Jamaal Charles, almost 30 years old, could be facing his last stand as a surefire fantasy RB1 after suffering a second torn ACL.
This is a shame, considering the Kansas City Chief running back’s abilities and an incomplete resume created by myriad factors: health, a deficient passing game, and unsteady offensive line play.
Since he became the unquestioned backfield alpha in Kansas City in 2009, the 2016 season brings more uncertainty to Charles than any prior point in his career. Reasonable queries not only persist about the star ball-carrier’s health, but how much he’ll be used. The latter was not an issue in previous years.
The Chiefs signed both of Charles’ backups, Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware, to the same extension on the same day earlier this offseason. They are planning for the future, possibly as soon as 2017, since Charles’ contract no longer contains guaranteed money.
For now, Charles remains the unquestioned starter in K.C., health permitting. What happens if he gets hurt again? What would the arrangement be if the Chiefs go “full Schottenheimer” and assemble a committee?
Ware and West teamed to make Knile Davis’ residence in Kansas City a temporary one by seizing command of the backfield last season. Without Charles, the pair functioned well as a speed-power tandem, combining to amass more than 1,200 yards from scrimmage.
West became a must-own commodity as a stealth handcuff after Davis served as Charles’ caddy in 2013 and 2014. Midway through West’s run, however, Ware quickly removed him from potential RB1 status by forcing a dual-threat approach.
That was 2015, however. What about 2016? With Charles back and deployed as he was between ACL tears (the first coming in September of 2011), neither of his backups seem to possess much fantasy value.
Yet, if Andy Reid smartly uses his longtime starter in moderation — in an attempt to salvage the remainder of his prime — Ware looks like the probable beneficiary. The former Seahawk sixth-round pick became an immediate threat around the goal line, rushing for six touchdowns — to West’s four — despite receiving 88 fewer carries in 2015.
Ware, 24, averaged 5.6 yards per carry, whereas West averaged 3.96 per tote. While the latter profiles as a poor man’s Charles with his sub-4.4 40-yard speed, he does not have the gift for finding creases that Charles does… at least not yet. That negates some of West’s athleticism.
An undrafted success story out of Abilene Christian — which moved from Division II to Division I FCS during West’s tenure — the 25-year-old was more of a threat through the air, catching 20 passes to Ware’s five, but neither profiles as the kind of aerial weapon Charles does. If Charles stays healthy, it’s hard to see much of a role for West.
Ware could simply step in as the new Thomas Jones, Charles’ initial goal-line vulture with the Chiefs, and carry FLEX value behind a Chiefs line that should be improved from the past two years.
If Charles goes down, it’s also hard to see West having the same kind of impact he did upon inheriting the starting job last year. Ware now has shown enough between the tackles that he’ll be a part of any Charles-less operation, which wasn’t initially the case after the yards-per-carry icon went down last October.
Now that Ware has displayed his abilities on Sundays during the Chiefs’ 10-game run last season, he’ll be at worst a vulture for the smaller West’s TDs. At best, he’ll be the early-down back compared to West’s scatback designation. The carries breakdown will probably be close to a 50-50 split in the event Charles can’t return to full health, but Ware’s potential for scores pushes him ahead in this “in-case-of-emergency” derby.
Both enjoyed one 100-yard game in 2015, each when the other performer did not receive a carry. Ware’s red zone appeal and intriguing yards-per-tote figure give him the edge going into 2016.
Charles owners seeking the optimal handcuff should prioritize Ware over West for these reasons.
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