Kansas City Chiefs Backfield Could Be Most Dangerous

The Kansas City Chiefs have always been a team known for their excellent run game. Could they have the scariest backfield this season?

Former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew stated at one point that the Kansas City Chiefs may have the most dangerous backfield in the NFL. This is something that many Chiefs fans are looking forward to in the 2016 season.

If the season started today, the KC Chiefs would have four running backs. Pro Bowler Jamaal Charles is coming of his second ACL injury of his career, but signs are showing that he is progressing well.

Also returning after signing contract extensions are Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. After Charles went down against the Bears last season, these two stepped in and helped lead the Chiefs to ten straight victories with their rushing abilities.

More from Kansas City Chiefs

Rounding out the backfield is the man with the most to prove in 2016, and that is Knile Davis. Davis at one time looked like he was going to be the replacement for Charles, but inconsistent play and fumbles found him at the bottom of the depth chart.

Obviously there are a lot of question marks surrounding this backfield. Will Charles return in Pro Bowl form?

History shows yes.

After he tore his ACL in the 2011 season, he returned the next year to have his biggest season rushing for more than 1,500 yards. Age may be a factor, but if I were a betting man I would bet that Charles is going to be a factor in 2016.

Can Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West contribute like they did in 2015?

This is the real question for me.

Spencer Ware will probably be the straight runner that the Chiefs will use on third-down situations. Charcandrick West will probably get a lot of playing time to help ease Charles in to the season.

If they are able to produce at the same level as last season, where the duo combined for 1,037 yards and ten touchdowns, adding Charles will just be the cherry on top.

Lastly, there is Knile Davis, the explosive kick returner who many believed would help take over for Jamall Charles, has disappointed on many occasions.

In 2015 Davis did not play a lot, in fact he only carried the ball 28 times for a measly 72 yards. That is only 2.6 yards per carry. That is not the player who in 2014 was part of the one-two punch of Charles- Davis.

In 2014, Davis had 463 rushing yards with six touchdowns. One issue is that he also had three fumbles in his 134 carries. In 2014, Charles had four fumbles, but the difference is that he ran for 1,033 yards on 206 carries. Obviously, I can accept one more fumble for 500 more yards, as I think anyone could.

More from KC Kingdom

Although these four are the workhorses, they were not who NFL analyst Maurice Jones-Drew highlighted. Quarterback Alex Smith was the X-factor in the Kansas City back field.

Smith’s mobility, and his ability to know when and where to run, has been a huge factor for the Chiefs, especially when the game is on the line.

In 2015, Smith ran for 498 yards on 84 carries for a mind blowing 5.9 yards a carry. With key additions to the offensive line, the run game for Kansas City is looking to have its best season in recent memory, but only time will tell.

Next: Top 15 Leaders in Rushing Yards All-Time

It is nice that the KC Chiefs backfield is getting some attention early in the preseason, but I hope that we will continue to hear positive things about the group throughout the season.

What do you think KC Kingdom? Let me know in the comments below.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs