Nate Taylor of The Athletic projects that Kansas City Chiefs rookie Carson Steele will make the initial 53-man roster as a depth running back or primary fullback. The Chiefs seem to have hit the jackpot with Steele, an undrafted free agent whose physicality is nearly unparalleled at the running back position. Kansas City still lists him as a fullback, but he never played there at UCLA. Furthermore, Taylor projects the Chiefs to release all running backs not named Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, meaning Steele would function as the de facto RB3 in Kansas City. Regardless of the exact depth chart dynamic, Chiefs fans and fantasy football managers alike have to be very excited about what they've seen from Steele this preseason. He's an intriguing speculative addition in dynasty formats.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele impressed once again in Thursday's preseason loss to the visiting Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium, rushing for 50 yards and a touchdown on just four carries in the defeat. Steele produced a 31-yard, tackle-breaking run to set up his own scoring plunge in the second quarter on Thursday against Chicago. The 21-year-old undrafted rookie out of UCLA has burst onto the scene with the Chiefs this summer, showcasing plenty of versatility and pass-blocking ability with his 228-pound frame. As KC's backfield hierarchy behind workhorse starter Isiah Pacheco remains murky, Steele has likely done enough during the preseason to make the 53-man roster as a fullback even if the team decides to employ four true RBs.
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Carson Steele had his most reps with the first- and second-team offenses on Tuesday out of all the days of training camp. The Chiefs are giving him a long look after his standout preseason game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. "What I like about him is, right now, he's doing a lot of good things and being in the right spot at the right time, and you can trust him," offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. The 21-year-old saw four carries last Saturday and turned them into 29 yards and a touchdown. It's notable that he saw more work over Deneric Prince and Keaontay Ingram, but it helped that Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been sidelined with an illness. For now, Steele is merely a player to watch in dynasty/keeper formats. He'll have to do plenty more to rise up KC's RB depth chart by the start of the regular season.
Carson Steele, Deneric Prince Could Compete For Touches
Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele and Deneric Prince are behind second-team running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the depth chart this offseason, but either player could enter the fantasy football radar in 2024 if the backfield is on the wrong side of injury luck. Steele, a rookie undrafted free agent, rushed for 847 yards and six touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 163 yards and two scores in his final collegiate season at UCLA. According to Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports, he has impressed the team this summer. "Prince seems to be the running back poised to sneak into the rotation," Goldman wrote. "But watch out for Steele, who impressed during his opportunities at mandatory minicamp." Prince spent last season with the Chiefs but played in just two games and did not record a touch. With Jerick McKinnon not currently on the roster, one of the team's young undrafted backs could push Edwards-Helaire for the RB2 role. Even if CEH holds onto the backup spot, Kansas City's RB3 should be monitored in deep fantasy football leagues.
