Dexter

McCluster

Le’Ron McClain and Jackie Battle will be afterthoughts. Although the Chiefs’ offensive line is one of the premier run-blocking units in the league, we don’t have high hopes for anyone to emerge here from a fantasy perspective. McCluster is just 5'8/170 and can’t handle a full workload, but note that he does have wide receiver eligibility in most fantasy formats. Jones has averaged just 3.62 yards per carry over his last 18 games.

McCluster started off as just the third-down back and kick returner, but that quickly changed. The 160-pounder was the Chiefs’ best runner, impressively hitting holes with a north/south style and proving he isn’t afraid of head-on contact. As the Chiefs rallied late, McCluster was the primary option. And with the Chiefs likely to be playing from behind for the rest of the year, he’s a good bet for 12-15 touches weekly. Just realize that there won’t be many touchdowns as McCluster isn’t used near the goal-line.

“We’ll do whatever we’ve got to do to win the game,” Muir said. “Wherever (Jones has) been, he’s loved to carry the ball.” With Dexter McCluster expected to be limited to 10-to-14 touches per game, Jones will shoulder the rest of the load. He has no upside, but is at least worth a flier in deeper leagues. Le’Ron McClain and Jackie Battle could eventually be in line for carries, but for now they’re off the radar in even exceptionally deep formats.

It really hurts that McCluster can’t get any yards after contact, something at which Jackie Battle excels. We’d have to check the stats, but McCluster appeared to play fewer snaps than Battle, and Thomas Jones. The veteran power backs definitely both had more touches. McCluster will be a weak flex option with diminishing value in all leagues after K.C.'s Week 6 bye.

McCluster was used often on draws and delays out of shotgun sets. But almost all the early-down work went to Thomas Jones and Jackie Battle. McCluster has a grand total of 91 yards from scrimmage in his last three games combined.

Thomas Jones is going to lose his role in the offense. “We basically have a plan in terms of not equally distributing the carries,” Muir admitted. “As a staff, we’ve always known (Jackie) has talent. Now that he the opportunity to carry the ball, I think that’s a significant thing.” Battle is averaging 5.4 yards through his first 29 carries, and could be in line for as many as 25 totes against the Raiders on Sunday. Dexter McCluster will be a situational passing-down back moving forward.

McCluster saw increased playing time out of necessity down the stretch of the 2011 season. The Chiefs have since added Peyton Hillis, RB Cyrus Gray, and WR/KR Devon Wylie while welcoming back a healthy Jamaal Charles. It’s fair to wonder if McCluster’s roster spot is secure. He’s a fantasy afterthought regardless.

Pro Football Weekly “hears” that free agent Thomas Jones “won’t return and might retire.” Though Jackie Battle is expected to re-sign, he proved to be more special teamer than reliable runner down the stretch. Expect Pioli to target an inside runner, such as BenJarvus Green-Ellis, to team with Charles and Dexter McCluster in 2012.

McCluster was having a very quiet day until he caught a pretty screen pass in the fourth quarter and wove his way for 49 yards. He ended up three yards short of the score. McCluster has value to the Chiefs as a gadget player and poor man’s Darren Sproles, but he hasn’t topped eight touches in any of his last three starts.

The effort comes after McCluster was limited to just 130 total yards in his past three games. Despite looking eerily similar to Jamaal Charles in space, McCluster made a compelling case this season that he’ll never be more than a decoy or change-of-pace back, surpassing both 60 yards rushing and 100 total yards only twice. As dynamic as any player in the league when he gets around the edge, McCluster simply lacks the power to do so with any consistency. He’ll be little more than a flex option in deeper PPR leagues in 2012.