Kansas City Chiefs first-round draft pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a favorite of many to become a star during his rookie campaign. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar recently named Edwards-Helaire among his 15 best bets to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for the 2020 NFL season. Farrar has Edwards-Helaire with the second-best chances to only No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow, with whom Edwards-Helaire is very familiar. Here is a look at what was said about Edwards-Helaire’s chances of winning the award:
“The Chiefs managed to win their first Super Bowl in 50 years with the NFL’s most explosive offense, and that was without the home run threat at running back they’d had in Kareem Hunt before Hunt’s off-field issues prompted his release. Edwards-Helaire, who was the glue that held LSU’s national championship offense together in 2019, is an ideal cog in Andy Reid’s offense, because he can do everything from working through inside runs to lining up wide as a primary target for Patrick Mahomes. This might be the best bet for OROY in 2020. Of course, there is the matter of Edwards-Helaire’s former quarterback…“
The Chiefs have never had an Offensive Rookie of the Year since the Associated Press began assigning the award in 1967. A total of 36 running backs have been selected to become the Offensive Rookie of the Year during that span, the most recent selection at the position being Giant RB Saquon Barkley in 2018.
Edwards-Helaire has the benefit of joining a team that is fresh off a Super Bowl victory. Kansas City returns 20-of-22 players from their starting lineup and added some unique skillsets to the mix as well. They could perhaps be improved on both sides of the ball from a season ago.
While some are concerned that Damien Williams will still get the majority of touches at the running back position in Kansas City, Andy Reid has a way about getting the players with the best skillsets on the field. Edwards-Helaire’s ability to be a mismatch in the passing game is too good for him to be warming the bench. He also is a big-time threat in the RPO game, which makes him a valuable asset for an offense that uses them more than any other team in the NFL.
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