Could the Chiefs have the best running back tandem in 2018?

Spencer Ware is returning to the field. If he’s healthy, will the Chiefs have the best running back tandem in the NFL?

Last year the New Orlean Saints had the best running back duo in the NFL. With veteran Mark Ingram and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara both crossing the 1,500 total yard mark throughout the season. Having this dynamic duo was the main reason why they were able to have such an explosive offense last season. Looking at the Kansas City Chiefs this season, could they possibly have something similar in the works?

Spencer Ware went down while playing against the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason last year. While this injury was unfortunate, it allowed Kareem Hunt to take the starting role, which proved to be one of the best things for the Chiefs offense last season. Hunt exploded out the gate in his first game against the New England Patriots running for 148 yards and one touchdown on top of 98 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Hunt’s performance from Week 1 is ranked as the best debut by a rookie in NFL history. Hunt’s great play continued for most the year; he finished the season as the league rushing leader with 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns, along with 455 yards and three touchdowns receiving. While Hunt is not a running back with that extra gear like Jamaal Charles always had, he is an exceptionally well-rounded running back.

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Now after Hunt’s explosive year, Kansas City is about to get back their former starting running back in Ware. Andy Reid said in his press conference at the beginning of camp this week that everyone other than De’Anthony Thomas and Ashton Lampkin will be full go. Having Ware come back into this offense could put it over the top. In Ware’s last season as a starter he amassed 921 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground to go with 447 receiving yards and another two touchdowns via the air.

Both Ware and Hunt have proven to be effective runners when given a chance to start. Hunt averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season, while Ware averaged 4.3 yards per carry in his one season starting. The big thing about both of these players is they are not one-dimensional running backs. Both players have also proven to be excellent catching passes out of the backfield. Being able to have both of them on the field at once along with the rest of the weapons on this team will add another wrinkle to the offense.

All of this is coming together at the perfect time. With the promotion of the former running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator, there should be an increase in how much emphasis is put on running the ball. Which is something that the Chiefs coaching staff has struggled to stick with in the past and is a significant reason for the mid-season slump the team experienced last season.

Not to mention having a strong running game is excellent for a young quarterback like Patrick Mahomes. If he struggles at all, he has the complementary weapons in the backfield to help take the pressure off of him. With Ingram starting the year on a four-game suspension, Hunt and Ware will get the chance to show that they could be the NFL’s top tandem in 2018.

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