Fantasy Football 2017 Team Preview: Kansas City Chiefs
This is the 2017 fantasy preview of the Kansas City Chiefs. In this preview I will provide the Must-Own players, Sleepers, and Longshot players with upside very deep in drafts.
Must-own players are those who should be owned by someone in any league. Handcuff RBs can qualify, as they are often very important to a fantasy team over the full schedule. Sleepers are secondary players that you may find on the waiver wire at some point in the year, or may go undrafted in shallower auction-style leagues. The Longshots are players with microscopic ADP, who are being drafted at the very end of drafts, or more likely not drafted at all.
All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
**I will list all kickers, but I cannot give analysis on them. Sorry :-/
MUST OWNS
Travis Kelce, TE (ADP: 37): I hate to start off a preview of a decent team on a negative note, but I need to pump the brakes on the Kelce hype. Kelce was the No. 1 TE last season, and he had a fine year. No one would complain about 85 receptions 1,125 yards and four touchdowns, but that represented the peak of Kelce’s career so far. Compared to past TE1s, it doesn’t quite stack up, and as his ADP rises, fantasy owners lose value.
Consider that in 2015 Rob Gronkowski put up 82 catches, 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns in just 10 starts. At Jimmy Graham’s peak he put up an 86-catch, 1,215-yard season with 16 touchdowns. Kelce, on the other hand, has never caught more than five touchdowns. Kelce is reliable, and a target hound, but elite TEs score touchdowns. Kelce has never proven he can do that, nor is he in a pass-heavy offense with a top QB. This ADP is simply too high.
Spencer Ware, RB (ADP: 42): Ware’s ADP is solid here, and, if anything, he’s a little undervalued. This offense is all about ball control, and it flows heavily through the running back. Ware is nothing close to Jamaal Charles, but he is a capable all-purpose back who enters 2017 with the job all to himself. Last year Ware amassed 1,368 yards from scrimmage and scored five total touchdowns. He’s in line to receive more work this season and be the focal point of the offense from Week 1. I think owners are settling for Ware, when they should be excited.
Started writing this before Ware’s knee detonated. Obviously, avoid drafting him now.
Tyreek Hill, WR (ADP: 45): Hill is one of the most explosive athletes in the NFL, and while that means absolutely nothing for fantasy owners, it should excite them that Hill’s role is about to expand in a big way. There isn’t too much of a track record for Hill besides 2016, but last year he managed to score six receiving touchdowns AND three rushing touchdowns. His rushing is no fluke; he can do it all, and now with Jeremy Maclin gone he is the Chiefs’ WR1. Alex Smith limits Hill’s upside somewhat, but if he can turn a few of his shorter receptions into long scores Hill has an dark horse chance to become an elite receiver. This ADP seems high, but to me it’s not bad at all.
Kareem Hunt, RB (ADP: 95): Hunt’s ADP just skyrocketed thanks to Ware’s injury. Everything I said about the Chiefs’ offense running game still applies, and Hunt seems likely to pick up that work. He’s unproven – clearly, since he’s a rookie – but Toledo product scored double-digit rushing touchdowns for three straight years as a college standout, and he caught 41 passes as a senior. Chances are the Chiefs will be okay, and Hunt will be very useful.
SLEEPERS
Defense/Special Teams (ADP: 111): KC has a Week 1 problem, opening in prime time vs. the Patriots. This defense is good enough to just eat that bad matchup though. There are pass rushers everywhere – Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Dee Ford – and they have two cream-of-the-crop DBs in CB Marcus Peters and S Eric Berry. KC is going to have some high-scoring weeks.
Charcandrick West, RB (ADP: 324): Ignore this ADP is Ware’s injury turns out to be serious/season-ending. West isn’t an exciting player to own, but he’s capable. The Chiefs are unlikely to just hand 250+ carries to a rookie out of the MAC, so West is going to be a solid source of high-floor production. Consider him for when you’re heavy on bye weeks, or if you’re battling injuries. Like, say, you drafted already and you picked up Spencer Ware. L
LONGSHOTS
Chris Conley, WR (ADP: 269): Conley has never shown us much of anything, but he’s listed as the Chiefs’ No. 2 receiver, meaning he will see at least 85-90 targets. That might not amount to much with Alex Smith at QB, but if Tyreek Hill gets hurt we’re suddenly staring at a potential playoff team’s WR1. Just keep an eye on him for a breakout, even if it’s unlikely.
De’Anthony Thomas, WR (ADP: N/A): Thomas is a LOOOONG shot, but I like him in the same way I liked Hill. He is an extremely explosive athlete with a chance to shine as a return man – Hill has been taken off kick return duty – and parlay that into opportunities on offense. With Chris Conley being the main man at WR2, its not far-fetched for someone else to grab the role. Thomas is a playmaker and might have the goods to impress Andy Reid.
KICKER
Cairo Santos.