KC Chiefs: Why Clyde Edwards-Helaire will win starting running back job

The KC Chiefs selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire with their first-round draft choice to mixed reactions. He will be competing with incumbent starter Damien Williams for the starting spot in the lineup. Here’s why CEH could win the job.

Now, Damien Williams isn’t going to give up the Kansas City Chiefs‘ RB1 job without a fight, nor would anyone expect him to do any less. That being said, Clyde Edwards-Helaire could command more touches as the season goes on and eventually become the starting running back.

Here are some reasons why CEH could nab the starting job as a rookie.

Situational Football

Let’s start out with the situational football side of things. CEH has the ability to get yardage in short-yardage or goal-line situations and that is something the Chiefs have had issues with since cutting Kareem Hunt two seasons ago. The Chiefs did have Spencer Ware for those spots, but he was often injured.

CEH is a bowling ball in terms of body shape and figure and doesn’t go down without a fight, much like Hunt or Ware. Think about all of the times where the Chiefs needed a first down to win the game in the last year and a half, but couldn’t seal the deal.

The Chargers game in 2018 and the Titans game this past season are just two examples of this.  Having a guy like CEH will get Kansas City those first downs. It is something that Damien Williams just isn’t built to do.

Ball Security

A cardinal sin for a running back is fumbling, especially one that is going to be a cornerstone of an offense. If a player is loose with the ball and fumble a lot, they aren’t going to be getting very many carries.

That may or may not have been a reason for LeSean McCoy getting benched. It was also a vital reason that Kareem Hunt was so valuable because he only fumbled on his first-ever carry in the pros. Why bring it up in regards to CEH? See the tweet below.

He only fumbled once last year.

Given that he was a pretty big part of LSU’s offense, getting a lot of touches and all, for him to only lose one fumble is impressive. Running backs have a vital role in Andy Reid‘s offense and he is going to be getting a lot of touches.

Now that isn’t to say Damien Williams turns the ball over, quite the opposite. If Williams gets a case of the butterfingers, he is likely getting benched quickly and that will be when CEH gets to truly shine.

Performance

More from Clyde Edwards-Helaire

• How Isiah Pacheco’s Injury Opens the Door for Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• Expectations for the Chiefs and Bengals in the AFC Championship?
• Kansas City Chiefs: Week 3 grades after loss to LA Chargers
• Kansas City Chiefs: Final preseason game. Key position battles?
• What will Andy Reid add to the 2021 Chiefs Playbook?

This should be the obvious one.  CEH is going win the starting job by just being better than Damien Williams on the field.  Williams had a sub-par year in terms of yardage and if CEH can be the better option, he is going to see the field a lot more and be the starter by at least the halfway mark of the season.

This is what it all comes down to in the end.  Expect Williams to have the best games of his career though. As for how much better CEH would have to be? Thirty more total yards per game total should be enough to make Williams’ seat hot.

There is some big play potential with CEH with what he can do.

Conclusion

The KC Chiefs are going to be in good hands at the running back position. Expect CEH to take over the starting job by the trade deadline, if not before that.

The Chiefs didn’t draft Clyde Edwards-Helaire to ride the pine and he is better than Williams. With OTA’s and training camp up in the air, CEH is at a disadvantage, but he definitely can nab the starting job by mid season, if not sooner.