Dantrell

Savage

Savage made a bonehead play, staying in bounds with the Chiefs out of time outs and trying to get a field goal at the end of the first half, but did generate 69 yards on nine touches. He’s ahead of Jamaal Charles right now.

The Chiefs went with Dantrell Savage instead and he actually ended up with 69 yards on nine touches. Savage is more reliable than Charles right now even though he is slower. Consider Savage the Chiefs’ third-down back until we hear otherwise.

“There’s going to be somebody left out every week,” explained Haley. Savage doesn’t hold a candle to Charles on talent, so this looks like another ploy by Haley to get a player to realize his full potential.

Dwayne Bowe is a go. Jamaal Charles is once again the No. 2 RB and should see plenty of snaps behind Larry Johnson.

Haley said he’s seen a “big change” in Charles the last few weeks, adding, “You can see him kind of growing into being a player.” While Charles shined, Kolby Smith struggled and Dantrell Savage came up injured. Expect Charles to turn this into a feature back situation as opposed to the three-man committee it had been.

Charles’ nine-touch workload was disappointing, considering his per-play effectiveness and the spark K.C. showed when he was in the game. Instead of featuring Charles, the Chiefs used a three-headed “monster” with Kolby Smith getting five touches and Dantrell Savage three. The pecking order here remains to be seen with Larry Johnson eligible to return in Week 10.

Kansas City is on a bye currently, but Johnson will miss Week 9 against Jacksonville, which will likely give Jamaal Charles a start. Dantrell Savage and Kolby Smith, assuming he’s activated from PUP, are backup options. Charles has suddenly gained the most fantasy value among all of Todd Haley’s running backs and needs to be owned in all formats. His rise to the starting job may also result in a more pass-heavy offense.

Savage muffed a punt to turn the ball over early in the game and also dropped an easy third-down pass which would have resulted in a first down. When Savage came off of the field after the drop, coach Todd Haley said to him, “You don’t want to play today, do you?” Maurice Leggett will handle punt returns.