Fantasy Flashback: LaDainian Tomlinson (2006)
Fantasy Flashback is a weekly article that highlights some of the greatest individual seasons, from a fantasy football and NFL perspective.
Last week I highlighted Jerome Bettis‘ 1997 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Today I will highlight LaDainian Tomlinson‘s 2006 season with the San Diego Chargers.
Background
Looking back on Tomlinson’s 2006 season it is truly unbelievable what he was able to accomplish.
The previous record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season was 27, held by Priest Holmes (2003) and Shaun Alexander (2005).
LaDainian Tomlinson broke that record in win against the Denver Broncos. (Record breaking touchdown at 6:31)
Tomlinson was also named NFL Most Valuable Player, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2006.
Stats
Tomlinson led the league in both rushing yards (1,815) and rushing touchdowns (28) in 2006. He also recorded 11 more touchdowns than the next highest running back, Larry Johnson. (The Chiefs running back did lead the league in rushing attempts by a pretty large amount.)
Tomlinson didn’t only run the ball for the San Diego Chargers, he also caught 56 balls for a total of 508 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He also set a record for most total touchdowns in a single season (31). The most impressive record he set in 2006 was when he scored a record 14 touchdowns in a 4-game span, 16 touchdowns in a 5-game span, and 19 touchdowns in 6-game span.
He was the ultimate fantasy football player.
Tomlinson finished with a total of 427 fantasy points in standard leagues. That is 114 more points than the Cardinals running back David Johnson scored in 2016, and more points than Le’Veon Bell and Jordan Howard combined for in as well.
He recorded 40+ points in three different weeks, averaging 26.7 points per game; most all-time by a fantasy running back.
His 2006, will go down as the single best fantasy football season in NFL history.
Impact
I am a Steelers fan, so I decided to reach out to a Chargers fan to get his take on LaDainian Tomlinson’s impact.
Below Will Lovato (@FantasyRanks) explains what LT means to him.
“L.T., two letters that will always carry much more weight in the city of San Diego and in the hearts of Chargers fans everywhere. LaDainian Tomlinson provided Chargers fans with excitement and hope when they needed it most. The Chargers record was 18-46 in the four seasons leading up to Tomlinson being drafted in 2001. Tomlinson proved to be more than ready for the NFL rushing for over 1,200 yards and recording over 50 receptions in each of his first seven seasons.
Qualcomm Stadium was packed every Sunday to watch, perhaps the greatest Charger of all-time, do things that few to ever play the game could do. The City of San Diego finally had some serious hope when it came to their Chargers again. The Bolts record in the nine years with Ladainian Tomlinson was 84-60 and resulted in five division championships. The NFL record books will forever be a place you can find the name Ladainian Tomlinson.
Ladainian was a Hall of Famer on and off the field, a true pro. L.T.’s impact through his foundation (Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation), and many other charites he supported (and continues to support) throughout his time with the Chargers will far outlast his greatness on the field, which is saying a lot.
San Diego residents who bled blue and yellow year after year are currently struggling to find a bright spot with the Chargers relocating to L.A., but L.T. will always and forever be a bright spot in the San Diego Chargers history books.”
Comparison
How can anyone be compared to the great LaDainian Tomlinson?
At first I thought Adrian Peterson is very similar to him but then I remembered the role Tomlinson played in the passing game for the Chargers. For this reason I would compare LaDainian Tomlinson to David Johnson.
David Johnson has the potential to have a similar career. He is a touchdown machine just like Tomlinson, recording a total of 33 touchdowns in his first two seasons.
Tomlinson only had 25 in his first two seasons in the NFL.
Like Tomlinson, Johnson is a huge part of his team’s passing game. Tomlinson averaged 57 receptions a season during his 11 years in the league. After two years in the NFL David Johnson is averaging 58 receptions a season.
Both running backs have shown the ability to break tackles using speed and power.
Tomlinson was well known for his iconic stiff arm and now you see David Johnson doing the same thing.
Image courtesy The Games We Love Tumblr
Comment below who you think I should highlight next week.
