Will The Chiefs Pick Up The Fifth-Year Option For Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Fantasy Football Outlook

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire hasn’t played an entire season for the Kansas City Chiefs yet. His highest total came in his 2020 rookie year when he played 13 games, tallying 803 yards and four touchdowns.

But since then, his production has significantly dropped. He only had 302 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games for the Chiefs. Worst yet, seventh-round selection Isiah Pacheco overtook him on the depth chart. He wasn’t even on the active roster when the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

That’s the predicament the former first-round draft pick is facing. With one year left in his rookie deal, the 2023 NFL season is a make-or-break campaign for the former LSU standout. However, the Chiefs will likely decline Edwards-Helaire’s fifth-year option on or before the May 2 deadline.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Faces An Important 2023 Season

While his option is worth only $5.64 million next season, every dollar counts in the National Football League. General manager Brett Veach would like that amount for additional salary cap flexibility. That cushion helps them restructure or extend contracts to make everyone’s cap hit fit.

Unfortunately, given his declining production, Edwards-Helaire might not even be worth that money. While his yards per carry have remained relatively the same over the last three seasons, his rushing attempts have dropped from 119 in 2021 to 71 in 2022.

His injury history is also a cause for concern. He has suffered hip, knee, and ankle injuries throughout his professional football career. Sitting out games eventually cost him the starting role in a team with lofty expectations and Super Bowl aspirations.

However, this is not the end of Edwards-Helaire’s stint in Kansas City. He can use the 2023 season to prove he is reliable, durable, and worth more than his $1.985 million base salary. If he does that, the Chiefs might consider giving him an extension. It also bodes well for the team because they suddenly have a potent 1-2 punch from the backfield.

Even if the Chiefs don’t renew him, a strong showing in 2023 will put him under the radar of teams looking for a running back. But if the Chiefs use one of their 2023 NFL Draft selections for a running back, Edwards-Helaire’s days on the Kansas City roster are numbered.

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