The Kansas City Chiefs had their most dominant outing of the season on Sunday, crushing the Las Vegas Raiders 31-0 in a game that would've easily been even more lopsided if head coach Andy Reid hadn't pulled the starters in the fourth quarter.
Notably, that gave some Kansas City backups a chance to prove their worth, and they certainly didn't disappoint. That was the case with rookie running back Brashard Smith, who might now be on the mix for an extended run after finally proving his worth.
Chiefs Might Turn to Brashard Smith More Often Going Forward
The rookie out of SMU had his best game yet. Smith had his most yards from scrimmage (81) of any game, more than doubling his previous career high (36). He posted career bests in carries (14), rushing yards (39), catches (5), and receiving yards (42).
Given his big-play ability and pass-catching skills as a former wide receiver converted to running back, and how inefficient the Chiefs' running game has been as a whole, Smith is now an intriguing option to get more touches going forward. He's clearly the better option in passing downs, as neither Isiah Pacheco nor Kareem Hunt are known for their hands.
Smith played his most offensive snaps of the season (28), too, after playing a combined 31 in the three previous games. That's something that head coach Andy Reid anticipated late in September, and he's always been quite high on him since they took him in the seventh round of the draft:
“We’ve been trying to increase some of his play time,” Reid said of Smith, per KMBC's Nick Sloan. “He’s got a lot of talent, so we’re working him in different spots."
Also, contrary to earlier reports and what the fans hoped, it seems like the Chiefs won't be in the mix for another running back. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, they're actively trying to add more firepower to their defensive line instead:
"The Chiefs are shopping for defensive linemen — but not running backs," Russini reported.
The Chiefs had been tangled up in trade rumors for stars like Alvin Kamara, De'Von Achane, or even Breece Hall, so that is a somewhat disappointing turn of events. Even so, they might feel like they already have a prime reinforcement in the building, and they're just taking things slowly and steady instead of throwing Smith to the wolves.
Smith may not have the upside of a superstar, and he's clearly still a work in progress and could develop into a key offensive piece. The Chiefs' offense is firing at all cylinders lately, and building off the rookie RB's latest performance could further raise the attack's ceiling.