ESPN Kansas City reporter Adam Teicher, asked about who Jamaal Charles' backup is, says Spencer Ware should be considered the No. 2 back, but that both he and Charcandrick West would play if Charles got hurt. Ware definitely has the edge for standalone value as a possible goal-line back. The question is which is the better handcuff.
West is more similar to Charles and in theory the offense wouldn't have to change as much with him in the lineup. The reality, though, is that after a great first month, West didn't really fill Charles' role in the offense. He can catch, but wasn't used much in that capacity the second half of the season.
West's numbers in 12 games after Charles got hurt are shown below; he was a lot better in the first four or five games. The second table shows Ware's numbers in his seven games. Ware wasn't a factor as a receiver at all -- but neither was West in the second half of the season. Just once did he put up even 10 receiving yards.
Maybe in PPR leagues you place more value on West, but the numbers suggest that counting on him to fill a big role in the passing game in Charles' absence would be a mistake.
| WEST AFTER CHARLES INJURY | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Run | Rec | Total | TD |
| @ MIN | 33 | 6 | 39 | 0 |
| PIT | 110 | 19 | 129 | 1 |
| DET | 97 | 25 | 122 | 1 |
| @ DEN | 69 | 92 | 161 | 2 |
| @ SD | 16 | 48 | 64 | 0 |
| @ OAK | 35 | 9 | 44 | 0 |
| SD | 54 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
| @ BAL | 76 | 9 | 85 | 1 |
| CLE | 62 | -1 | 61 | 0 |
| OAK | 34 | -2 | 32 | 0 |
| @ HOU | 26 | 9 | 35 | 0 |
| @ NE | 61 | 15 | 76 | 1 |
| WARE (AFTER ENTERING ROTATION) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Run | Rec | Total | TD |
| @ SD | 96 | 5 | 101 | 2 |
| BUF | 114 | 1 | 115 | 1 |
| @ OAK | 26 | -1 | 25 | 1 |
| SD | 52 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| CLE | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| OAK | 76 | 0 | 76 | 1 |
| @ HOU | 67 | 0 | 67 | 1 |
--Andy Richardson