Kansas City Chiefs News: Will Chancandrick West Or CJ Anderson Make Up For Losing Kareem Hunt?

The Kansas City Chiefs (10-2) reunited with a familiar face on Monday, as the team looks to shore up its backfield in the wake of Kareem Hunt’s shocking release over the weekend. It was reported over the weekend that Kansas City would work out free agent running backs Charcandrick West and C.J. Anderson on Monday, and West got the job, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

West spent four seasons in Kansas City, from 2014 to 2017. In 2015, he had 634 rushing yards on 4.0 yards per carry, helping the Chiefs recover from losing Jamaal Charles and win 10 straight games to close out the regular season. His carries dropped to just 88 and 18 over the next two years as Ware and Hunt carried the load.

By signing West, the Chiefs would essentially go back to the backfield that put them in the playoffs in 2015 and 2016. Ware and West split reps in those two seasons, combining for a total of 1,037 rushing yards in 2015 and 1,214 yards in 2016.

Even without West sharing time with Ware on Sunday, the Chiefs found ways to accumulate 174 yards on the ground in Oakland.

C.J. Anderson is one year removed from a 1,000 yard rushing season with the Denver Broncos, but had only 104 yards in nine games with the Carolina Panthers this season before being released. The Chiefs likely favored West because of his familiarity with Andy Reid’s offense, as the team tries to win the AFC West and contend for a Super Bowl.