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FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES

Six Years of Tomlinson - A Comparison
David Dorey
January 1, 2007

LaDainian Tomlinson concludes his historic and record-setting NFL season but how does he compare to the greats of the past? There can never be a 1:1 comparison given the different eras and all that entails but it is interesting to see just how much Tomlinson has accomplished in his first six years.

Using Shaun Alexander as the other best back that is currently playing, consider the first six seasons for those two players versus what was done by Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton and Jim Brown in their first six years:

	FF	Gms	Rushing				Receiving			Total
	Pts	Plyd	Att	Yards	YPC	TD	Rec	Yards	TD	Yards	TDs
LaDainian Tomlinson	1,874	95	2,051	9,176	4.5	100	398	2,900	11	12,076	111
Emmitt Smith	1,691	93	2,007	8,956	4.5	96	301	1,951	4	10,907	100
Shaun Alexander	1,520	96	1,717	7,817	4.6	89	188	1,387	11	9,204	100
Barry Sanders	1,453	89	1,763	8,672	4.9	62	210	1,782	6	10,454	68
Walter Payton	1,438	89	1,865	8,386	4.5	65	202	1,791	5	10,177	70
Jim Brown	1,388	76	1,499	7,459	5.0	70	168	1,563	11	9,022	81

Overall, Tomlinson has scored more fantasy points than any other running back in their first six years. That comes with the acknowledgement that Jim Brown and Walter Payton did not play in 16 games seasons each year. And Alexander did not play much in his first season. Overall though, for six seasons you could not have made a better fantasy draft pick for at least a good season if not, of course, the all-time best one. Now we just have to hope that Tomlinson does not experience the same problems that Alexander had in his seventh season.

Below are the first six seasons of each player for comparison.

LaDainain Tomlinson								Shaun Alexander
Year	Gm	Att	Rush Yd	TD	Rec	Rcv Yd	TD	Year	Gm	Att	Rush Yd	TD	Rec	Rcv Yd	TD
2001	16	339	1,236	10	59	367	0	2000	16	64	313	2	5	41	0
2002	16	372	1,683	14	79	489	1	2001	16	309	1,318	14	44	343	2
2003	16	313	1,645	13	100	725	4	2002	16	295	1,175	16	59	460	2
2004	15	339	1,335	17	53	441	1	2003	16	326	1,435	14	42	295	2
2005	16	339	1,462	18	51	370	2	2004	16	353	1,696	16	23	170	4
2006	16	349	1,815	28	56	508	3	2005	16	370	1,880	27	15	78	1
TOT	95	2,051	9,176	100	398	2,900	11	TOT	96	1,717	7,817	89	188	1,387	11
Emmitt Smith								Barry Sanders
Year	Gm	Att	Rush Yd	TD	Rec	Rcv Yd	TD	Year	Gm	Att	Rush Yd	TD	Rec	Rcv Yd	TD
1990	16	241	937	11	24	228	0	1989	15	280	1,470	14	24	282	0
1991	16	365	1,563	12	49	258	1	1990	16	255	1,304	13	36	480	3
1992	16	373	1,713	18	59	335	1	1991	15	342	1,548	16	41	307	1
1993	14	283	1,486	9	57	414	1	1992	16	312	1,352	9	29	225	1
1994	15	368	1,484	21	50	341	1	1993	11	243	1,115	3	36	205	0
1995	16	377	1,773	25	62	375	0	1994	16	331	1,883	7	44	283	1
TOT	93	2,007	8,956	96	301	1,951	4	TOT	89	1,763	8,672	62	210	1,782	6
Walter Payton								Jim Brown
Year	Gm	Att	Rush Yd	TD	Rec	Rcv Yd	TD	Year	Gm	Att	Rush Yd	TD	Rec	Rcv Yd	TD
1975	13	196	679	7	33	213	0	1957	12	202	942	9	16	55	1
1976	14	311	1,390	13	15	149	0	1958	12	257	1,527	17	16	138	1
1977	14	339	1,852	14	27	269	2	1959	12	290	1,329	14	24	190	0
1978	16	333	1,395	11	50	480	0	1960	12	215	1,257	9	19	204	2
1979	16	369	1,610	14	31	313	2	1961	14	305	1,408	8	46	459	2
1980	16	317	1,460	6	46	367	1	1962	14	230	996	13	47	517	5
TOT	89	1,865	8,386	65	202	1,791	5	TOT	76	1,499	7,459	70	168	1,563	11