Who will be the Kansas City Chiefs back up running backs?

Spencer Ware

If there was one other player currently on the Chiefs roster capable of being a lead running back, it would be Spencer Ware. It wasn’t long ago that most Chiefs fans saw Ware as the heir apparent to the great Jamaal Charles.

As the number two back in 2015 and the featured runner in 2016, Ware racked up 1,324 rushing yards and a respectable 4.6 yards per carry. He also added another 452 yards receiving over those two seasons and 11 total touchdowns. While Ware wasn’t the elite playmaker that Kareem Hunt was last season and has had trouble staying healthy, he has shown the talent to be a solid starting caliber back and would make a great second running back—if he can stay healthy.

While Ware has shown the talent, he hasn’t proven his body can hold up to the wear and tear. He missed all of last year after blowing out his knee in the preseason and even in his “featured back” season in 2016 he was regularly banged up and nursed little injuries.

Still, if injuries (and money) were not an issue, I think it is fair to say that Ware would definitely be one of the three best running backs on the Chiefs roster. If he is fully healthy, he would likely be the best man for the job of being Hunt’s primary backup. Ware is a good short yardage runner and could fill in if Hunt missed time without the Chiefs having to completely change their game plan.

The problem for Ware will be if the Chiefs feel they can trust him to stay healthy. If they’re concerned about, it they can save $1.5 million by cutting him and going with the other options on this list to back up Hunt. I, for one, am pulling for Ware to have a strong camp and preseason in the hopes he can prove himself reliable enough to be another valuable weapon on the offense. However, I don’t think Chiefs fans should just assume that Ware is a sure thing to make the 2018 roster.

Next let’s look at the other returning Chief that is fighting for his job.