The Kansas City Chiefs' top-ranked rushing attack will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. It's Week 7 in the NFL and we still don't have a good handle on how to predict whether the Chiefs will utilize Jamaal Charles or Thomas Jones more. The two split carries but the Chiefs generally identify a weakness on the other team and try to exploit it with one of those two backs.
Charles is the speed back and Jones is the power back. That's the best way to describe them.
So who will get more carries on Sunday? My guess is going to be Thomas Jones (for now).
Last week against the Tennessee Titans and Chris Johnson -- a similar back to Charles -- the Jaguars were able to contain the rushing attack much of the day. They would have held Johnson around 75 yards on 25 carries save the last 35-yard touchdown run. That shows me that they know how to handle a speed back.
That's why I'll roll with Jones to get the most carries on Sunday.
So how often will they run it?
Probably similar to last week. The Chiefs, against Houston's 32nd ranked pass defense, threw the ball 29 times and rushed it 38 times. The Jaguars pass defense, like the Texans, isn't very good. Still, like last week, you can't expect the Chiefs to come out throwing the ball a lot. That's good news for Charles and Jones fantasy football owners.
My prediction on their production:
- Thomas Jones: 20 carries, 90 yards.
- Jamaal Charles: 15 carries, 100 yards.
The Chiefs should be able to run the football against the Jaguars. They're expecting to and, judging by their No. 1 rank in the league at rushing the ball, they're probably going to be able to do it.