With Jamaal Charles still recovering from injury, Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware is primed for a big Week 1 outing and should get the bulk of the carries in the Chiefs season-opening tilt against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
Charles tore his ACL in the Chiefs Week 5 matchup against the Chicago Bears last season. Chiefs running backs Charcandrick West and Knile Davis could see the field as well in the midst of Charles’ absence, but Ware has been named the team’s starter at the position and will likely get the most playing time.
Kansas City Chiefs Running Back Spencer Ware Primed for a Big Week 1
Ware was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of LSU and was released before the beginning of the 2014 season. He signed with the Chiefs in December 2014 and saw game action for the first time in his career in 2015 when he was activated off the practice squad in the Chiefs Week 8 matchup against the Detroit Lions, finishing the game with two rushes for 12 yards and one rushing touchdown. Ware played an increasingly significant role in the Chiefs offense as the season progressed. Managing 403 yards on 72 attempts, an impressive 5.6 yards per carry average, Ware split playing time with West and filled in nicely for an injured Charles.
While West bested Ware in rushing yards with 634 in 2015, Ware overtook West for the number two running back spot this offseason. Despite a measly 3.5 yards per carry average in 2016 preseason play, Ware’s three rushing touchdowns were the most of any other running back on the team. 24 pounds heavier than West, Ware’s frame also allows him to be utilized in goal line situations, and he should get plenty of chances to score if the Chiefs find themselves inside the five-yard line in Sunday’s game.
Ware is a strong, downhill runner, and against a Chargers defense that ranked 27th against the run last year, he could very well have the best game of his career. The Chiefs like to run the ball, as they finished sixth in total rushing yards last season, and there’s reason to believe Ware will tote the pigskin 15+ times. Assuming the Chiefs will be on top for the majority of the game, Ware could also play an integral role in running out the clock and ending what should be a very lop-sided contest as quickly as possible.
The Chiefs appear to have faith in Ware, as he signed a two-year contract extension worth $3.6 million in March, which should give him an incentive to take his game to the next level this season. Even when Charles is finally healthy, it is unlikely he will have the same workload as in years past since he will be coming off a major injury. The fact that Charles turns 30 in December, an age notorious for significant drops in production from NFL running backs, also poses a concern. The best way to keep Charles from getting injured again is to play Ware often, and that’s exactly what Chiefs fans should expect on Sunday.
