This time last year, former LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire landed in the perfect spot, on one of the best offenses in football, in the Kansas City Cheifs.
As a rookie, Edwards-Helaire ran for 135 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL game and showed flashes of brilliance as the Chiefs’ featured running back through Week 6 of his rookie season.
When the Chiefs signed running back Le’Veon Bell, Edwards-Helaire’s role was greatly diminished. He averaged just 10.6 carries and 3.3 targets from Week 7 on compared to 17.8 carries and 5.2 targets in the first six weeks of the season prior to Bell’s arrival.
Fast forward to now as he enters his second season in the league. The Chiefs didn’t take a running back in the 2021 NFL Draft and both Damien Williams and Le’Veon Bell are no longer with the team.
Which 2nd year RB will have the best 2021 season? pic.twitter.com/yFAPyacGJn
— PFF (@PFF) May 30, 2021
From a fantasy football perspective, I expect a big season for CEH. He should be looking at positive regression in the touchdown column and also see more of a feature role in the offense, similar to what we saw at the start of his rookie campaign.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire has the skillset and offensive scheme opportunity to be a top-10 running back in 2021.