Fullbacks can be unsung heroes. The guys that have a couple of good blocks in a few plays, maybe make a reception or two when the defense least expects it. The player that you suddenly remember is on the team right after he’s made a big play.
Sometimes, a fullback gets the spotlight, like Kyle Juszczyk of the 49ers, who’s had at least one receiving touchdown every season since 2017 and has a pretty famous wife.
Well, fullback/defensive lineman Scott Matlock certainly gained a little more notoriety last season, not as much as Juszczyk, but he’s getting there, as a few articles popped up regarding his versatility.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said before the season opener against the Raiders that he expected Matlock to be a three-way player, playing starting fullback, defensive line, and special teams, and that’s exactly what Matlock did.
His talents were sprinkled throughout the units, and though his stats weren’t amazing, he made an impact. If the expanded role experiment continues and he keeps playing in all three areas, I expect to see him carve out a critical role. And if they limit him to one, he’ll still be a valuable asset. If he makes the roster, below is how Matlock can be utilized even more in 2025.
Another Receiving Option For Los Angeles Chargers
Juszczyk serves as another receiving option for the 49ers on an already stacked roster. And though the Chargers have quite a few receivers now with the rookies and the return of Mike Williams, it’s not yet clear how many are actually going to make the team, so Matlock can certainly be an option in a pinch.
In 2024, in the second quarter of the Chiefs’ game during Week 4, he had one reception with a gain of 7 yards, and had another during Week 8 in the Saints matchup. Out of his five targets from last season, he had four receptions and 28 receiving yards.
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Though Matlock may not be used as much as Juszczyk in this area, I certainly see him as a sneaky option, especially deeper in the season as injuries arise.
Security For Quarterback Justin Herbert And The Run Game
Matlock only had 63 pass-blocking snaps throughout the regular and postseason of 2024, with an overall pass-blocking grade of 50.1% according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), but he was responsible for no sacks, no hits, and very few hurries in those snaps.
And in the Chargers’ run game, he was involved a lot more, playing 258 run blocking snaps. Though his run-blocking grade wasn’t amazing (36.5%), his blocking helped running back Kimani Vidal reach the 35-yard line, as Vidal cut out to the left side during Week 16 against the Broncos.
In Week 6, also against the Broncos, Matlock’s blocking helped running back J.K. Dobbins get a gain of 12 yards and a first down.
No matter how the offensive line shakes out and who ends up playing center or left guard, the Chargers will still need to work out the kinks with a fairly new alignment up front, so having extra protection for even a few snaps with Matlock should help. And as last season was the first year Matlock was involved in the run and passing game, if he’s used again like this on offense, with more experience, I expect we’ll see improvement from him.
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The Chargers will be doing a lot with the running game this year, considering they added two high-powered running backs, rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris, so the more players they have that can be physical, like tight end Will Dissly, the better.
Scott Matlock Can Bring Extra Quarterback Pressure
Despite the added time on offense, Matlock still worked on the defensive side, playing 141 defensive snaps throughout the regular and postseason, and he made the most of those limited opportunities.
During Week 2 against the Panthers, with a little time left in the fourth quarter, Matlock deflected a pass on a fourth-and-3. And then in Week 8, he had his first career sack on Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler in the third quarter.
At Boise State, where he played in college, Matlock had 11.5 sacks, so it was nice to see some of that pass-rush ability on display.
If the Chargers are going to use him a lot on the offensive side this year, we probably won’t see his defensive snap count go up much, or it may even go down, so as not to put too much wear and tear on him. But without some heavyweights like defensive lineman Poona Ford and edge Joey Bosa in the mix, Matlock can certainly help players like edges Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Khalil Mack, and rookie Kyle Kennard disrupt the quarterback play even more.