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PITTSBURGH – About a week ago, Andy Reid suggests he was going to go with a running back-by-committee approach this year. At that moment, optimism about Damien Williams picking up where he left off at the end of last year was dashed.
But that was when Williams was dealing with a hamstring injury. On Saturday, he played and played with the Chiefs in their second preseason game at the Steelers … for five plays. Patrick Mahomes has a third down, he did not do much of anything.
The rushing tandem shot in front of the Chiefs' second series of the night when veteran Carlos Hyde got his chance with the starting lineup, but he had the ball punched out by Terrell Edmunds on his third carry. Hyde did not seem to be too concerned, walking back to his bench and sitting down as if it was not his fault the Chiefs' drive ended. Probably because it's a meaningless preseason game. But it's a reminder of his regular-season smokers over the past three seasons.
And then Hyde played nine plays with the backups. No more committee.
Reid acknowledged after the game that "we could" rotate running back by series, but that was not what he was going for in their 17-7 loss to the Steelers.
"I got Damien on schedule, but only last week," he said. "I kept a lot of it short."
If speaking speak louder than words, the schedule is not enough. Williams is indeed his starter. This was Williams' first preseason game, so he got first preseason game starter's reps. If it was his second preseason game, presumably he'd see more playing time.
And if actions speak louder than words, the Chiefs will not have too much a decision to make about their second back is behind Williams. Hyde moved like a gas guzzler while rookie Darwin Thompson spotted like a Tesla.
Seeking snaps with the second unit in the second quarter, Thompson helped carry the Chiefs to their only scoring drive of the night. Outside runs for 14 and 11 yards shown on the edge of the curve, but it was little things like creating yards after the line of scrimmage for a 2-yard gain, and protecting a quarterback Chad Henne multiple times like a boss, including on his 17-yard touchdown dart to Mecca Hardman, that should not only earn a roster spot but some modest playing time to begin the season.
Thompson did not play in the second half with end-of-roster guys scuffling to make the final roster, another sign the Chiefs coaching staff like what they have in him.
"He's playing hard, aggressive football," Reid said of Thompson. "I do not think he had quite a few keys as last time, but when he had opportunities I thought he was a good job He's patient enough to where he can bounce (outside) His vision's good."
Rumors and roster projections at Hyde not being a lock to make the Chiefs. The team would even save a shade over $ 1 million of cap space if they let Hyde go. It would leave Williams as the starter, Thompson as his understudy and second-year back Darrel Williams as the big back. In that scenario there would be little doubt that Williams would get the touch of fantasy managers envisioned when Reid previously referred to him as a "full-time starter."
We should be comfortable with the projection that Williams will still lead the way for the Chiefs. He even passes the eyeball test, looking thicker than he did last season. It would be successful when it was 114.4 total yards and a touchdown. But any back getting the lion's share of this fantasy wins. That's why he's stable as a third-round pick.
Thompson is also in play as a long-term bench stash or handcuff to Williams. He is not tall, but he is not so typical, and his ability to be able to help him find his time. He deserves attention around pick 100 overall in any draft.
What can we do with these guys can not? Aside from offer valuable experience and hard-nosed play, old-school football, not a whole lot. And it might cost him a chance to play this amazing offense.
To operate at its best, Reid's unit needs a pass-catcher in the backfield to find out more about six-man fronts on the ground. Williams did exactly that last season. If he can stay healthy, he'll get lucky.
And if he can not, Thompson fits in nicely. It's not like Reid has not used it before. Williams was largely unproven last year. Kareem Hunt was unproven before he became a No. 1 fantasy rusher. It can all happen again.
Let's just hope it happens on a running back at a time.
So which Fantasy Football breakouts should you target in your draft? And which rookie running back is a must-have RB2? Visit SportsLine nowhere to get cheat sheets from the model that called Tevin Coleman's breakout season, and find out.
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