{"id":92351,"date":"2020-08-01T08:40:14","date_gmt":"2020-08-01T12:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=92351"},"modified":"2020-08-01T08:43:38","modified_gmt":"2020-08-01T12:43:38","slug":"clyde-edwards-helaire-fantasy-football-outlook-damien-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/08\/01\/clyde-edwards-helaire-fantasy-football-outlook-damien-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Clyde Edwards-Helaire Fantasy Football Outlook Without Damien Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2020 NFL season has yet to begin, yet COVID-19 is already making a major impact on the fantasy football landscape. Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> running back Damien Williams<\/a><\/strong> opted out earlier in the week, leaving rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire<\/strong><\/a> as the unquestioned leader of Kansas City\u2019s backfield.<\/p>\n

Because of this news, the Clyde Edwards-Helaire hype train is currently going off the rails. However, can Edwards-Helaire live up to the hype and, if so, where should you take him in your fantasy football draft?<\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Player Profiles<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2020 Fantasy Football: Clyde Edwards-Helaire Outlook Without Damien Williams<\/h2>\n

Andy Reid and the RB1<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Andy Reid is a fantasy football godsend. Reid is arguably the greatest offensive mind in football and has a special gift for turning any old running back into fantasy gold. Since 2004<\/a>, Reid\u2019s lead running back has been a per-game RB1 in 13 of a possible 16 seasons.<\/p>\n

The only times that Reid\u2019s running backs haven\u2019t reached that RB1 threshold is when Reid used a committee approach. Historically speaking, Reid likes to use a three-down back whenever possible. He couldn\u2019t do it in 2009 and 2019 thanks to injuries, but Edwards-Helaire is fully healthy and ready to go. While nobody can guarantee health throughout a 16-game season, there\u2019s no reason to believe that Edwards-Helaire carries any advanced risk of injury.<\/p>\n

Edwards-Helaire is a rookie, and thus doesn\u2019t have any NFL tape on which to judge his talents. This could be an issue for some positions, but it shouldn\u2019t be that big of an issue in Kansas City. Rushing production has more to do with scheme and blocking than it does the actual runner, and Reid\u2019s scheme is second to none.<\/p>\n

This trend even holds true in the passing game. According to a data study performed by Ben Baldwin<\/strong> of The Athletic<\/em>, Andy Reid is uniquely gifted<\/a> at making his running backs productive in the passing game. It doesn\u2019t matter who is doing the receiving, just as long as they\u2019re in Reid\u2019s system.<\/p>\n

As if that wasn\u2019t enough, the Chiefs also have Patrick Mahomes<\/a><\/strong>. Combining Mahomes and Reid creates unmatched scoring opportunities, which will only increase Edwards-Helaire\u2019s overall potential. In 2018, Kareem Hunt<\/a> was the RB8 on a per-game basis through the first 11 weeks of the season. It stands to reason that Edwards-Helaire can match that potential in this offense.<\/p>\n

Possible Downsides<\/h3>\n

The Kansas City Chiefs probably wouldn\u2019t have spent a first-round pick on Clyde Edwards-Helaire if they didn\u2019t think he could be a true three-down back. However, let\u2019s play devil\u2019s advocate for a second and assume that he won\u2019t be an every-snap player.<\/p>\n

At 5\u2019-7\u201d and 207 pounds, Edwards-Helaire is smaller than your typical running back. He might not have the size to handle a 220-carry workload, or the team just might not give him that opportunity. While that would definitely hurt his fantasy football outlook, he can still be an RB1.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine any world where Clyde Edwards-Helaire isn\u2019t the top running back in Kansas City\u2019s passing attack. The running back thrived in that role with LSU, and Patrick Mahomes specifically asked for Edwards-Helaire in the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Targets are far more valuable<\/a> than carries in fantasy football, especially in PPR leagues. In an absolute worst-case scenario, he\u2019ll probably be a 180-carry, 60-target guy with huge touchdown upside and high efficiency. That is still the formula for an RB1 finish, and that\u2019s the worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n

Where to Draft Clyde Edwards-Helaire<\/h3>\n

Average draft boards haven\u2019t had the chance to fully update following the Damien Williams news, so it\u2019s impossible to say where Edwards-Helaire is currently going in drafts. According to FantasyPros ADP tracker, the current top 12 running backs are as follows: Christian McCaffrey<\/a>, Saquon Barkley<\/a>, Ezekiel Elliott<\/a>, Alvin Kamara<\/a>, Dalvin Cook<\/a>, Derrick Henry<\/a>, Joe Mixon<\/a>, Kenyan Drake<\/a>, Miles Sanders<\/a>, Nick Chubb<\/a>, Josh Jacobs<\/a><\/strong>, and Austin Ekeler<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Barring injury or something completely unforeseen, there is no way that Edwards-Helaire finishes above McCaffrey, Barkley, Elliott, Kamara, or Cook. After those five, however, things start to get interesting.<\/p>\n

As discussed in an earlier profile<\/a>, Derrick Henry doesn\u2019t do much in the passing game and is due for a huge amount of regression. Mixon has a new quarterback and is in a questionable offense, and Nick Chubb is going to share work<\/a> with Kareem Hunt. Jacobs has the raw tools to be a great pass-catcher, but offseason moves indicate that the Raiders have no intention<\/a> of using him in that role. Austin Ekeler, meanwhile, has Tyrod Taylor<\/a><\/strong> under center and might have to deal<\/a> with a quarterback change midway through the season.<\/p>\n

Personally, Edwards-Helaire would be my RB6. He\u2019s in a better situation than the aforementioned running backs, although all of them should have solid seasons. If you want to take Drake<\/a> or Sanders<\/a> ahead of Edwards-Helaire, go for it. However, you shouldn\u2019t let him slip past RB8.<\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Player Profiles<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>