The Clyde Edwards-Helaire fantasy football hype train has been flying down the tracks since Damien Williams opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
However, this locomotive is 100% one to get aboard, especially as Helaire continues to impress and separate as the top dog early in camp. Based on recent reports, we’d now comfortably take Helaire above Alvin Kamara in fantasy drafts, and consider him anywhere after the “Big 3” of McCaffrey, Saquon, and Zeke are gone.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Usage Update
ESPN’s Adam Teicher reported the rookie was working as the Chiefs’ first-team running back during their first padded practice of the season.
It was their first practice in pads and they wasted no getting to the run game. The first practice period in fill team drills was centered on the run with rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire first in line as the featured back.
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) August 14, 2020
Meanwhile, Mahomes – who lobbied for Helaire as their first round pick – has raved about his new weapon’s performance:
What stands out to Patrick Mahomes about rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is his vision. Mahomes said he sees holes so well and in the passing game he finds the ball and spots easily.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 16, 2020
Chiefs’ beat writers followed up with Andy Reid after practice, asking about Edwards-Helaire’s first-team reps. Reid responded: “Is everything perfect? No, not right now. But he’s working like crazy to get it there and he’s got a good attitude about it.”
So while the former Tiger is “working to get there,” we fully expect him to “get there” and succeed, right from the start.
How much early success will Edwards-Helaire have as a rookie? Well…
Not to pat ourselves on the back, but The Wolf was immediately sold on Edwards-Helaire’s fit and 2020 fantasy football upside on draft night. But once Williams opted out, he backed up his word and placed him at RB5 on his 2020 Fantasy Football Big Board, currently three spots ahead of FantasyPros’ ECR. However, the public is still very late on the rookie, as his ADP is sitting at a laughable RB18, 3.08 since Williams’ opt-out announcement.
But make no mistake about it. Edwards-Helaire checks all the boxes of our Fantasy Stock Formula. The three-down talent is there, the opportunity and usage cannot be more apparent now, the overall offense and coaching scheme are matches made in fantasy football heaven, and the upside is off the charts.
Reid called Edwards-Helaire, “better than Brian [Westbrook],” while he and GM Brett Veach discussed the potential of drafting the former LSU stud, who totaled 1,867 total yards and 17 TDs on 270 touches (including 55 rec – most by any SEC running back in 20 seasons) during his team’s historic 2019 season.
Not only can the 5-foot-7, 210 lb pitbull hammer between the tackles and on the edges, but most importantly, he’s a weapon in the passing game, which is what makes his fantasy football upside so high as a rookie.
Among RBs, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the best route runner to come into league since Christian McCaffrey. CMC is a little more versatile, but few backs consistently create separation against LBs like Edwards-Helaire.
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) April 15, 2020
While most of you thought The Wolf was insane in April because he initially ranked Edwards-Helaire at RB11, he was actually too low because the rookie already looks like a three-down lock in Patrick Mahomes’ unstoppable attack. The sky is the limit for Clyde Edwards-Helaire because he can potentially challenge the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, and Ezekiel Elliott for the top spot of the fantasy football throne.
