Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (undisclosed) was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list in late July.
The 23-year-old had a brief stint on the PUP list and was activated a day after initially being placed on it.
The team did not disclose any injury, but fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned, as his trip to the PUP list lasted just one day. Edwards-Helaire has dealt with injuries in the NFL's first two seasons and was limited to 10 games in 2021 after missing time due to a knee injury. The former first-round pick also had gallbladder surgery set him back the last offseason. He is entering training camp healthy and is first on the Chiefs' running back depth chart.
Chiefs Fantasy Football Running Back Options for 2022
Kansas City signed free agent running back Ronald Jones to a one-year, $1.5 million contract this offseason and drafted Isiah Pacheco of Rutgers in the seventh round. Derrick Gore and Jerick McKinnon are also returning after backing up CEH in 2021. With last year's leading rusher Darrel Williams in Arizona, CEH won't split the backfield and is expected to be Kansas City's primary ball carrier in 2022. Edwards-Helaire rushed for 517 yards on 119 attempts and four touchdowns while catching 19 passes for 129 yards and two scores in 10 games in 2021.
Edwards-Helaire reportedly has taken the most reps with the first-team offense on every series in training camp. The order of touches went to Edwards-Helaire, McKinnon, Pacheco, Jones, and Gore. CEH and McKinnon saw reps with the first team, Pacheco with the first and second team, and Gore and Jones with the third offense.
The run period order of touch was Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon, Pacheco, Ronald Jones and then Derrick Gore.
During a late 11-on-11 period, CEH and McKinnon each saw reps with the first team, Pacheco the first and second team, Gore the second team. Jones the third team.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) August 15, 2022
Where Should Fantasy Football Managers Draft Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2022?
Clyde-Edwards Helaire has an FFPC ADP of 76.59 overall and is 31st in the latest RotoBaller running back rankings. He is being selected in the ninth round, with running backs such as Tony Pollard, Antonio Gibson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Miles Sanders being selected right around his ADP. CEH, if he can stay healthy, has the best opportunity among that running backs group to smash his ADP.
Analyzing Kansas City Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 2022 fantasy football ADP and where you should target him in your drafts. https://t.co/PC2rsHAW3U
— SportsBookWire (@SportsBookWire) August 18, 2022
Isiah Pacheco has emerged as a preseason hero and climbing up fantasy managers' draft boards, making Edwards-Helaire a bargain at his current ADP. Despite the emergence of Pacheco, CEH is the undisputed starter and should be bumped in draft boards as the expected primary back for Kansas City's explosive offense.
The @Ringer's @DannyBKelly believes Isaih Pacheco's emergence means "we should be bumping Clyde Edwards-Helaire up."
Check out the rest of the episode with the TMAP crew: https://t.co/bWRh9YfAig pic.twitter.com/bKFOm5IrWr
— 4for4 Fantasy Football (@4for4football) August 16, 2022
Clyde Edwards-Helaire 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook
Edwards-Helaire is projected to rush for 900 yards and six touchdowns while catching 40 passes for 300 yards and a score in 2022. Those projections are easily attainable based on his situation, and his ADP could steadily rise as fantasy drafts ramp up in late August.
Fantasy managers have been burned before by Edwards-Helaire, but he is one of the most undervalued running backs with his current ADP and could be one of the biggest bargains on draft day.