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Player Capsule:
A first-round pick in 2010, Mathews instantly earned the backing of coach Norv Turner as the bell-cow back for the Chargers. Setbacks were plentiful -- ankle injury, sloppy pass blocking -- and Mathews showed mostly flashes before settling in as a legit every-down back in 2011 with LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles both distant memories in California. Mathews is in the right offense and brings the skill set to put a stranglehold on the top job and emerge as more than a sidekick to QB Philip Rivers. Turner again promises big things for Mathews and projects he'll be well over the 300 touch mark for the first time in his career. At better than 4.5 yards per carry for his career, the 24-year-old Mathews might well be on the verge of joining the elite of the Turner offense caste system, which includes the likes of Emmitt Smith, Stephen Davis, Ricky Williams and Tomlinson.
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