Tag: RB

4 things to know about new Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington

Get to know the newest running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently agreed to terms with running back DeAndre Washington on a one-year deal. That deal has since been made official by Kansas City. Washington joins a crowded backfield, but his familiarity with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and OC Eric Bieniemy could give him an advantage in making the team.

Washington spoke to the Kansas City media for the first time in a conference call on Wednesday. Here are four things the Chiefs Kingdom should know about their newest player:

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

Washington and Mahomes are close

You’ve certainly heard by now that Washington and Mahomes played together at Texas Tech from 2014-15. When Mahomes came in as a freshman, Washington was already a junior for the Red Raiders.  At first, Washington didn’t really know what to expect out of Mahomes. But he quickly realized how special Pat was, that he had the “it” factor.

“[It was] kind of a similar excitement [to what it is now],” Washington told reporters of playing with Mahomes. “It was kind of weird because when Pat came in we had Baker Mayfield and another quarterback named Davis Webb at the time. So, it was pretty intense watching all three of those guys at practice. You know, one went on to win the Heisman and three ended up getting drafted, so it was a good feelings being able to play with all of those guys. It was exciting. Pat does some things that you can’t coach. Being able to play with and experience that during college was definitely a fun experience.”

Even in the NFL, Washington remained friendly with Mahomes. He claims to have been one of his biggest supporters when Mahomes decided to come out for the NFL Draft because of the things he saw at Texas Tech.

When it came to making a decision during this free agency period, Washington spoke to Mahomes in confidence, trying to find out as much as he could about Kansas City and the team. Without those conversations, it’s possible that Washington would have ended up on another team.

“When I was getting down to it, I called him and just kind of got some insight, a perspective on what he enjoyed the most from some things outside of football that we talked about,” Washington said. “Once I told him I was interested, he was definitely on board and trying to get me in… We had a few conversations prior to the decision and after talking with him, I felt a lot more comfortable about making that decision.”

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Get To Know Alohi Gilman

2020 NFL Draft prospect and former Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Alohi Gilman shares some of his favorite things including music, TV, sports other than football and more.

2020 NFL Draft prospect and former Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Alohi Gilman shares some of his favorite things including music, TV, sports other than football and more.

Get To Know Alohi Gilman

2020 NFL Draft prospect and former Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Alohi Gilman shares some of his favorite things including music, TV, sports other than football and more.

2020 NFL Draft prospect and former Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Alohi Gilman shares some of his favorite things including music, TV, sports other than football and more.

Report: Chiefs had pre-draft video chat with Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins

The Kansas City Chiefs will continue to converse with prospects via video chat ahead of the 2020 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have taken a lot of pre-draft interest in the running back position.

They had four formal meetings with a variety of different prospects at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Now, we’ve learned about another top prospect at the position that they’re showing interest in.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chiefs have recently had video chats with Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins. Like all NFL teams, Kansas City is currently using FaceTime and other video applications to conduct pre-draft interviews with players. This is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and serves as a replacement option for pre-draft workouts and top-30 visits.

Dobbins wasn’t among the players that Chiefs Wire was able to confirm to have met with Kansas City at the combine. The Chiefs did have scouts at the Ohio State vs. Michigan State game in early October. Dobbins recorded 24 carries for 172 yards and a score during that game for the Buckeyes.

Dobbins fits the mold of what the Chiefs are looking for at the running back position. He has some of the best vision of any running back in this draft class. He’s utilized on a variety of screens, wheel routes and flat routes in the passing game. He only has five career fumbles in nearly 800 touches at Ohio State. He’s also pro-ready in pass protection, taking over 100 snaps blocking for his quarterback in 2019.

If the Chiefs want to draft Dobbins, they’d likely have to do so at pick No. 32 or find a partner for a trade down. He’s considered to be one of the top players at the position in this draft class and is unlikely to last until their second-round pick at No. 63.

[vertical-gallery id=62233]

2020 NFL Draft: Which RB will be drafted first?

A look at the RBs who could be drafted and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft remains set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams to move on and play professional football. Several running backs are expected to be drafted. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first running back to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds: First RB to be selected

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Twelve running backs are expected to be drafted and have odds to be the first selected. Two are the clear favorites. Here are the odds.

