Chiefs running backs: 2016 stat projections
By Bill Robbins
The Kansas City Chiefs’ rushing attack did not go as planned last year during the regular season. The team lost the very talented Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles in Week 5 against the Bears with a torn ACL.
At the time, Charles only had 71 carries for 364 yards and four rushing touchdowns through just five games. At the time, it seemed like KC’s season was all but lost only five contests into the new campaign.
However, stepping in were backups Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware to help pick up the load for the injured ex-track star at the University of Texas. West used his speed while Ware used his power to help maintain a formidable ground attack for Kansas City for the remainder of the regular season. The pair combined for 1,037 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground as well. But that’s all part of the past now.
With less than three months before the start of the 2016 NFL regular season, it’s time to start projecting out stats for players this year, more specifically for the Chiefs trio of running backs.
Let’s start with West. He is arguably the better of the two backup RBs that the team currently possesses. With Charles likely back in the fold this season, I see West’s carries and overall numbers taking a decent drop from what he had last year. Although I expect him to get more carries than West, it’s still very up in the air how Andy Reid and his offensive coaches will divide up the carries this year among three talented backs.
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