clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Chiefs Backfield Presents Fantasy Options, Challenges

New, 3 comments

Do you trust the second half of Jamaal Charles' 2010 season? Do you believe Thomas Jones has plenty left in the tank? Does Dexter McCluster present enough firepower out of the backfield? These aren't questions for Scott Pioli. These are issues for the fantasy owner to consider heading into their draft preparation.

Fantasy 'experts' across the country are praising the Kansas City backfield while also lamenting having to make an educated choice in the process. Jamaal Charles' potential and late-season productivity has fantasy owners salivating over the latest running back to break out and become the next great runner. Yet there's also the question of whether he can hold up over an entire season. And, oh, yeah... just how many carries will he receive anyway?

That's because Thomas Jones is also in-house -- the same one that rushed for over 1,400 yards last season with the New York Jets. Jones still has plenty in the tank, even though he's at the ripe old (NFL) age of 31 (and will be 32 by training camp). Here's a player who had a light load early in his career, found a rhythm halfway through his twenties and set a career high for yardage and even longest run (71 yards) last season. Impressive indeed.

Thus the Chiefs have a loaded backfield with two solid options at the running back position. Yet as they say, there's only one football. That doesn't even account for the exciting draft choice of second rounder Dexter McCluster whose electrifying athleticism and speed has been noted by many this off-season. While it's all great news for the real football field, that doesn't mean there won't be frustrations when it comes to the fantasy season.