  • D’Andre Swift, Georgia -118
  • Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin -106
  • J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State +700
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU +2000
  • Cam Akers, Florida State +2500
  • A.J. Dillon, Boston College +6600
  • Zack Moss, Utah +8000
  • Anthony McFarland, Maryland +10000
  • Eno Benjamin, Arizona State +15000
  • Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt +20000
  • Lamical Perine, Florida +20000
  • Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State +20000

Who will be the first RB drafted? Best bets

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

Because of how running backs are valued today, even a talented running back class like this year’s group is getting pushed down. It is possible not a single back will go in the first round; however, with players like Swift and Taylor, at least one seemingly has to go early.

Initial projections had Swift going first and this is noted in the odds; however, Taylor produced more in college, rushing for more than 2,000 yards each of the last two seasons. Taylor’s performance at the combine probably put him over the top as the first pick.

Which team will select the first RB?

Who could possibly select the first running back?

The Miami Dolphins, who have three first-round picks, should be the favorite. They are expected to draft a quarterback, likely with the fifth overall pick, and will want to give him a running game to support him. They added veteran Jordan Howard in free agency, but multiple backs is the way to go in today’s NFL.

Another candidate is the Baltimore Ravens at No. 28, who depend on the running game to make the offense run.

My best bet would be to take Taylor, who is physical and fast at -106.

If there is a longshot to consider, ignore all but Dobbins at +700, who has all the abilities a team wants from a running back — running, catching and blocking.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1941]

Report: Chiefs to pick up club option for RB Damien Williams

Damien Williams will return to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2020 NFL season according to a new report.

The Kansas City Chiefs have some housekeeping to do ahead of the NFL’s free agency period.

Some of that housekeeping includes decisions on contract options for three players. The Chiefs have already decided they won’t pick up the option for offensive lineman Cam Erving. Now, the team has come to a decision on a key player.

According to a new report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kansas City plans to pick up the club option for RB Damien Williams. The option will cost them $2.3 million, which is a deal considering the role Williams has played during the past two postseasons with the Chiefs. He’s recorded 355 rushing yards, 185 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns in just five postseason games appearances with Kansas City. Most importantly, Williams had the game-sealing touchdown in Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers.

Williams first joined the Chiefs in free agency in 2018. He’s appeared in 27 regular-season games since then, starting in nine of them. He was named the starting RB for Kansas City ahead of the 2019 NFL season by offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. However, Williams took a backseat to LeSean McCoy early in the season after suffering an injury.

By the end of the 2019 season, the usage of Williams suggests he earned the starting role again. He’ll play a significant part in the rushing attack in the 2020 season if healthy, but the lack of a long-term deal suggests the Chiefs may opt for a different route after the 2020 season.

The Chiefs have one more decision to make regarding option years. That decision is on LB Damien Wilson, who is due to make $2.7 million in 2020.

Utah RB Zack Moss details formal meeting with Chiefs

Moss came away impressed with the Chiefs’ business first attitude and felt he left a good impression on the team.

Utah’s Zack Moss is widely considered among the top running backs in the 2020 NFL draft class, and he’s out to prove it at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s been compared to great players like former Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch and even models his game after him. This past season Moss became one of the most prolific rushers in Utah history. He now holds career records for carries (712) rushing yards (4,167), 100-yard rushing games (18), rushing touchdowns (38) and total touchdowns (41).

Moss met with the Kansas City Chiefs for a formal meeting on Tuesday night, where he positioned himself to become the next explosive weapon added to one of the NFL’s most fearsome offenses.

“It was really good,” Moss said of his interview. “I was able to meet head coach Andy Reid, all of their offensive coaches, the RB coach and offensive coordinator. We talked some football and I just picked their brains and they picked mine.” 

There’s no hangover from Super Bowl LIV for the Chiefs’ front office and coaching staff. Moss learned a few things about the franchise and their approach to the combine during his interview with the team.

