Le'Ron McClain

McClain is the starting fullback for the Chargers and has limited upside offensively for fantasy purposes.

McClain will be the starting fullback in 2012, and the Bolts are clearly planning to use him as a blocker in front of Ryan Mathews, but they have also made some comments indicating that they are at least thinking of using him more out of the backfield as well. When you consider that Mike Tolbert had a total of 175 offensive touches last year for the Chargers, you quickly realize that McClain has great potential to be much more active this season than he's been in recent years.

McClain will function primarily as a lead blocker for Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, but with his thick build and successful track record, he could be in line for significant short-yardage work, including goal line touches. If an injury were to occur to Charles or Jones, look for McClain's role to expand significantly as it did in 2008 when he rushed for over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his natural fullback role, however, he is a candidate for at best a few hundred total yards and four or five scores.

McClain led the Ravens in rushing two seasons ago, but with the emergence of Ray Rice in 2009 he took on a true fullback role. McClain could still factor in goal line and short-yardage situations, but not enough to be worth a sniff come draft day.

Entering last year listed as a fullback, McClain surprisingly led all Ravens rushers with 902 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged only 3.9 YPC and didn’t catch many passes, but he did convert eight of his 17 goal-line carries. Despite the fullback frame, his 82-yard rush was the longest carry in 2008. How Baltimore divvies out its rushing attempts in 2009 is unclear, though it appears McClain will shift back to fullback with Lorenzo Neal leaving town. McClain is certain to get the goal-line work, but he should cede plenty of carries to Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.