Evaluating the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield ... and what it might look like in 2021
The Chiefs will be a pass-first offense as long as Patrick Mahomes is taking snaps, and his contract keeps him in Kansas City for the next decade. They’ve built the roster around the concept, from paying the tight end and No. 1 receiver to prioritizing linemen who are more adept passing blockers than run blockers.
But none of this means the Chiefs will simply disregard the importance of stability in the backfield, evident by the expenditure of a first-round pick on Clyde Edwards-Helaire last April. The front office sees the value of a productive running back.
And this year, they might just have the chance to see their 2020 plan come into focus — 12 months later.
As The Star continues its positional reviews — a look back and a look ahead — we continue with the running backs. We’ve previously looked at the quarterbacks, offensive line, tight ends, wide receivers, defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.
2020 FINAL ROSTER: Le’Veon Bell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darwin Thompson, Darrel Williams
2020 OPT-OUTS: Damien Williams
2021 FREE AGENTS: Le’Veon Bell
RETIRED: Anthony Sherman (FB)
POSITION REVIEW
The Chiefs ran the ball more than they did in either of Mahomes’ first two seasons as a starter — and they found success with it, too. Maybe more than they were given credit for. They were 11th in the NFL at 4.5 yards per carry and finished 16th with 1,799 rushing yards.
Using a rookie atop the depth chart, no less.
Edwards-Helaire took hold of the starting job after Damien Williams decided opt-out to help care for his mother, and the rookie from Louisiana State finished with 803 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes, an attribute that stood out on his college tape.
The Chiefs picked up Le’Veon Bell mid-season, though he didn’t overturn the depth chart. In nine games, he rushed for 254 yards.
Darrel Williams became an unlikely go-to option in the playoffs, when he led the team with 135 rushing yards. He averaged 4.8 per carry.
After an early-season fumble, second-year pro Darwin Thompson saw little playing time outside of a Week 17 cameo when the Chiefs rested their starters, and he finished the season with 97 rushing yards.
LOOKING AHEAD
When the Chiefs used their first-round draft selection on a running back, they’d envisioned Edwards-Helaire and Damien Williams would share the load.
They might get their wish — one year later.
Williams opted out of the 2020f season but can return on the final year of his contract. The Chiefs missed his reliability on third downs — both as a pass protector and as a receiver. He caught 53 of his 61 targets (80.1%) over the past two seasons, out-pacing Edwards-Helaire (66.7%), Darrel Williams (69.2%) and Bell (76.5%).
Damien Williams led the team in rushing in 2019; Edwards-Helaire did it in 2020.
Might both have a place in 2021?
ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?
For the second straight season, the Chiefs added an experienced and proven veteran as part of their backfield mix. But both seem to be one-year fixes, not permanent solutions.
They let LeSean McCoy walk after 2019, and they’re likely to do the same with Bell this offseason. Although coach Andy Reid consistently praised the mid-season acquisition, the statistics suggest the Chiefs can live without a longer union. Bell carried the ball only twice in three playoff games, not even seeing a snap in the Super Bowl.
There’s also a looming decision at fullback. Anthony Sherman announced his retirement last week, and the Chiefs have no other natural fullback on the roster. They used Sherman fewer than 100 snaps in each of the past three seasons, but they did use him on goal line and short yardage plays. If they look for a replacement, he would need to be a contributor on special teams to make it worthwhile.