Examining Where Jamaal Charles Ranks Among NFL’s Best RBs

John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 Kansas City Chiefs have some special players that take the field every Sunday. One of the key players of this offensive unit is running back Jamaal Charles.

Charles has been a staple in the back field every since he became a starter. His career totals with the Kansas City Chiefs are staggering. Since 2008 he has a total of 4825 rushing yards yards, 175 receptions for 1282 yards and 28 total touchdowns. (All stats through week 4, 2013 per Rotoworld.com) What makes Jamaal Charles special is his speed. He is quick on the outside and if defenses give just a little room, he has break the game open speed. Time and again he has shown the that he can take it to the house on any given play.

This year has seen Charles adapt to a new offensive scheme brought in by head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Doug Pederson. He gets the ball often allowing him to use his skills, which can result in big offensive gains. Jamaal’s biggest receiving season came in 2010 where he had 45 receptions for 468 yards. So far in 2013 Charles has caught 23 passes for 213 yards and a pair of scores, almost half as much as the Chiefs AFC West winning season in 2010.

How does the Chiefs running back rank among current backs in the NFL this season? According to ESPN, Charles is ranked 11th overall, with his 289 yards and 4.1 yards per play average. He also averages 72.3 yards a game on the ground, and 53 yards through the air. While these numbers are not as big as the rushing leader LeSean McCoy who sits alone on top with 468, his impact on the game cannot be underestimated. He is quick and elusive as Adrian Peterson, and is a duel threat in the run and the pass, same as McCoy. The Chiefs have seen themselves going into the 4th quarter with leads, and utilizing Charles, they have executed game killing drives leading to victories.

The Kansas City Chiefs have something special in their running back. In 2011 when Charles went out with the season ending injury he bounced back the following year gaining over 1500 yards as the AFC’s leading rusher. Andy Reid knows how good his running back is, who averages 5.8 yards for his career, and he has shown that he is not afraid to put the game in his hands. As the season continues look for Charles to repeatedly be given the ball, and with his break away speed and home run ability, this should be a huge season for Jamaal who is on pace to break his own reception and yardage total in 2013.

What do you think Addicts? Any predictions for the season for Jamaal Charles? Sound off below.