Chiefs release Damien Williams, fantasy impact

The Kansas City Chiefs cleared the way for 2020 rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire to be the bell cow in 2021 by releasing veteran Damien Williams Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Williams opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He had big performances for the Chiefs in 2018 and 2019, including more than 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the team’s Super Bowl championship. With Williams gone, the Chiefs are likely to give Edwards-Helaire plenty of work in 2021 after he had 1,100 scrimmage yards as a rookie.

The team also re-signed backup RB and RFA Darrel Williams to a one-year deal Tuesday.

Chiefs release Damien Williams

Fantasy slant: The looming specter of Damien Williams’ return has evaporated. This looks like Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s backfield to lead in 2021. After Week 1 behind a struggling Chiefs’ offensive line, Edwards-Helaire was not living up to his preseason hype. He was far from a bust, though. Before his Week 15 injury, he was the RB21 in fantasy points per game (13.9, PPR). Kansas City’s first-round pick averaged 16.4 touches and 84.2 total yards per game. If the Super Bowl is any indication, Darrel Williams will remain involved, but Edwards-Helaire will handle the lion’s share of the work. Against Tampa Bay, he handled 11 of the team’s 15 running back touches. – Derek Brown