Kansas City Chiefs grade card: The offense

Running Backs

Key Players On Depth Chart:
Jamaal Charles
Charcandrick West
Spencer Ware
Knile Davis
Anthony Sherman

Positional Grade: A+

It takes a LOT for me to give a position group an A+. In fact, not to spoil anything, but you won’t see another A+ anywhere in these grades and I’m talking on both offense and defense. The Chiefs running backs are just that good. First off, the Chiefs have an elite NFL talent in Jamaal Charles. Charles is the best running back in Chiefs history (sorry Priest) and one of the best running backs in all the NFL over the past decade. Yes, he’s had injuries and yes, he’s getting older for a running back, but that would only be a huge concern if the Chiefs didn’t have great depth behind him.

Last season the Chiefs basically showed that their offense works fine with Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. So the Chiefs don’t NEED Jamaal Charles to be effective. It sounds strange to say that out loud, but it really is true. Whatever the Chiefs get from JC this season will be a bonus. If he’s back to his feature back/elite talent ways it will be a huge bonus. If he only carries the ball ten times per game but is still explosive that’s still an improvement over not having him.

Jamaal Charles may be the most talented offensive weapon on this roster, I get it, but that’s how good I thought West and Ware were last year that KC can survive without him. West is basically JC-light and Ware is that physical pounder between the tackles. All three are capable of being a productive NFL starter. Then you add Knile Davis (who will be lucky to make the team) as more depth and one of the best fullbacks in the NFL in Anthony Sherman and there simply isn’t much more you could ask for from a position group.

Next up, the wide receivers.

Next: Grading KC's Wide Receivers