Jamaal Charles' Fantasy Trade Value, Season Projections and More

Everyone knew Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles would have a huge impact on the fantasy team that drafted him, it's just that few expected him to leave a giant crater in the points category.

Charles has been hobbled by injuries to start the season, appearing in two games and posting just 46 all-purpose yards on 14 touches.

Head coach Andy Reid said Charles did "everything" in practice on Saturday, per Pete Sweeney of KCChiefs.com:

And Herbie Teope of the Associated Press says the team has listed him as probable ahead of their Monday night clash against the New England Patriots:

Second-year back Knile Davis has performed admirably in Charles' absence, racking up 214 yards and three touchdowns through the first three weeks of the season. His performances have warranted an increased amount of play, but as Grantland's Bill Barnwell pointed out in the Chiefs' Week 3 contest against the Miami Dolphins, he may not be as reliable as Charles:

"

Knile Davis has had fumble issues in the past. Just coughed it up in garbage time on his 29th carry of the night.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 21, 2014"

Charles doesn't have a vice-like grip, but he's fumbled just 17 times in 1,279 career touches on offense, an average of one fumble for every 75.2 touches. Davis gives up the ball once every 28.6 touches on average, although some backs get better at holding onto the football as their careers progress.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

When Charles comes back to full strength, he should still be the main threat in the backfield. This is especially true on passing downs.

Last year, Charles pulled in 70 receptions for 693 yards. Joe McKnight looked ready to chip away in this area of the game with his two touchdown receptions against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3, but the erstwhile scatback suffered an unfortunate Achilles injury in practice and is out for the season, per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com.

Davis has yet to establish himself as a receiving threat, pulling in six of his seven catches in just one game, so the points through the air will all flow through Charles for the foreseeable future.

This should keep his projections for the 2014 season at a level worthy of a starting fantasy running back, although it may be too late to prevent Davis from pocketing a decent amount of touches each week.

Projections	CAR	YDS	TD	REC	REC YDS	REC TD
ESPN Preseason	247	1260	7	64	587	4
Updated	195	1,050	6	42	378	3

If you've truly given up on Charles and are looking to trade him, well, he's a name-brand tailback with a sterling pedigree. However, unless your painstakingly assembled fantasy squad has been decimated by injuries, Charles is an RB1 or RB2 that needs to stay firmly entrenched in the starting lineup.

Tim Umphrey/Associated Press

If you can swing a deal for a stud wide receiver like Julio Jones or Dez Bryant, along with another spot-starter value piece, then a trade is worth considering. Beyond that, there is very little that a rational fantasy football owner could offer to push through a trade. No Kirkland brand or Shopper's Value-level players will suffice in this investment.

Charles' performance against the Patriots won't necessarily be a referendum on the remainder of his season, especially if the Chiefs opt to ease him back into the fold and rely on Davis. The Patriots rank 10th in the league in rushing defense and will be a fine litmus test. Even if he struggles, Charles has put in enough stellar work in previous seasons to warrant some time getting back into the swing of things.

If he shows an immediate return to form, fantasy owners of Davis might want to sell high and get out of the way, as his total touches could plummet with a healthy, effective Charles in the fold.