Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive player stat predictions for 2019 season
By Kole Berrey
Group 1: Running Backs
MISC.
This is where things get really, REALLY tricky.
The Kansas City Chiefs last year had 1,855 total rushing yards in 2018 with 387 attempts. In 2017 that number was 1,903 yards and 407 attempts. Averaging those out gets us too 1,879 rushing yards and 397 attempts.
I already have the team at 1,584 rushing yards between Thompson and Williams, leaving only 295 rushing yards to be shared by Mahomes and wide receivers on sweeps, not to mention other potential running backs. Mahomes had 272 yards by himself last year on the ground, after all.
I do think the Chiefs run the ball a little more this year. A better projected defense will allow them to control the clock, and that means clock management. I’ll push the teams rushing total to 1,937, which would’ve only ranked them 12th last year.
After accounting for Mahomes’ rushing yards, I’ll give out 122 yards to other players, with six misc. rushing touchdowns (at least one of these will go to Khalen Saunders on the goal line. Hungry Pig 2.0 anyone?)
Total Yards from running backs/rushing plays: 2,837.
Total Touchdowns from running backs/rushing plays: 34