“They’re business first,” Moss told Chiefs Wire. “They’re down to the nitty-gritty, from every single detail. When you come in there you have to be prepared to go — you feel like it’s a hostile environment.” 

Moss felt that he left a positive impression on the Chiefs’ coaching staff following the formal interview. It sounded like the type of impression that could make him an option for Kansas City come April’s draft.

“I feel like they learned that I’m going to be a knowledgeable guy,” Moss said. “That I’m more than just a run-between-the-tackles [type of player] and that I can adapt to any offense.”

Moss describes himself as a versatile player, one that teams will never have to take off the field. He feels comfortable catching, blocking, and in short-yardage situations. He’s faced adversity in college football, suffering a knee injury in 2018, but he bounced back from it. It’s given him an added layer of confidence throughout this process.

One thing that added confidence in his interview with the Chiefs was familiarity with a member of their staff. Chiefs defensive quality control coach Alex Whittingham played with Moss at Utah. Moss says they’ve kept in touch since Wittingham graduated and joined the Chiefs’ coaching staff.

“I’ve talked to Alex, two or three times in the past couple of months,” Moss said. “I shot him a text message saying ‘Congratulations on the Super Bowl’ and things like that. I was able to see him a little bit earlier [before the Super Bowl] last year.”

Perhaps in a few months, Moss could find himself in the same building as Whittingham, working toward defending a Super Bowl title with the Chiefs.

2020 Super Bowl: How many TDs will be scored in the game?

Analyzing the 2020 Super Bowl prop bets, and looking at the betting odds and lines around the total touchdowns scored.

[jwplayer hDNWPlIL]

The 2020 Super Bowl is here, as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are putting the final touches on their game plans for Super Bowl LIV. It’s expected to be a competitive and close game with the Chiefs entering as 1.5-point favorites.

It should also be a fairly high-scoring game, pitting two of the top-five offenses in the NFL against each other. At the very least, it should be much higher scoring than Super Bowl LIII between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots, which closed at 13-3 despite having an Over/Under of more than 57 points at most sportsbooks.

The Over/Under for Sunday’s game is set at 54.5 points, which implies an expected score of about 28-26. With Patrick Mahomes on one side and the league’s second-best rushing attack on the other, there should be touchdowns scored in bunches.

2020 Super Bowl Prop Bets: Total TDs Scored

But how many touchdowns will actually be scored? Let’s look at the odds and betting lines.

Over 5.5: -154
Under 5.5: +125

Over 6.5: +110
Under 6.5: -134

Over 7.5: +240
Under 7.5: -304

In the divisional round against the Texans, the Chiefs scored seven touchdowns themselves; Houston scored three. In the AFC Championship Game against Tennessee, they scored five touchdowns and there were eight total scored in the game.

Special NJ/WV betting line for the big game

If you’re in New Jersey or West Virginia, Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Place bet now.

New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

The 49ers offense hasn’t been quite as explosive this postseason, but they’ve still scored plenty of points. In the divisional round against the Vikings, they scored three touchdowns and Minnesota only scored one. The next week, they scored four touchdowns and the Packers found the end zone three times.

In the regular season, the 49ers averaged 3.5 touchdowns per game and their opponents averaged 2.3. The Chiefs scored 3.2 touchdowns per game and their opponents 2.3 per game. So, if together they averaged 6.7 touchdowns per game this season, betting the Over of 6.5 would seem like the best choice.

And looking at the different lines, that feels like the best combination of value and probability. You could play it safer by going over 5.5, but then you lose the value that comes with plus-money.

You figure Mahomes is going to score at least three touchdowns, and Damien Williams could chip in another for the Chiefs. On the 49ers’ side, their defense could score a touchdown itself, having done so five times in the regular season. Their ground game may not be as dynamic as the Chiefs’ passing attack, but Raheem Mostert is a big-play back, as is George Kittle at tight end.

I’d bet Over 6.5 (+110) and feel good about getting plus-money.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

2020 Super Bowl Prop Bets: How many rushing yards will Damien Williams have?

Analyzing the 2020 Super Bowl prop bets, and looking at the betting odds and lines around Kansas City Chiefs RB Damien Williams.

