Getty Images Carlos Hyde is inactive for Sunday's game
T
he Kansas City Chiefs added running back Carlos Hyde in the offseason to add depth to their backfield. With roster cuts looming, the Chiefs decided to send the veteran back to Houston in exchange for an offensive lineman.
The Chiefs got back Martinas Rankin in the deal for Hyde. The Texans were reportedly going to cut their former third-round pick, but they decided to add a running back instead. Lamar Miller will miss the entire 2019 season with a torn ACL.
Another Texans’ trade: Houston is trading G Martinas Rankin to Kansas City for RB Carlos Hyde, per league source. Houston gets the RB help it needs.
Rankin was the eighth offensive lineman taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. He will provide depth on the offensive line which is something that the Chiefs needed. The Chiefs decided to get value back for Hyde rather than cutting him before the deadline.
Hyde showed promise during his time in San Francisco. He was the No. 1 option while on the 49ers and proved that he could carry the load. Hyde had two straight seasons of over 900 rushing yards, but did not see much success after. He spent 2018 with two teams. Hyde ran for 382 yards as a member of the Cleveland Browns and 189 for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In Kansas City, Hyde began to see a decrease in playing time. He was the fourth running back used in the final preseason games and did not see reps with the first team.
Chiefs RB Depth Chart
The Chiefs are a team that likes to use their running backs. Despite having the MVP of the league under center, Kansas City uses their run game often. Head coach Andy Reid has always found different and unique ways to get his runners involved.
The Chiefs have said many times that Damien Williams will be the starter. He will be No. 1 on the depth chart to start the season. Williams took over as the starter towards the end of last season and had a breakout game against the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs. Backing up Williams will be Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson.
Williams was signed as an unstaffed free agent in 2018. He has been serving as the backup and succeeded in running the football. Thompson is more of a pass catcher. He can do it all. Thompson has been compared to Tarik Cohen because of his size and ability to act as an explosive receiver out of the backfield.
All three of these running backs will see time for the Chiefs. While Williams will get a bulk of the carries, the other two behind him will get plenty of playing time. Thompson is going to be a strong fantasy option. Especially in PPR formats, Thompson could be considered as a flex option come the middle of the season.
There is no doubt that the Chiefs will have one of the best offenses in the league once again this season. They have weapons all over the field, and that includes the running backs. The decision to trade Hyde was obvious since there was no room for him in the backfield. Rather than cutting him, the Chiefs decided to get something back for Hyde and it was the right decision.