After it was announced Nick Foles would substitute Alex Smith (head) under center, the Kansas City Chiefs have also announced Charcandrick West will take on the bulk of backfield duties in place of Spencer Ware (concussion).
The Chiefs have already had their backs against the wall with Jamaal Charles (knee) on the injured-reserve. It’s much the same situation this year as Charles also missed last season with the same knee injury which has helped the Chiefs keep rolling with otherwise inexperienced running backs including West.
In the 2015 season, West played in 15 games and started in nine. He finished the year with 634 yards and four touchdowns on 160 carries. The third-year running back also added 214 yards receiving functioning like the receiving threat Charles had become in Kansas City.
Through six games this season, West has averaged 4.2 yards per carry and has been used relatively often in the passing game but averages just 3.5 yards per catch compared to 10.7 yards last season. With Ware being out, both West’s workload and efficiency has a chance to spike.
Ware averaged 117 yards from scrimmage through seven games and was a major factor in the throwing game. His 313 yards on 17 receptions ranked second on the team with a 74 percent catch percentage — West has a catch rate of 76.5 percent.
Along with Ware in the backfield, wide receiver Tyreek Hill is bound to get a few more touches this week too much like Ty Montgomery has for the Green Bay Packers. In five of the past six games, Hill has had at least one carry off a reverse. Each week the Chiefs have found a new package for him. Last week he had 105 yards from scrimmage on six touches.
