For the season, Jackie Battle has been a pleasant surprise for both the Kansas City Chiefs and fantasy football owners looking for help in unexpected places. For the Chiefs, he has helped stabilize the running back position after the loss of Jamaal Charles for the year early in game two and against the downward spiral of Thomas Jones' production. For fantasy owners, he's provided 87 carries for 403 yards and 1 touchdown. It's not exactly fantasy points central, but it also beats other waiver wire pick-ups.
It's clear, however, that Numberfire's projections for Battle aren't that impressive against Vince Wilfork and the rest of the Patriots defense coming up on Monday Night Football. They have Battle predicted for five total fantasy points and final stats of 7 carries for 31 yards. That likely means that KC will be behind early so Tyler Palko will have to learn to throw early and often against the Pats.
For those expecting a possible breakout, don't count on it. After a 100 yard effort early in October, Battle has gone four games with rather middling totals.