Evaluating the KC Chiefs running backs heading into 2022
By Jacob Milham
When you look at the Kansas City Chiefs, it is all about the aerial attack. That is a byproduct of having the league’s best quarterback leading your offense. Add the speedy Tyreek Hill and generational talent Travis Kelce to the mix, the passing game grows more and more prevalent. In 2021, the Chiefs threw the ball 675 times, the second-most in the league. Compare that to 431 rushing attempts that ranked 20th league-wide, and the rushing attack quickly falls into the background.
The running game was not all bad in 2021. The Chiefs fell about league average in rushing yards and touchdowns but was 7th in yards per attempt. While the ground game is not the Chiefs’ go-to, the team does see relative success with it per attempt.
Since 2018, the running game has steadily improved, although that does not translate to wins. In 2021, the Chiefs only rushed for more than 150 yards four times. Kansas City was .500 in those four games. In 2019, Kansas City had one of the league’s worst running games but won the Super Bowl. Head coach Andy Reid has a reputation for a methodical passing game and leaving the running game behind. That reputation was glaring in the 2022 AFC Championship game, where the Chiefs nearly averaged six yards a carry, but sparsely ran the ball in the game’s second half.
That sour note only gets worse as both Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon are now free agents. McKinnon’s postseason performance won over fans, as he led Kansas City’s running game. Williams has been a consistent presence during the Chiefs’ contending years, filling in when needed. That leaves Derrick Gore and the divisive Clyde Edwards-Helaire, both talented players with staunch fans and critics. Both are young players, evident by Gore’s 51 career rushes. Edwards-Helaire is a frequent name on the injury report, hardly a good return on a first-round investment.
As the offseason begins, where does Kansas City’s running back group stand for next season?