Around this time last year, I was one of the many fantasy writers who had declared Philip Rivers’s career over. After a terrible 2012 season, it seemed as if Rivers was hanging on by a thread and was just a few poor games in a row away from being benched.

Rivers managed to get back on track last year, finding Keenan Allen as his new best friend in the passing game, and Ryan Mathews was able to at least stay somewhat healthy (he was injured in the final week of the season and missed San Diego’s playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals).

The Chargers were able to move past a sub-par defense to produce enough points to get to 8-8 and make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. Will Rivers be able to find that chemistry with Allen again, and will Mathews produce again? Let’s take a look at how San Diego stacks up in fantasy this year.

Philip Rivers, Quarterback

People have already forgotten about Rivers’ down year in 2012, a year that he threw just 11 more touchdowns than interceptions and fumbled the ball 13 times, a year after he threw 20 interceptions. But owners who took a chance on Rivers as a backup in drafts last summer were pleasantly surprised, as Rivers threw his most touchdowns since 2008 and completed almost 70 percent of his passes en route to finishing sixth in total fantasy points among quarterbacks.

This year, a lot of Rivers’ production relies on defenses continuing to fail at locking down Allen, and Mathews staying healthy to give him a running back to fall back on. If the Chargers can develop a second solid receiving option, Rivers should have no problem duplicating his production from last year.

Ryan Mathews, Running Back

Here’s all you need to know about Mathews’ fantasy value: He missed 10 games in his first three years in the league, and he sustained another injury at the end of last year, but it didn’t have any fantasy repercussions. He’s also only one year removed from averaging less than four yards per carry and scoring only one touchdown. With Donald Brown in the backfield now and Danny Woodhead taking away touches from Mathews on third down, I wouldn’t expect Mathews to be anything more than a low-end RB2 even if he plays 15 games.

Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver

After just being a rookie flyer some owners took in drafts in his rookie year, Allen surprised everyone and scored eight touchdowns and going for 1,046 yards — and that includes recording just 30 yards through his first two games. He was targeted 105 times last year, and there’s no reason why Rivers won’t look to him that much once again. There’s no other great options at receiver for the Chargers, and Allen will be a big part of the offense from the start of the season, unlike last year.

Vincent Brown, Wide Receiver

Barring an Allen-like breakout year, Brown isn’t relevant in 99 percent of fantasy leagues. In two years in the league, had has just five more targets than Allen had in his rookie year, and has only scored three touchdowns in 30 games. Rivers will want to develop a second solid option in the offense, but Eddie Royal and Malcom Floyd will likely both end up with more touchdowns than Brown.

Antonio Gates, Tight End

Now entering his 12th year in the league, Gates continues to be one of the 10 best tight ends in fantasy. Without a strong No. 2 wide receiver, Rivers targeted Gates 116 times. Barring any injuries, Gate should break 100 targets once again, given who’s at depth chart at receiver for the Chargers. Gates’ four touchdowns last season was his lowest season total since his rookie year when he only had 24 receptions, so he’ll move past that fluke and get back in the area of seven or so touchdowns.

Biggest Fantasy Surprise: Eddie Royal, Wide Receiver

Given his past production, it’s easy to look at Royal’s eight touchdowns from last year as a fluke. In 2011 and 2012 combined, he only had two touchdowns, and five of his touchdowns last year came in the first two weeks before Allen broke out. But, as I’ve said plenty of times already in this preview, the Chargers are going to want to develop a No. 2 receiver next to Allen. Rivers simply can’t continue to target only Allen and Gates. In the last three games of the regular season, Royal was targeted 15 total times. If any other San Diego receiver is going to break six touchdowns this year, it’ll be Royal.

Biggest Fantasy Disappointment: Ryan Mathews, Running Back

Mathews certainly showed what he could do last year if he’s healthy, but given his history, it’s tough to predict that he’ll start 16 games again. People also seem to be underrating the presence of Brown in the backfield. The Chargers wouldn’t sign Brown to a three-year, $10.5 million deal if they didn’t like him. It’s one thing to say that about draft picks when most teams just go for the best players available, but in free agency, bringing a player to the roster for $4 million a year usually means that player is going to be involved.

 Frank Gore and Chris Johnson are both going in drafts behind Mathews, according to FantasyPros, but Gore and Johnson will both end the season with more touches than Mathews. Woodhead almost always comes in on third down for the Chargers, and Brown is more of the traditional running back like Mathews. Signing Brown was a good move for the Chargers, but is bad news for fantasy owners, because neither back will likely put up big fantasy numbers.

How the Schedule Impacts Their Outlook

Rivers will get a huge boost from playing against Kansas City and Oakland twice each (despite Rivers actually throw four interceptions in two games against the Raiders lasts season). Both teams have terrible secondaries, but Denver should be a tougher opponent to throw against if Aqib Talib is healthy, and T.J. Ward is an interception threat at safety. The Chargers also have to go on the road to play the Cardinals (great secondary), Bills (great run defense even without Kiko Alonso and the 49ers. Overall, with other games against the Jaguars (underrated defense), Jets and Rams as well, the Chargers’ schedule is tough this season, but besides the NFC West games, there’s no matchups that are incredibly terrifying.