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2017 fantasy storylines: Spencer Ware, top-10 running back

KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Spencer Ware #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes through a hole against the New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium during the first quarter of the game on September 25, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

(This week, some of the PFF Fantasy team will be offering up their forecasts for some of the biggest storylines of the 2017 season. It’s Time Machine Week.)

After a disappointing fantasy season, there are a lot of people jumping ship from Spencer Ware. His average draft position to start the offseason sits at the end of the third round in 12-team leagues, sandwiched between Latavius Murray and Thomas Rawls. But here’s a prediction: If the Chiefs do not retain Jamaal Charles, Ware is going to finish inside of the top 10 running backs.

Honestly, Ware has a shot even if Charles is kept around, though you shouldn’t consider that likely. Charles is turning 31 at the end of the 2017 season, he’s had major knee reconstruction on both of his knees, and the combination of Ware/Charcandrick West is more than capable of carrying the load going forward. (To say nothing of C.J. Spiller, signed Friday, but it’s not like there’s anything to count on from him anyway.)

We all know about the two torn ACLs Charles has suffered (2011, 2015), and we also know that they had to go back into his surgically repaired right knee in November of 2016 for a second procedure that forced him to injured reserve. That was said to be a repair of the meniscus, but there was news just released that Dr. James Andrews actually went in and did a meniscus repair on both of Charles’ knees.

Ware was the hottest commodity in late August, with some actually drafting him before Charles as rumors started swirling that Charles wouldn’t be ready at the start of the season. He didn’t disappoint early, either, finishing as the No. 2 running back in both standard and PPR formats in Week 1 against the Chargers, who wound up to be the No. 7-graded run defense.

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