There have been a couple of skill position players on offense for the Kansas City Chiefs that have really stood out through the first five games of the season.

The most obvious breakout player for the Chiefs on offense has to be second-year tight end Travis Kelce.

He's currently leading the Chiefs in targets (27), receptions (20), receptions of 20-plus yards (6), first-down receptions (17), yards (274) and touchdowns (3).

Just to be clear, 85 percent of Kelce's receptions have resulted in a first down and 30 percent have gone for at least 20 yards.

That's why he's a blossoming star in this league.

Kelce brings a fire and passion to the Chiefs offense that's infectious on those around him.

"I think guys feed off it," quarterback Alex Smith said of Kelce's fire. "He brings a lot of emotion and energy to the huddle. It's good. You've got to have guys like that."

Kelce is leading the NFL in yards after catch by a tight end with 178, and he's ranked No. 6 overall when you add receivers to that mix.

"He's done a nice job and his expectation level is high," Pederson said of Kelce. "Our expectation level for him is high. The ceiling is high athletically and as a football player. We just continue to monitor his progress and give him a handful of things each and every week and just allow him to go play." 

Because of Kelce's athleticism, Pederson said there are different ways you can be creative and utilize his skillsets when game planning, but you have to be careful to not get away from what you know.

"Well, there is a fine line with creativity because it becomes anew and it becomes something your offense is not," Pederson said. "We've logged a lot of hours through training camp and through the first five games on plays that guys are familiar with and we want to continue to utilize those concepts.

"We'll just put different guys in those positions to run the same play and he's a big part of that so the more we can move him around with schemes and concepts that the guys know, the more efficient we can become as an offense."

Another player who has really stepped up through the first five games of the season is another second-year player in running back Knile Davis.

With Jamaal Charles missing time due to an ankle injury, Davis stepped up and showed he can be the lead back if that's what is needed from him.

Davis is 13th in the NFL with 327 yards rushing on 73 carries, which averages out to 4.5 yards per carry. He's also tied for fifth in the NFL with three rushes of at least 20 yards.

Chiefs running backs coach Eric Bieniemy has seen a lot of development from Davis between his rookie season and now.

"A tremendous growth and maturity," Bieniemy said of Davis now compared to his rookie season. "His mental and physical preparation has improved tremendously. He's not taking anything for granted. He's working on the little things and he's studying more.

"He has a better understanding of what we want out of him and what we're trying to get him to accomplish. He's a great kid and he takes a tremendous amount of pride in everything that he does."

When talking specifically about what Davis has done to improve, Bieniemy talked about vision and decision-making.

"Making decisive decisions," Bieniemy said. "One thing about Knile (Davis) and I always express this to him—he's a 225 to 235-pound kid that can run 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. When you put your foot down, be decisive. Get up the field. Defensive backs don't want to see that coming at them."

Obviously Jamaal Charles is still the No. 1 option, but Davis has developed the Chiefs offense into having a legitimate 1-2 punch in the running game.

Charles sits just 53 rushing yards away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in Chiefs franchise history, which would have him surpass former great Priest Holmes.

Bieniemy explained how the record would obviously mean something to Charles, but that's not at all what he's about.

"He's driven for all the right reasons," Bieniemy said. "Success means a lot, but success as an organization and as a team goes beyond anything. [Jamaal] is so self-conscious about helping the guys in our room know what to do that he's helping them prepare to make sure that we go out and do the things that we need to do to help us to win. That's his motivating factor.

"[Jamaal] wants everybody to be great so everybody can set the stage so we can have the success that is needed to help us to accomplish that goal." 

Bieniemy explained the mental aspect of accomplishing a goal like Charles is about to reach.    

"When you're a player, you never really gain a full appreciation for anything while you're playing," Bieniemy said. "Now, as you grow older and you get more mature, more than anything you get a joy out of your kids learning what you did. And I think more so than anything, he'll appreciate it more later on in life.

"His girls will appreciate it, and I'm sure his family, they obviously appreciate it right now. But Jamaal has bigger goals set. Obviously he wants to win the Super Bowl; he wants to accomplish other goals in life."