What You Need to Know:

• Edwards-Helaire finished his 2020 rookie campaign with a 181-803-4 rushing line and 36-297-1 receiving line across 13 regular-season games.
• He ranked 25th among RBs in PPR points per game and 26th in non-PPR.
• CEH scored at a top-24 level in 9 of his 13 outings -- a rate of 69% that ranked 13th highest at the position.
• He missed Week 13 with a non-COVID illness and the final 2 regular-season games -- plus Kansas City’s playoff opener -- with a left hip strain and high-ankle sprain. He returned for the AFC Championship and Super Bowl.
• Edwards-Helaire averaged 17.8 carries and 5.2 targets over his first 6 games. Those marks sunk to 9.9 carries and 3.1 targets over his final 9 games (including playoffs) as he ceded more work to Le’Veon Bell and Darrel Williams.
• Among 47 RBs with 100+ carries last year, Edwards-Helaire ranked 13th in Elusive Rating, 20th in Pro Football Focus rushing grade and 33rd in Football Outsiders DVOA.
• Among 37 RBs with 30+ targets, he ranked 25th in yards per route run and 16th in PFF receiving grade.
• Two areas CEH struggled: Pass protection and near the goal line.
  • He ranked 31st among those 37 RBs in PFF pass-blocking grade.
  • He scored on just 1 of 9 carries inside the opponent’s 5-yard line. That 11.1% conversion rate ranked 47th among 48 RBs with 5+ chances inside the 5.
    • Edwards-Helaire received 9 carries inside the 5 over his first 5 games; just 2 over his final 8.
• CEH remains in a great position heading into 2021 with QB Patrick Mahomes and HC Andy Reid.
  • Reid’s offense has produced a top 16 PPR RB in 16 of 22 seasons, including 10 top-10 finishes.
• The Chiefs parted ways with Le’Veon Bell this offseason but re-signed Darrel Williams and also added Jerick McKinnon.
• Edwards-Helaire remains the clear favorite for lead duties -- but just how big a slice of the backfield pie he’ll receive is unclear.
• The 2020 Chiefs ranked 12th in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades and 14th in Football Outsiders’ adjusted line yards.
• They made a bunch of moves on the offensive line this offseason …
  • Made a trade for OT Orlando Brown, a 24-year-old who’s ranked 40th and 25th at his position in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades the last 2 seasons.
  • Signed G Joe Thuney to a 5-year, $80 million deal. He ranked 18th among 63 qualifiers in PFF’s 2020 run-blocking grades.
  • Signed G Kyle Long to a 1-year deal. He’s a 3-time Pro Bowler but is 32 and has played in just 30 games over the past 4 seasons.
  • Signed former Rams C Austin Blythe and drafted C Creed Humphrey in Round 2. Those 2 figure to battle for the starting job this summer.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

Edwards-Helaire’s rookie season was a mixed bag. He was good-not-great in most efficiency metrics. He really struggled at the goal line. And he lost volume to Le’Veon Bell and Darrel Williams over the 2nd half of the season.

He still finished 25th among RBs in PPR points per game and 26th in non-PPR -- which feels like his absolute floor in 2021. And as the clear favorite for lead duties in 1 of the league’s top offenses, there’s still a RB1 ceiling here.

CEH figures to come cheaper in fantasy drafts this summer than last. His risk/reward profile makes sense in Round 3.