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Chris Meaney
Multiple times each week, Brad Evans, in this space, will ramble on about whatever random, likely tequila-influenced fantasy football/betting thoughts are coursing through his often-moronic mind. Today’s second topic: The fantasy madness surrounding a surprising opt-out in Kansas City.
In a stunning revelation, Damien Williams, according to Chiefs GM Brett Veach, has decided to opt out of the 2020 NFL season.
Patrick Chung, Dont'a Hightower, Nate Solder and Devin Funchess, among others, set the tone earlier this week, but the rusher’s chosen absence this season is the first bombshell with far-reaching impacts for fantasy managers.
In short, Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s perceived value rockets to Neptune, and possibly beyond.
This obnoxious personality, a self-proclaimed Williams enthusiast who advocated repeatedly to invest in his services at a reduced Round 6 cost, is reeling from the news.
Consultations with Don Julio are forthcoming.
Back in June, Chiefs beat writer Nate Taylor of The Athletic projected a lopsided early-season distribution favoring Williams 70-30. In a bizarre time when no players had access to team facilities and rookie minicamps were postponed, it was a sensible forecast. Adding no preseason, the learning curve for first-year players steepened greatly.
Veterans, for most franchises, are expected to be starting lineup cornerstones. Even if CEH picked up the offense quickly, at peak, Taylor still projected a 55-45 Williams advantage. That development combined with the vet’s stirring finish over his final 10 games of KC’s Lombardi-hoisting 2019 (98.3 total YPG, 10 TDs, 3.71 YAC/att in eight contests) only solidified my viewpoint. So cocksure was this unlucky nincompoop, I shook virtual hands on a CEH vs. Ke’Shawn Vaughn wager a month ago, the latter side getting +300.
Vaughn is on the COVID list and, now, KC’s wunderkind is firmly planted in the captain’s seat in the league’s most prolific scoring offense.
#FadeTheNoise.
Undoubtedly, the LSU product is set to prowl. He’s worth every penny as a Round 1 pick in 12-team drafts whether standard, .5 PPR or points per Adam Gase brainfart. Currently, he’s RB8 in my pecking order listed just behind Kenyan Drake and Josh Jacobs. Arguments can be easily made to move him higher. His 28.7 ADP (RB15) is about to shave at least 10-15 ticks.
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Andy Reid compared CEH to Brian Westbrook on draft night, an apropos description. At 5-foot-7, 207-pounds and equipped with 4.60 40-yard wheels, he’s more quick than fast. However, plucky, deceptively powerful (RB23 in total YAC among FBS RBs in ‘19) and smothered-in-Crisco slippery (RB13 in total missed tackles in ‘19), he’s a shiny new toy Patrick Mahomes is sure to ceaselessly play with. Blessed with jukes for days and an expanded route tree, he presents an enormous matchup problem for any defense. All he does is make dudes miss. Also, keep in mind, Williams faced a stacked front on less than 10 percent of his touches last fall.
It’s possible the Chiefs kick the tires on bringing back LeSean McCoy or entertain Devonta Freeman, but, whether a veteran is signed or not, CEH, +600 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year according to DraftKings Sportsbook, is seemingly destined for at least 1400 total yards and double-figure TDs. And don’t you dare spout any spicy Darwin Thompson takes.
Bow down, gamer. His Helairness is about to become the next kingly RB in fantasy football.
