Chiefs coach Todd Haley talked extensively about his running back situation during his press conference on Tuesday (transcript available on the Chiefs official Web site), specifically about Jamaal Charles.

Haley went through the usual rhetoric … this is a competition … both players give us a chance to win … both will be able to contribute. We’ve all heard this before.

What gets to fantasy owners is that we saw what Charles did at the end of last season. We have also witnessed what Charles is doing this year, averaging nearly 8.0 yards per attempt while Thomas Jones is averaging 3.7 yards per attempt.

Haley, however, wants to see more.

“OK, all right, let’s talk when they have 200, or even 25 for that matter,” Haley said. “No. We are in the preseason. We are not scheming. We are trying to get guys ready to play. Jamaal Charles I’ve talked about. My job as the head coach, he’s coming off a pretty significant offseason physically that he had to deal with. We want this guy to be playing when the games count.”

This makes a lot more sense. Haley said that he would be foolish to not play the running back who gives them the best chance to win. Really, winning preseason games, or appeasing us fantasy enthusiasts by making Charles the top running back on the depth chart, does not mean anything right now. Charles has not produced over a full season yet, so why burn him out with unnecessary preseason attempts?

So I am still high on Charles, and you should continue to be, too.

– Adam Rank

Posted in: Fantasy  |