Week 1 Sleeper: Why The Chiefs’ Spencer Ware Is A Potential Top 15 RB

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

According to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star (click here for the article):

“Charles has been participating in practice for a few weeks, mainly with the reserves. He has not been hit yet and has just been running through the non-contact portion of practice.

In the meantime, Spencer Ware, who rushed 72 times for 403 yards and six touchdowns last year, appears to be the No. 1 back. He’s consistently earned far more work in that spot than any other back on the roster, including Charcandrick West, and the 5-foot-10, 229-pounder has been good this preseason, rushing 24 times for 85 yards and a team-high three touchdowns.”

Thoughts:
Charles is working his way back from back from a torn ACL and he’s clearly not back to 100% at this point.  Even if he were to play you would think it would be in a limited role early this season, especially given the depth the team has.  That’s going to make him a risky play for the opening week, while Ware is suddenly looking like a potential Top 15 option.

Kansas City is set to take on the San Diego Chargers, the team who allowed the sixth most rushing yards per game a year ago (125.3) and the fourth most rushing TD (17).  While we don’t want to read too much into preseason statistics, they have been torched to the tune of 164.0 rushing yards per game, as well as 7 rushing TD.

They tried to address the situation, to an extent, with the selection of Joey Bosa with the third overall pick in the draft.  However they have yet to be able to reach a contract agreement, and there is no end in sight for the holdout.

Just to add to Ware’s potential appeal, look at the gaudy numbers he posted against them last season:

• November 22 – 11 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD
• December 13 – 8 carries, 52 yards, 0 TD

That’s good for 7.8 yards per carry, which obviously would put him in line for one of the bigger potential marks in Week 1.  Of course he’s going to share the backfield, but if he’s going to get 12-15 touches he’s a must use option in all formats.

Currently sitting with an average ADP of 183.9, he’s a no-brainer late round selection (even if it’s just to get you through the first week of the season).

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com, Frantasy Pros, The Kansas City Star