Oakland Raiders Versus The AFC West: Running Backs
By Kevin Saito
Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) rushes the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs
As long as Jamaal Charles can run, he’s a dangerous, dangerous man. Though his rushing totals have declined in each of the last three seasons, he still topped the 1,000 yard mark in all three – and he still maintained a very healthy yards per carry average of five or more, in each of the last three seasons as well.
Charles is a dangerous weapon out of Kansas City’s backfield. If QB Alex Smith didn’t have a running back as durable and explosive as Charles, he might look even worse than he has over the last few seasons. Though 28 years old and entering his eighth season in the league, Charles is still one of the top backs in the NFL.
Charles’ backup in Kansas City, Knile Davis, doesn’t think there’s any drop off in productivity or explosiveness between he and Charles. He recently said in an interview with ESPN.com that he didn’t feel there was any gap in ability between he and Charles.
Ddavis has had some good moments for the Chiefs, but based on the body of work, there is in fact, a large gap. But Davis is young, and if he learns from Charles, he can eventually succeed him in Kansas City’s backfield, and perhaps make people forget that a gap even existed.
With nearly 2,000 yards on the ground as a team in 2014, the Chiefs led the AFC West, and it seems likely that they’ll be in that position again.