Fantasy Football: Expectations For Jamaal Charles When He Returns

Kansas City Chiefs running back, Jamaal Charles, is listed as doubtful for Sunday afternoon’s game against the New York Jets. Charles might not be back until week six after the Chiefs bye week. What should fantasy football owners expect from Charles this season?

When healthy, Jamaal Charles can lead a fantasy football team to a championship. Unfortunately, it’s been awhile since he’s been healthy enough to impact fantasy football formats. Charles tore his right ACL on October 11, 2015.

Before the injury, he started five games for the KC Chiefs. He rushed the ball 71 times for 364 yards and four touchdowns for 5.1 yards per carry average. Charles also added 21 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown for 8.4 yards per reception. He fumbled the ball twice in this time as well.

If he stayed healthy and continued to play at that pace, Charles would have more than tripled the numbers listed above. He would have finished with 1,623 total yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns in 15 games played. In standard league’s, he would have amassed 252 fantasy points by himself. He would have lost 12 points due to fumbles giving him a final total of 240 fantasy football points if he didn’t play in the final week 16 game.

In standard league’s, he would have amassed 252 fantasy points by himself. He would have lost 12 points due to fumbles giving him a final total of 240 fantasy football points if he didn’t play in the final week 16 game.

Those numbers could have actually happened. In fact, Charles exceeded the projected 2015 season numbers during the 2013 season. The 2013 season is Charles’ best season of his career. He ran the ball 259 times for 1,287 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns while adding 70 receptions for 693 yards and seven touchdowns for a whopping 1,980 from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns.

Don’t expect him to get anywhere close to those numbers this season. Charles will be 30-years-old in December. The Kansas City Chiefs are blessed with a stable of capable running backs. Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and Knile Davis can get the job done for Kansas City while Charles is eased back into more snaps each week.

I expect head coach Andy Reid and his staff will keep Charles out of game action until October 16 at the Oakland Raiders. If the Chiefs wait until then, Charles will have had more than one-year of rehab and strengthening of his ACL joint. This should ensure more durability in the knee. The Chiefs need Charles to stay healthy for the remainder of the season and throughout the playoffs.

I expect Charles to be on a limited snap count in the early games. I’d assume no more than ten plays against Oakland to see how he feels. The volume of plays will expand in each consecutive week depending on how his body is holding up to the workload.

More from Fantasy Football

If all goes well, Charles will take over the starting role again sometime this season. Jamaal Charles could find a way to play in 12 games this season. If you’re fortunate, he could play 11 games for your fantasy football team. He could amass close to 1,000 total yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns for your fantasy football squad this season.

Just in case another injury occurs or he’s not the same Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware is a great player to have on your bench. In fact, you can start him right now until Charles eats into his playing time too much.

I believe the Kansas City Chiefs will use Ware as the goal line back after Charles returns. He’s more of a bruising runner than Charles is at this point in his career. The Chiefs want to limit Charles’ snaps to keep him fresh for a possible playoff push.

In two games this season, Ware’s rushed the ball 21 times for 127 yards and one touchdown while adding nine receptions for 177 yards. He’s scored 34.4 fantasy points when adding in his only fumble of the season. Ware’s averaged 17.2 fantasy points each week in standard scoring leagues. That’s getting the job done.

With all of the running back injuries this season already, Charles’ should be on the rise in all league except maybe dynasty leagues. If you’re in a regular redraft league and you don’t have Charles, now is the time to buy him. His value is low to other fantasy owners at this time and you could get him for a “low” price. Don’t forget to add Ware as well. You will need him as a top flight handcuff for Charles.

Next: Top 15 Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target in 2016

What do you think of Jamaal Charles’ fantasy football value for the rest of the season? Do you agree or disagree with me on his value? Let me know in the comments’ section below.

Home/Fantasy Football