Clyde Edwards-Helaire 2023 Outlook
Considered a top-20 running back in fantasy football not long ago, Edwards-Helaire has yielded the floor to Isiah Pacheco in Kansas City. Pacheco took over the Chiefs’ starting running back gig midseason in 2022 and projects to be the better fantasy option than Edwards-Helaire. Edwards-Helaire was activated from injured reserve in time for the Super Bowl, but the Chiefs didn’t put him on the active roster for the game. Does that mean the latter is completely not worth a flier? The 2023 season is likely his last chance to prove himself in Kansas City, as the Chiefs declined to pick up his fifth-year option for 2024. He still has the benefit of playing with the best young quarterback in the league. Patrick Mahomes won’t ignore Edwards-Helaire in the passing game if and when he’s on the field; they’ve been together three years now. But the fantasy ceiling is extremely limited, and a respectable floor is no guarantee, either, given Jerick McKinnon is also still here and the top pass-catcher in this backfield.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire 2022 Outlook
As USA Today notes, over his first two seasons in Kansas City, Edwards-Helaire played in just 26-of-39 possible games (combined regular season and postseason). These absences have largely been due to injuries. Despite the injuries, Edwards-Helaire has managed to deliver solid-but-unspectacular production with 328 career carries for 1,487 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He's also caught 60 passes on 86 targets for 462 yards and three touchdowns. Beyond the injuries, the issue for fantasy managers is obvious: Despite being the starting RB in an explosive offense featuring the best quarterback in football, Patrick Mahomes, and two of the best pass catchers in the NFL in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, CEH has fallen far short of expectations. In fact, as Pro Football Network pointed out, over the past several seasons, we've seen RB1 or RB1-level performance out of the likes of Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams and Spencer Ware in this offense. Edwards-Helaire can't make that claim. In fact, he was the least productive of the Chiefs' three main backs last season, with Darrel Williams flat outperforming CEH and Jerick McKinnon proving to be more effective on a per-game basis. Williams is gone but McKinnon, former Buccaneer Ronald Jones and Derrick Gore are still on the roster. Expecting a sudden turnaround for CEH is a reach.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire 2021 Outlook
When the Chiefs selected Edwards-Helaire with the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 draft, our interest was piqued. That interest only increased after Damien Williams opted out shortly thereafter. Indeed, as Fansided.com reminded readers, the general consensus among observers was that Edwards-Helaire would be an ideal fit in Andy Reid's offense. In the end, it's safe to say we didn't get the full measure of anticipated production. While it was surprising watching a player known for being the best pass-catching back rarely used in that role, it went beyond that. As SI.com noted, in his first six games, Edwards-Helaire averaged 21.3 touches and just over 15 fantasy points per game. He was also on pace to rush for over 1,300 yards (and 1,800 scrimmage yards) in his final seven games. With Le'Veon Bell on the Chiefs' roster, Edwards-Helaire averaged 12.7 touches and 11 fantasy points per game. This season, Bell is gone and Williams has moved on in free agency. Given that, Edwards-Helaire should see an increase in touches and production. If he can provide a missing element in this offense -- as Fansided suggested, the one that left when the team released Kareem Hunt during the 2018 season -- fantasy managers could get a draft-day steal.
