Ryan Mathews is Having a Disappointing Season

There were high expectations for San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews heading into the 2012 NFL season.

Mathews finished the 2011 season with 1,091 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per attempt.

Mathews ranked 10th in rushing yards last season and no one in the top 10 had more yards per rushing attempt.  Mathews looked like he was ready to have a monster season this year, but it has not been the case.

He missed the first two games of the 2012 season because he broke his clavicle against the Green Bay Packers on August 9, 2012.

Mathews has 594 rushing yards, one touchdown and is averaging a career low 4.1 yards per attempt.  Mathews is on pace for 924 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Another reason why Mathews’ season is disappointing is due to the fact that he is averaging a career high 16.2 rushing attempts per game. Mathews had a season high 95 rushing yards in a game against the Cleveland Browns. Mathews’ most productive game this season was against the New Orleans Saints when he had 12 rushing attempts, 80 yards and a rushing touchdown.

He had at least 100 rushing yards in a game four times last season and as mentioned earlier he has not done this at all during the 2012 season.

The one positive for Mathews this season is that he is on pace for three fumbles.  Mathews had five fumbles in 12 games as a rookie in 2010 and had five fumbles in 14 games last season.

I expected a more productive season from Mathews, but he is not living up to expectations this year.