be nothing I can't do," Tomlinson told Pro Football Talk. "I won't have to come off the field.  Adrian has to come off sometimes on third down. Anything on that field you want me to do -- throw it, block -- I can do it.  That's what I pride myself on is not having any weaknesses. And that's what makes me the best back."

If it were only 2006, few people would disagree with Tomlinson. But after breaking the record for touchdowns in a season, he hasn't even put together a complete year, struggling from groin injuries and an increasing number of candles on his birthday cake. His back-ups have found a lot of success with Tomlinson out of the way. Darren Sproles moved from special teams phenom to feature back last year and was dynamic in the Chargers' rush to make the Playoffs, averaging 5.4 yards a carry. As a pass catcher, he reeled in 342 yards and five touchdowns. Michael Turner, who was Tomlinson's backup from 2004-2007, left San Diego last year to be the starter in Atlanta and his now battling for the top spot in fantasy drafts with Peterson and Maurice Jones-Drew. He rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.

Tomlinson is still a viable fantasy option as he takes over the feature spot in the Chargers' backfield. But he may be the only one who doesn't take Peterson with the first pick.

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