The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best offenses in the game right now. Signing Kenneth Walker III has been the most impactful offseason move in football, and he's helping Patrick Mahomes like few players before.
That said, Andy Reid's team can't keep banking on explosive plays to stay ahead of the sticks. They need the quick-hitters, the layups, and someone else to step up so they don't wear down their star running back by December.
That's why it's about time the Chiefs finally give the younger guys a chance. They should have used the bye week to get the rookies up to speed, as Cyrus Allen and Emmett Johnson should both benefit from bigger roles in this offense.
Kansas City can help themselves on offense by simply playing the guys they drafted
While there's no denying that Walker should and will continue to see a heavy workload out of the backfield, he's currently on pace for a whopping 370 carries. The Chiefs need to ease some of that burden with their rookie running back.
Johnson has turned 16 carries into 56 yards, an average of 3.5 yards per attempt. That's not nearly as efficient as Walker, but he's a sturdy guy who can break tackles and give the team something in short-yardage situations. He's also hauled in all five of his receptions for 74 yards (14.8 yards per catch). Also, second-year back Brashard Smith can give the offense a different look with his pass-catching playmaking as a converted wide receiver out of college.
As for Cyrus Allen, Coach Reid already hinted at giving him a bigger role — or more like a role — after being a non-factor early on in the season. He was a training camp darling, and they could really use a playmaker in the passing game:
“Yeah, I think he would probably work into the mix there a little bit more. He's a good football player, and even though he's young, he's got good ability,” Reid said (h/t KC Sports Network).
The Chiefs lost Tyquan Thornton for likely the remainder of the regular season. Xavier Worthy had one big game, and so did Rashee Rice, who's dealing with a hamstring injury. There has been no consistency whatsoever from the Chiefs' wide receiver corps, so giving the rookie a chance can't hurt at this point.
Reid has been infamously patient with his offensive rookies as they get a hold of his complex system and its nuances, but it's not like he has much of a choice. Allen and maybe even Jalen Royals should get a chance to prove their worth and give this team something.
The explosive plays and 50-yard runs are great and all, but when paired with consistency is when offenses truly become unstoppable. And if the Chiefs can't or won't find help outside of the building, they might as well roll with the promising guys they already have there.
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