In an NFL career that has been getting worse and worse, Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is coming off his worst season in 2023. How much value does he possess anymore for fantasy managers?
Here is the fantasy outlook for Edwards-Helaire in 2024.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
A career that looked so promising after his rookie season of 2020 has turned into a nightmare for Edwards-Helaire. He started 13 games in his rookie season, but three seasons later, he was reduced to just three starts and a career-low 70 rush attempts … for the season!
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His numbers in 2023 were almost depressing to observe. Along with less than five rush attempts a game (4.7), Edwards-Helaire averaged less than 15 rushing yards a game (14.7) and just over three yards a carry (3.2). All were the lowest averages of his career.
Even his once valuable asset as a pass catcher all but disappeared last season. Edwards-Helaire was targeted a career-low 22 times and finished with 17 receptions — which tied his career low, set in 2022 — with just one touchdown reception.
In all, Edwards-Helaire, who had over 200 touches in his rookie season (212), was reduced to just 87 touches in 2023. Yes, that was a career low.
Despite being in one of the league’s most explosive offenses, Edwards-Helaire just hasn’t been able to get on the field much. He appeared in a career-high 15 games last season and yet was only on the field for over 50% of the offensive snaps once in those 15 games.
Is Edwards-Helaire a Good Fantasy Pick?
Edwards-Helaire is the No. 58 running back in Pro Football Network’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings.
Now firmly entrenched as the backup running back behind Isiah Pacheco, Edwards-Helaire is a big question mark for fantasy managers.
Last season, he finished with just over 70 total fantasy points (70.1), third among Chiefs running backs, and 14 fewer fantasy points than Jerick McKinnon (84.4), despite having 41 more touches than McKinnon.
But McKinnon is an unsigned free agent, while Edwards-Helaire remains in Kansas City after signing a one-year deal in the offseason. If Edwards-Helaire stays in that backup role and isn’t pushed for time by any other running backs, there is probably potential for some more work than last season.
While his value as a pass catcher has taken a hit over the years, there is reason to assume Edwards-Helaire could regain that ability once again. He has a good catch percentage for his career (73%), and over the last three seasons, it’s been even better (78%).
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But with his overall production continuing to take a dramatic nosedive, it’s not unfair for fantasy managers to wonder just what Edwards-Helaire has left in the tank after only four seasons in the league.
Yes, being a backup player in an offense like the Chiefs is a little different than other teams. But there are still other backup running backs worth pursuing than Edwards-Helaire.
At this stage, even a late-round draft pick by fantasy managers would be a questionable decision when it comes to Edwards-Helaire.