Chiefs Announce Damien Williams Will Be Starting Running Back for 2019

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially announced that Damien Williams will be the starting running back headed into the 2019 season.

Though this news shouldn't come as much of a surprise, it certainly is a huge vote of confidence to Williams for the team to announce this before training camp has even begun.

Chiefs say Damien Williams is their starting running back https://t.co/726F36wEo7
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 30, 2019

The Chiefs backfield was left in the hands of Williams after Kareem Hunt was released by the team following the surfacing of a video that showed Hunt assaulting a woman. Though Hunt was an excellent back for the team, Williams filled in spectacularly in his absence, and the Chiefs offense did not skip a beat.

In the three games Williams started at the end of the season, he posted 203 yards on the ground in 34 attempts, making for an incredible 5.97 yards per attempt. Williams also caught every pass that was thrown his way, totaling 14 receptions on 14 targets and providing stud QB Pat Mahomes with a deadly weapon out of the backfield.

According to #Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, "Damien Williams is our starter, and we expect him to excel in that role."
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) May 30, 2019

Williams was also a pivotal piece in the Chiefs' playoff run. He ran for 129 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 5 passes for 25 yards in Kansas City's divisional round win over the Colts. Strangely, Williams saw limited carries in the AFC Championship game against New England, but did catch 5 passes for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns in the loss.

Williams is certainly a big breakout candidate for this upcoming season, and with Pat Mahomes as his signal caller, the sky is the limit for Kansas City's offense.