If you need a refresher on the rules for the series, here is the original thread:
http://www.sportsoutlaw.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5078

Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.

Today's Match-up:

Larry Johnson - RB - KC *vs* LaDainian Tomlinson - RB - SD *vs* Shaun Alexander - RB - Sea

Last Year's Stats:
Larry Johnson - 1750 ru yds - 20 TD's - 33 rec - 343 yds - 1 TD
LaDainian Tomlinson - 1436 yds - 18 TD's - 51 rec - 370 yds - 2 TD's (3 pass TD's)
Shaun Alexander - 1880 yds - 27 TD's - 15 rec - 78 rec yds - 1 TD

This match-up really needs no lead-in. It is simply the battle to be the #1 pick in each FF draft this upcoming year. All 3 had monster years last year and are looking to do the same this year. If you are lucky enough to get the top spot in this year's draft, which of these will you choose to lead you to the playoffs? This is the question you will need to answer in today's "Close Call."

At first blush, I would take Alexander. His situation is the most stable. The loss of the Hutchison, to me, is a non-factor. Surprisingly, or maybe not, a higher percentage of Alexander's yards were gained opposite Hutch's side. Seattle is in great shape on both sides of the ball to make another run in the NFC. L.J. and L.T are both faced with big changes on their teams. Both are locks for outstanding season but because of the coaching staff changes in K.C. and the QB situation in S.D. I'm going go with Alexander...for now.

based on re-draft leagues ---> I voted for Alexander

The is definitely the year to pray for the 3rd overall pick in your redraft leagues, at least to me. I'd be happy with any of these 3 and I'd rather have the better 2nd round pick....let the first 2 guys spin their wheels on who to pick here.

Honestly....I can name you tons of pros and cons for EACH of the three. If you sit there and think about it too much, you can overthink the situations and talk yourself into, or out of any of these three. LT has a huge question mark at QB, SA lost Hutch and also got his big payday (how hungry will he be), and LJ has a new offensive coordinator as well as not having a full season under his belt yet. As of this writing....I'm leaning toward LJ only cause he's young, and young studs tend to have their career years early (see Edge). He's got a very good offensive line and a good quarterback. But like I said before....I'd be ecstatic getting any of these 3 on my team.

I'm pretty torn on this one. I went into the thread thinking LT, saw his numbers and now I'm second guessing it. Went in think SA would probally be 3rd, saw his numbers from last year again and was amazed!!! And then there was LJ, who simply racked up 1750 yds only starting 9 games!!!! Definatly a 3 horse race, I'm going to look into this one a bit more before registering my vote on this one.

I am deciding between Tomlinson and Alexander right now. Both of them are undergoing some offensive changes in terms of personnel, so I gotta look at it a little more as well.

At first i was gonna say LT, then i saw the others numbers, then i was gonna say Larry Johnson but seeing as how they wont run as much as edwards should, i pick alexander from the mere fact hes just flat out awesome.

Well given the .5 ppr this series relies on for the decision I am going to stick with my guns and say LT. I think Rivers will only help his receptions as he will once again become the dump off safety option. Remember, this is a guy who once caught 100 ball in a season out of the backfield! I don't look for anyone to score 27 TD's again this year, so the 20 LT gets will be right there with anyone. His ru yds may trail the other two, but should end up in the 1500-1600 range and his rec yds will more then make up for any rushing yds difference. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them (although at least 1 will likely bust) but if I had to shoose, I'll take LT.

I've had Tomlinson, and he's killed me with his late-season injuries. SA never misses time, and although LJ's numbers project well, he hasn't done it over an entire season. Based on track record I'd take SA.

LJ is my top pick for dynasty, though.

.5 PPR you have to go with Tomlinson. Alexander's TD numbers are almost certain to be back to normal, much like Manning's were after that 04 season. Tomlinson will be Tomlinson, and in any PPR format he's the #1 RB.

It's really difficult to find any downside in Tomlinson whatsoever. He has done it while Brees was playing horribly, he has done it behind a pretty poor OL. He just gets it done no matter what.

Sorry, but there is no way I pick either of those two before Alexander. He is just mister consistent and I dont see anything that has happened that will change this.

The fact that in his 5 years as a starter, he has never been below 1500 total yards and 16 td's make this an easy pick for me. Plus the fact that he had 12 games of over 100 yards last season as compared to 5 for Tomlinson.

LJ is a serious consideration, especially in Dynasty leagues, but he will need to have another big year for me to take him over either LT or SA in a redraft.

I have to lean towards Alexander myself. Only two down sides is LJ is a new coaching staff and the fact he hasnt carried a load solo for a season yet. Frankly someone already hit it on the head. I would take any of the three, Tomlinson would fall to number three however.

While I agree with SA being Mr. Consistent, he has company in that department. LT has been money in the bank his whole carear. His rookie year was his lowest statistical year, and he still had 1600 combined yds, 59 rec, and 10 TD's.

In the 4 years since then he has never had below 1,776 tot yds, 15 TD's, and 51 rec!!! Now that is consistency as well!! And since I don't care how he gets his yards, LT actually had 7 100 yd games, and 3 more with 89 yds or more.

So while SA is consistent, LT is as well, add in the 50 rec he is sure to get you and he is even more so.

2006 is going to involve a heavy dose of Ladainian Tomlinson, and alot of this increase will be in receptions. There will also be more carries. The Chargers have now become Tomlinson's team while the young quarterback gets his legs under him. Tomlinson will be called upon to do a lot more in this offense.
Something else. The Chargers like to incorporate him in the passing game in key red-zone situations as the passer. Not often, but the results are positive, and it has been a little bit of an increase each year for the past 3 years. With a new quarterback, I wouldnt be suprised him not only increase rushing yards, rushing td's (18 last year), receiving tds (2 last year), but also increase his redzone appearances as the passer (3 td passes last season). The guys is becoming a legitimate 3 dimensional threat. Defenses are going to crowd the lin with 8-9 man fronts to start the year, dont be suprised to see the Chargers start making them more honest with some Tomlinson to Gates passes, as tomlinson has showed he is more than capable of throwing the ball, with accuracy.

Shaun Alexander is my second choice. Has been a solid, and last year was extremely outstanding for him. However, he carried the ball 350 times in 2004, over 370 times in 2005, not including the playoffs. I cant help but think these carries will have to come own in his 7th season, especially with a more than capable Maurice Morris backing him up. Blocking also wont be as good this year, which means Alexander will most likely be seeing more contact at and behind the line of scrimmage.
It will still be an extremely productive year, but I have him as a close #2 to Tomlinson this year.

Larry Johnson - Sorry, not buying into the hype. Herman Edwards is more concerned about not allowing his teamated to use foul language during practice, than actually coaching football, and to tell someone before mini-camps even start that the starting job is theirs, to a guy that hasn't started a complete season is pure ignorance. A lot of changes are on the way in K.C., and I do not expect that offensive line to be as disciplined as it has been. Not when the team is being run by a coach with no backbone. If it is my pick, Larry Johnson is available, and the other two are gone, and am going to do my best to trade. Somebody else can take the risk.