2016 Fantasy Football Preview: Kansas City Chiefs

2015 Fantasy Recap

The Kansas City Chiefs started out with a rough year.  Going 1-5 in the first 6 games and losing star running back Jamaal Charles in week 5, it looked like it would be a short season for the Chiefs.  However, they rallied around Quarterback Alex Smith to go 11-0 to finish the season.  With RB Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware using a committee approach, they managed to keep the run game alive, but fantasy owners suffered.  WR Jeremy Maclin put up fairly solid numbers thanks to QB Smith.  With Charles set to return soon, and the team still intact,  the Chiefs are ready to make a deep play into the playoffs and looks poised to challenge the Denver Broncos for the AFC West championship.

Key Additions and Losses

 

Losses:

• Mike DeVito
• Chase Daniels

Quarterback Fantasy Outlook

Alex Smith is the only QB to talk about when talking about the Chiefs, with back up QB Chase Daniels leaving to the eagles.  He had a great stretch last year leading his team to 11 straight wins.   Smith threw 307 completed passes for over 3400 yards and 20 touchdowns.  Once Star RB Charles was taken out for the season, Smith had to rise up, and he did.  Even with Charles looking to return, I think that Smith should be able to replicate his numbers from last year.  He has all the weapons offensively in place, and the AFC West has never been as open as it is this year.

 

 

Grade: B

 Running Back Fantasy Outlook

Jamaal Charles has been the star of the Chiefs ever since he arrived.  However, last year in week 5, he tore his ACL and was out for the rest of the season.  This was his second one of his career.  Back up RB West and Ware stepped up using a hot hand committee approach.  The run game stayed alive due to them, and while one or the other might have had some good games, due to the nature of the approach it was hard to know which one to start.  Charles is set to return this off-season and early reports have him in good health and ready to take back his staring spot.  Pure talent dictates he is the number one guy in Kansas.  However, the chiefs did give extensions to both West and Ware, just in case Charles has a 3rd ACL tear.  As long as Charles is healthy, you should lock him up early and leave him as your RB.

 

Grade:  A-

Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlook

The Chiefs Wide Receiver corp is led by Star Jeremy Maclin.  He caught a career high of 87 passes for over 1000 yards and 8 touchdowns.  Maclin was aided by not having a strong run game, so the Chiefs had to throw the ball more often.  For his first year in Kansas, he built a solid relationship with QB Smith.  With a year under his belt running in this offense, he looks to be a bigger threat this year.  Opposite Maclin is Albert Wilson.  From a fantasy stand point he is fairly irrelevant.  That being said, he can make plays if Maclin is covered, and make his own plays.

 

 

Grade: B-

Tight End Fantasy Outlook

Travis Kelce has had 2 very consistent years with the Chiefs.  Last year he caught the ball 72 times for 875 yards in the regular season.   He also recorded 5 touchdowns.  It’s safe to assume he will at least match his production for the last two seasons.  Add to the fact that there is no other tight end worth even mentioning, he will see all the touches at the tight end position.

 

Grade:  C-

 

Defensive Fantasy Outlook

On paper, the Chiefs have a very solid defense lead by LB Derrick Johnson.  He recorded 116 total tackles with 95 by himself.  Also 4 sacks, 2 force fumbles, as well as 2 interceptions, he was not a player to trifle with.  The chiefs were second in the league for interceptions at 22.  The defense also forced 13 forced fumbles and recovered 7.  The defense might have lost Mike DeVito, but they have enough talent all the way around to make up for it.  The Chiefs are easy a top 10 defense for your team next year.

 

 

Grade:A-

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