Ryan Mathews breaks his clavicle

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews suffered a broken clavicle in the exhibition opener against the Packers last night. He'll undergo surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks. The short end of that time frame bumps into the regular season, so it seems likely that Mathews will miss at least the 1st game -- and possibly as many as 3. Obviously, this is a huge blow to both the San Diego backfield and fantasy owners. Ronnie Brown was the next guy in Thursday night and figures to get the most carries in Mathews' absence. He's not a strong fantasy option but is clearly worth rostering across leagues now. We're also keeping an eye on Le'Ron McClain as a potential sleeper while Mathews is out. Curtis Brinkley and Jackie Battle could get in the mix too, but they're hardly NFL-caliber RBs. Of course, don't quit on Mathews either. The guy has had tough luck with injuries, but he still projects as an upper-end RB1 upon his return.