[jwplayer 2XgmjwzG]

Super Bowl LIV features two very evenly matched teams with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs squaring off Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The oddsmakers at BetMGM predict it to be a close battle with the Chiefs entering as 1.5-point favorites.

The 49ers boast a dominant ground game and defense, while the Chiefs have 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and an offense that can light up a scoreboard in a hurry. One player who doesn’t get talked about much for Kansas City is RB Damien Williams.

That’s probably because he only started six games and rushed for 498 yards this season, not playing a significant role until the second half of the year. Entering Super Bowl LIV, he’s the Chiefs’ starter at running back.

Just how productive will he be against the 49ers defense, though? And should you bet on his rushing yards total for the game?

Damien Williams Super Bowl LIV rushing yards: 100.5

(Photo Credit: Jeff Curry – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

On the surface, it seems obvious to take the Under on that total. Williams has rushed for at least 100 yards only three times in his career and twice this season. In the playoffs, he has gained 92 yards on 29 carries.

When you look at the betting line, it’s not such an easy bet. The Over is +600, while the Under is -1000. In other words, a $10 bet on the Over will pay out $60, and a $10 wager on the Under will net you a whopping $1.

Risking $10 to win a buck doesn’t seem like smart business, especially with Williams’ speed. He had a 91-yard run this season, which was the longest in the NFL. he’s a big play waiting to happen, and although the 49ers allowed only two running backs to gain at least 100 yards against them this season, Williams is a firecracker.

Special sports betting line for the big game

Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.

New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

It’ll be difficult for him to get enough opportunities to top the 100-yard mark. He has never received 20 carries in a single game in his career and only twice has he carried it more than 13 times. The Chiefs are clearly going to lean on their MVP quarterback, thus limiting the chances for Williams.

If the Chiefs want to attempt to negate the 49ers’ pass rush, utilizing draws and wide zone runs could help.

It’s not worth betting $10 to win $1. It’s certainly not worth laying down $100 to win $10 on the Under. You’re better off putting a wager on the OVER 100.5 (+600) and hoping Williams can find a crease and create a big play on the ground. He’s not going to get 20 carries, and in the two games in which he topped 100 rushing yards this season, he had a carry of 91 yards and 84 yards.

Also see:

Want action on this game or prop bets? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Running back of the decade: D’Onta Foreman

Three 2010s Texas RBs are all in the top 15 career rushing list for the Horns. Foreman gets the nod as the best running back in the decade.

Even though the Longhorns struggled in the early parts of the decade, one part of the offense was really solid. Texas consistently had good running backs throughout the 2010s. D’Onta Foreman, Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray are all in the top 15 career rushing list for the Longhorns. It was difficult to pick one of them, but Foreman gets the nod as the best running back for Texas in the 2010s.

It was close between him and Malcolm Brown as they have similar numbers. Foreman has more rushing yards, but Brown has more touchdowns and did better in the passing game. What ended up giving Foreman the nod is the monster season he had in 2016.

In 2016, he had the first 2,000-yard season in Longhorn history since Ricky Williams did it in 1998. Foreman finished second in the country in rushing that year, only 107 yards behind San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey. His efforts were good enough to see him win the 2016 Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s best running back.

Years played: 2014, 2015, 2016

Rushing stats: 431 attempts, 2,774 yards, 6.4 yards per carry, 20 TDs

Receiving stats: 13 receptions, 146 yards

Best game: vs Texas Tech, 2016. 33 rushing attempts, 341 rushing yards, 10.4 yards per carry, three touchdowns

Best moment: Game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter vs Notre Dame in 2016

Accomplishments: Doak Walker Award (2016), First Team All American (2016), First Team All Big 12 (2016), Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (2016)

Foreman’s career for Texas may not have been great overall three seasons he played, but 2016 was the best season a Longhorn running back has had since Ricky Williams. He went on to be drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft, 89th overall to the Houston Texans. While he is not currently on an NFL roster due to injury, what Foreman did for Texas in his junior season will live on for years to come.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]