Jamaal Charles has put up big numbers for the Kansas City Chiefs when he’s been in their lineup the last several years. But he’s returning to a different world in 2016 after missing most of last season with a torn ACL, one in which the Chiefs are comfortable with either of two other backs, Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West.
Jamaal Charles
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 1,161 yards, 8 TDs
Over or under: One reason Charles has been so productive from a fantasy perspective is that the Chiefs haven’t had another back they’ve felt comfortable with. Knile Davis was the primary backup in 2013 and 2014, but his fumbling problems and deficiencies in the passing game led the Chiefs to lean heavily on Charles. The Chiefs feel differently about Ware and West, so depending on injuries and the productiveness of all three players, the fantasy load could be more evenly split than it has been when Charles has been in the lineup. I’ll take the under on Charles’ fantasy numbers, but he’ll blow through them if he’s healthy and the same player he was before the injury.
Spencer Ware
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 365 yards, 4 TDs
Over or under: Ware didn’t go much over these numbers last year. He rushed for 403 yards and six touchdowns, and that was with Charles out of the lineup. But it also happened in only 11 games because Ware was on the practice squad before Charles was injured. Still, with Charles returning to the lineup, the smart play here is the under. But if West runs as well as he did last season in averaging 5.6 yards per carry, he’ll reach these numbers with room to spare.
Charcandrick West
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 191 yards, 2 TDs
Over or under: I’ll go over for West. He was the Chiefs’ leading rusher last year with 634 yards, though he had more than twice as many rushing attempts as Ware. That’s exactly the point. The Chiefs like West’s versatility and he’ll get some playing time, perhaps more than even Ware. He played more than Ware last season, and it would be a surprise if his numbers aren’t at least in line with those of Ware.
