Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Chiefs? Here’s his fantasy football value

Clyde Edwards-Helaire joins the Las Vegas Raiders with pick No. 32 of the 2020 NFL Draft. What’s his fantasy football value?

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a bit of a surprise choice as the first RB off the board, but there's plenty of talent evident in his game. Kansas City struggled to find consistency at the position last season and relied on Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy to tote the rock. 

CEH should immediately challenge for early playing time given his durability and solid overall game as a rusher and receiver. Williams did step up in the postseason, but this draft pick shows the franchise's true intention. Look for a committee to start the season with Edwards-Helaire gaining momentum towards more and more touches as the weeks progress.

In redraft and dynasty, don't be afraid to go after him. Andy Reid's RBs always produce, even with limited touches. He's not worth a reach but be happy to have him stashed on your bench!

Here’s why Shawn Childs ranked Edwards-Helaire as his No. 4 running back:

He’s an undersized back (5’7” and 205 lbs.) with NFL RB par speed (4.6 forty yard dash). Edwards-Helaire needs to get stronger, which may limit his initial value in pass protection. His running style offers patience with quickness over the short areas of the field. He’ll make quick cuts to create space while having the wiggle to make defenders miss at the second level of the defense. Edward-Helaire proved to be durable when asked to carry a heavy workload. His value in the passing game should lead to more touches in his rookie season. The trick for an NFL team is gauging his value within their expected offense. More of a complementary player to a good offense than a running back to build a franchise around.

Kansas City Chiefs stats to know

• The Chiefs’ RBs scored only five rushing TDs compared to 14 in 2018. Damien Williams led the team in rushing yards (498).
• Travis Kelce gained over 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons, while the best success came with Patrick Mahomes behind center in 2018 (103/1336/10) and 2019 (97/1229/5).
• Over his first 30 games in the NFL, Mahomes had 33 completions over 40 yards (18 in 2019, which led the league) and 80 touchdowns.
• Kansas City held WRs to a league-low 154 catches and 1,956 receiving yards (1st) with only a 56.6 percent catch rate.
• The Chiefs’ defense allowed 4.9 yards per rush (29th) while ranking 30th in receptions (102) and 32nd in receiving yards (964) to the running back position.

Stick with SI.com throughout the weekend for in-depth coverage of the 2020 NFL Draft, including the impact of prominent rookies joining new teams, team-by-team breakdowns, fantasy football and gambling reactions, draft grades and so much more.

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