OAKLAND, Calif. -- The emergence of Kareem Hunt as one of the NFL's top running backs left backup Spencer Ware at times feeling unwanted.
Ware is suddenly again a crucial player for the 10-2 Kansas City Chiefs, someone who could be in a position to make or break what appears to be their strongest bid for a Super Bowl run in more than two decades.
So he desperately wanted to produce for the Chiefs on his biggest play in Sunday's 40-33 win over the Oakland Raiders, a fourth-down run from the Oakland 1 in the third quarter on which he took a direct snap from center.
"Don't be denied,'' said Ware, who wasn't denied the end zone on the touchdown run that gave the Chiefs a 26-10 lead. "Second effort. It was a big score for my team and I was happy that I was able to deliver for them at a crucial time.''
It's easy to forget now but in 2016 Ware was the Chiefs' leading rusher and helped them to their first AFC West title in six years. He began training camp last year as the starter but suffered a year-ending knee injury in the preseason.
Hunt inherited the job and made the most of his chance. He led the NFL in rushing last season as a rookie.
So Ware was mostly an afterthought, playing sparingly this season, until Friday. That's when video surfaced of a February incident in which Hunt was shown shoving and kicking a woman outside his Cleveland residence.
Hunt reclaimed his old job as the Chiefs' lead back on Sunday and rushed for 47 yards and the touchdown.
"It was good,'' Ware said. "It was exciting for me. It was good to play with my teammates. We got the W. We came here and we handled business.''
The Chiefs may eventually need a bigger contribution from Ware. But getting help from many sources, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs rushed for 174 yards.
They've done better only once this season. Mahomes led the Chiefs in rushing with 52 yards, followed by Ware, backup running back Damien Williams with 38 and wide receiver Tyreek Hill with 37.
"We kind of did it by committee with the quarterback involved with that also,'' coach Andy Reid said. "Some of the coverages they were playing allowed [Mahomes to run], which ends up being important when you talk about the overall run game down the road.
"It was great to get Spencer back in there and working on more of a full-time basis as opposed to being a relief pitcher or a third-down player.''
Hunt gave the Chiefs a big-play threat as both a runner and a receiver. Ware is a tough, physical runner but hasn't produced as many big plays as Hunt.
The running game produced some big plays without him on Sunday. The Chiefs had four running plays that went for at least 17 yards, with one each from Ware, Williams, Mahomes and Hill.
The Chiefs had 15 such plays in their first 11 games, with Hunt supplying 10.
"It was just another game for us, really,'' wide receiver Chris Conley said. "I think Spencer Ware stepped up, he had some big plays. Damian Williams had some big plays today, too. We rely on those guys as well. They were prepared.''
In other running back news, veteran C.J. Anderson, who was waived by the Carolina Panthers last month, is visiting with the Chiefs on Monday, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson, confirming a report by Pro Football Talk.