Ryan Mathews Injury: Chargers RB Crushing Team and Fantasy Owners

The San Diego Chargers have had a bad start to the 2011 season, and their oft-injured running back Ryan Mathews will not be around to help them in Week 9. 

Mathews has been able to play in every game so far, but a groin injury suffered last week against Kansas City has not healed enough to allow him to play against Green Bay. That is unfortunate because the Chargers need all the firepower they can get in this game. 

The good news for fantasy owners is that Mathews' backup, Mike Tolbert, who missed last week's game, will be back in the lineup, according to Michael Fabiano of NFL.com. 

Still, Tolbert does not have the skills that Mathews does out of the backfield and will likely not make a big difference against one of the best run defenses in the NFL. 

Mathews' game is predicated more on speed and being able to elude defenders, while Tolbert has the ability to bounce off would-be tacklers and get yards after contact. 

Even though Tolbert is not the dynamic runner that Mathews is, he is still a force in the passing game. With Malcom Floyd out, Philip Rivers will be searching for anyone that he can find. 

Tolbert has 28 receptions and two touchdowns this season, so expect him to get targeted early and often. 

The Chargers' disastrous season just keeps getting worse with each passing week. Mathews would have helped the offense a great deal had he been able to play. Instead, this team will have to give it a go without their best running back. 

Alex Flanagan, who works for the NFL Network, was able to shed some light on why the Chargers have been so inconsistent this season. 

Maybe they can pull a rabbit out of their hat because that is the only chance they have to defeat the Packers.