When all the alarm bells were ringing in Kansas City after the Chiefs' 0-2 start, one of the biggest discussion points was the anemic rushing attack. The running back room didn't look the part of a Super Bowl contender, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn't have enough help to keep the offense afloat. On Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, however, Chiefs fans saw the makings of a dynamic offense that got everyone involved, moved the ball, and made plays.
One of the most exciting aspects of the new-look offense was seeing rookie running back Brashard Smith more involved in the offense.
After spending the first three weeks of the season screaming at the top of their lungs about wanting to see more of Smith, Chiefs fans finally got their wish on Sunday. The Chiefs' seventh-round pick in the draft got more of a chance in Week 4 and made the most of it.
Brashard Smith Giving Chiefs Fans What They Wanted to See
Coming into the Ravens clash, Smith had three carries for 15 yards and zero receptions in three games. It only took him one half to beat those numbers, before ending the game with four carries, three receptions, and a total of 36 yards from scrimmage. He also added 55 yards from his two kick return attempts, including a 34-yarder.
The increase in Smith's role in the Chiefs' offense immediately got the fanbase buzzing on social media. While the former SMU standout couldn't find pay dirt, he showed that he can break tackles and make plays more than any other rusher on the roster. That may be damning with faint praise, considering how ineffective Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have been to start the season, but it's safe to say that Smith seems to have more juice than his backfield competitors on the depth chart.
There is a chance that Chiefs fans' excitement may be more about the potential of reduced roles for Pacheco and Hunt. Pacheco only had seven carries after having double-digit rushing attempts in each of the past two weeks, and Hunt continued to be unimpactful, averaging 2.7 yards per carry in his 13 rushing attempts on Sunday. If Smith continues on his trajectory, it will only be a matter of time before he takes both Hunt and Pacheco over in the depth chart.
After the game, head coach Andy Reid said that they have been "trying to increase" Smith's play time, per Chiefs insider Charles Goldman. Although Reid didn't provide too much detail about what this means going forward for the RB room, it's safe to assume that Smith will continue to increase his snap count.
His first opportunity to continue to impress will come against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football in Week 5.