There may not be as much excitement as last season but the AFC West is still loaded with talent heading into 2023. Whether it be on offense or defense, there are stars all around the division that the Chargers are going to have to compete with.
While the NFL is a passing league in 2023, having a strong run game is still very important. Teams need to protect leads with the run and can't be so one-dimensional. A team can get far being one-dimensional but the teams that make the Super Bowl every year can do multiple things, including running the football.
As we have for other positions throughout the division, we here at Bolt Beat thought it was as good of a time as ever to rank the running backs in the AFC West. For the purpose of this article, we are considering the entire running back room, not just the RB1.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
- Isaiah Pacheco, Cylde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon, La'Michal Perine
The Kansas City Chiefs rank fourth in the AFC West but the running back room still is not bad. The team proved that during the NFL Playoffs last year when Isaiah Pacheco had a big showing to help the team win the Super Bowl.
That being said, a big reason why the Chiefs had success running the ball is because Patrick Mahomes is under center. Throw in one of the best offensive minds in the sport in Andy Reid and it is obvious to see how running backs in Kansas City can be elevated.
We will see in 2023 if Pacheco can do it again and be a true RB1 over the course of a 17-game season. The Chiefs certainly need him to be. CEH has been wildly disappointing thus far and Jerick McKinnon is a fine change-of-pace back, not a RB1.
This running back room is obviously good enough to win the Super Bowl as it just did five months ago. But compared to the rest of the division, it does fall behind a tad.