LaDainian Tomlinson & Brian Westbrook Released | NFL Fantasy Rankings

It's no surprise that the San Diego Chargers released aging star running back LaDainian Tomlinson this week. Even Tomlinson fully expected to be cut this offseason but fellow veteran running back Brian Westbrook being released this week was a minor surprise.

I figured the Eagles might let him go later in the offseason or even try to restructure his deal and keep him in Philadelphia. As it worked out, coach Andy Reid noted that the move was made this early to give Westbrook more time to find his next team.

While this move is surprising, I'm glad the Eagles are giving Westbrook the opportunity to shop around and see where he can go from here.

The Future Is Now

With the departure of two great running backs, fantasy football owners have to now look to both teams' current roster and see who will carry the football. Figuring out who will carry the major load in Philadelphia is much easier than San Diego, as LeSean McCoy is now the clear starter in the Eagles' backfield.

At this time, McCoy would make for a very solid flex play option coming into this years' fantasy draft. McCoy can be a good No. 2 running back for fantasy owners in the future but we need to see him take the next step in his progression.

Even when McCoy had opportunities to shine with Westbrook out last year, there were stretches when he failed to produce. This has to change and I expect McCoy to have a very good offseason as the team gets him ready to be the main man.

For the Chargers, their starting tailback is probably not on the team right now. Darren Sproles should provide the same spark he always does, but he is way too undersized to be the main runner for any team.

Look for the Chargers to make a trade or possibly use their top pick at the draft (maybe both) to bring someone in to run the football.

Where Do LT and Westbrook Go Now?

Assuming Westbrook can recover from his ailments (especially his concussion problems) he should land on a team at some point this offseason and run in a committee.

Tomlinson could end up getting an opportunity to start somewhere, but I'm not sure how long it will last. Unless Tomlinson can show the burst of speed he once had in the open field, it's possible he may not play again, if he's unwilling to be a backup player.

NFL fantasy football player rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com