Kansas City Chiefs: Grading each offensive position in 2019

Running Back

For the first 11 games of 2018, Damien Williams, who’d previously played four inconspicuous seasons for the Miami Dolphins during which he started only four total games, had three rushing attempts for one yard.

Then, after the Chiefs’ 54-51 loss against the Rams, the team parted ways with Kareem Hunt. Even in the next two games, Williams saw little action, rushing the ball a total of 13 times to go with six receptions. Yet despite such a small workload, he scored twice on those 19 touches, once on the ground and once in the air during the team’s 27-24 comeback win against the Ravens.

After that, Williams started the season’s final three games as well as the team’s two playoff games. In the first playoff game, he lit up the Colts’ defense for 154 total yards and one score. For the regular season, he rushed for 256 yards with another 160 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. His performance earned him a two-year extension and, it appears, the starting job going forward.

After Williams, things get either more intriguing or murkier, depending on your personal disposition. Gone are Charandrick West (free agent) and Spencer Ware (Colts) while Darrel Williams returns alongside veteran free agent acquisition Carlos Hyde, sixth-round pick Darwin Thompson out of Utah State, and undrafted free agent James Williams out of Washington State.

How many running backs will the Chiefs go with? Will Hyde, who turns 29 in September and is a sworn enemy of my fellow Jekels, make the team? It seems likely that Darrel Williams makes the final 53-man roster, but after that, it appears to be a battle between Thompson, Hyde, and James Williams for a spot or two.

It should be noted that the Chiefs retained Pro Bowl fullback Anthony Sherman, who’s been with the team since 2013. He carried the ball once in 2018, but added eight receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown.

Grade: B+

With Damien Williams leading the way, the Chiefs are in good hands. Sherman adds a veteran presence to a position whose importance goes beyond traditional stats. As far as backups for Williams, there seems to be plenty of solid options, regardless of who makes the final squad.