Projecting Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire For Dynasty Rookie Drafts

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Dynasty Rookie Analysis

• Position: RB | School: LSU
• Height: 5’7” | Weight: 207 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 4.60 seconds
• 2020 Age: 21 | Class: Junior
• Recruitment Stars: 3-4
• Draft Position: 1.32 (Chiefs)

Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s Fantasy Fit with Chiefs

Two tweets are all that is necessary.

I wouldn't draft Edwards-Helaire as a top-12 back in 2020, but I wouldn't be surprised if he were one by the end of the season.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Dynasty Analysis

I can probably run faster than Edwards-Helaire. Well, maybe not me. But I bet Jonathan Bales could.

Speed is not the name of his game. Based on his combine performance, CEH has a 36th-percentile 92.5 speed score (per Player Profiler). He's not the kind of back who outruns defenders for long touchdowns.

But he's still a good runner. He has above-average vision and makes sharp cuts. He runs with power and breaks tackles thanks to his bowling bowl-like compact frame. And despite his lack of speed, he is still remarkably explosive, as evidenced by his 39.5- and 123-inch vertical and broad jumps and 89th-percentile 128.7 burst score.

Even with his diminutive size and subpar speed, Edwards-Helaire in 2019 compared favorably as a runner to the other top backs in the class, based on his expected points added per attempt (EPA, per the 2020 Sports Info Solutions Football Rookie Handbook).

• Clyde Edwards-Elaire: 0.20
• J.K. Dobbins: 0.17
• Jonathan Taylor: 0.10
• Zack Moss: 0.09
• A.J. Dillon: 0.07
• D'Andre Swift: 0.05
• Cam Akers: -0.03
• Eno Benjamin: -0.10

On top of that, Edwards-Helaire might be the best pass-catch back in the class. He certainly gives Swift a run for his money.

Although Swift has the tactical edge on CEH in that he can line up all over the formation as a receiver and run a full, nuanced route tree, Edwards-Helaire is a master at turning checkdowns and screens into first downs and big plays.

With his 55-453-1 receiving line, Edwards-Helaire last year had an impressive 0.20 expected points added per target. In the NFL, he figures to be used almost immediately as a Danny Woodhead-esque pass-catching threat.

Basically, CEH is a complete player: "Not only was he the most
valuable running back in college football in PFF’s wins above
average (WAA), but he was the 13th-most valuable player
regardless of position and third-most valuable non-quarterback" (per Pro Football Focus).

Dude can ball.

The extent to which this information is relevant is uncertain, but it's at least notable that Edwards-Helaire hails from a program that has produced numerous fantasy-relevant backs over the past 25 years.

Here are all the LSU running backs to enter the NFL since 1995 as fourth-rounders or better. (Apologies, to Jacob Hester, who was more of a fullback than true running back.)

• Kevin Faulk (1999, 2.46): Two 1,000-yard seasons
• Domanick Williams (2003, 4.101): Three 1,300-yard seasons
• LaBrandon Toefield (2003, 4.132): Nada
• Joseph Addai (2006, 1.30): Two 1,400-yard seasons
• Stevan Ridley (2011, 3.73): One 1,300-yard season
• Jeremy Hill (2014, 2.55): Two 1,000-yard seasons
• Leonard Fournette (2017, 1.04): Two 1,300-yard seasons
• Derrius Guice (2018, 2.59): Waiting

Given his projected draft position, college production, age and top-tier receiving ability, Edwards-Helaire is likely to have multiple 1,000-yard NFL campaigns as an Austin Ekeler-esque multidimensional contributor.

NFL Prospect Comp: Brian Westbrook with more youth and thickness but much less production

More Dynasty Analysis For Freedman’s Top Rookies

1. RB D’Andre Swift
2. RB Jonathan Taylor
3. WR Jerry Jeudy
4. WR CeeDee Lamb
5. WR Justin Jefferson

Matthew Freedman is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyLabs, part of The Action Network.