Jamaal Charles' Fantasy Trade Value, Updated Outlook Heading into Week 8

Jamaal Charles' fantasy stock is sky-high entering Week 8 after early-season injury woes, and it's likely to continue climbing as the Kansas City Chiefs enter the season's second half. 

Charles frustrated his fantasy owners early in the season by missing some time with an ankle injury, but he's been a wrecking ball ever since returning. Charles has 267 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in his three games since his return.

His ascendance was nearly stunted in Week 7, however, as he took a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit and underwent some concussion testing early in the week. But per ESPN's Ed Werder, he passed said tests:

To prove Werder's report right, the Chiefs released their Week 8 injury report, and Charles was not listed. 

With at least 15 touches and 80 rushing yards in each of his three games, the seventh-year back has quickly reasserted himself as a RB1 in fantasy. ESPN leagues are showing Charles the love, as he's starting in 95 percent of them.

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Charles is just 23rd among running backs in ESPN fantasy production, but that has a lot to do with his early injury woes. Trading him based on that value alone would be foolish to say the least, as his best is likely ahead of him after turning it on in recent games.

In other words, treat Charles in the trade market like he's the top-five pick you drafted him as—so throw his season stats out the window when assessing his trade value.

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As for his immediate future, Charles should continue proving why fantasy owners shouldn't even think of trading him in Week 8. His Chiefs face the St. Louis Rams at home, a team that ranks a poor 28th against the run and gave up 171 yards on the ground to Seattle last weekend.

Knile Davis' emergence in Charles' absence made folks wonder if it would be a two-back stable moving forward, but that's not the case. Davis has just 31 rushing yards and 12 carries in the last two games combined.

That means Charles is the first and second option in the Chiefs backfield, and his touches should reflect that once again. The Rams will continue having problems defending the perimeter, and the former University of Texas star will make them pay.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.