Clyde Edwards-Helaire projects as Kansas City Chiefs' most improved player

Clyde Edwards-Helaire projects to be the Kansas City Chiefs’ most improved player for the 2021 season, according to NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund. 

Using analytics, Frelund has identified one player from each NFL team who projects to improve beyond their past efforts. Frelund’s forward-looking data model takes into account players’ performance trajectories. It also accounts for the scheme they’ll be playing in this season, as well.

“Last season, CEH faced a light box (i.e., fewer than seven defenders) on 58.6 percent of attempts,” Frelund wrote. “I note this because it highlights how much defenses respect the pass when facing the Chiefs. Combine that with a revamped O-line, and the situation becomes better for Edwards-Helaire in his sophomore campaign. In the first 20 offensive plays (a proxy for the scripted part of the offense), no team uses more of the field horizontally or vertically, as measured by computer vision. This means more space for defenses to cover — and for CEH to exploit. Given Andy Reid’s play-calling history, it’s very likely the running back’s impact will be much greater in his second pro season.”

Last season, Edwards-Helaire burst into the league with a 138 yard rushing performance against the Houston Texans. With all eyes on the Chiefs offense during the Thursday Night Football game reserved for the defending Super Bowl champions, Edwards-Helaire stole the show.

While the highlight of the former LSU Tiger’s season may have come Week 1, the low point came Week 15. Edwards-Helaire suffered a hip injury that kept him out the remainder of the regular season before appearing sparingly in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl.

Edward-Helaire in for a big 2021

The Kansas City Chiefs offense ended their season with a whimper. In a Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the unit mustered just nine points in a demoralizing loss.

Fast forward, they may have had the best off-season of any team in the league. Specifically, their revamped offensive line should be music to the ears of Edwards-Helaire and starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

First, the Chiefs signed sought-after guard Joe Thuney to a monster contract. Next, they traded their first round pick for star tackle Orlando Brown. Afterwards, they signed Kyle Long after a short-lived retirement, while also gaining Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff back from opting out of 2020.

Finally, the Chiefs shored up their center position by signing Austin Blythe away from the Los Angeles Rams. In addition, they drafted Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma in the second round, completing their offensive line rebuild.

It’s because of that complete makeover that Frelund expects Edwards-Helaire’s production to be greater in his sophomore season inside Andy Reid’s offense.

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