NFL Fantasy Preview: Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes (Google Images)

In a 32-part series leading up to the start of the 2021 National Football League season, we will take a look at each NFL franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 16th team we will review is the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2021 NFL season as the only franchise that has been to the last two Super Bowls. In 2020, Kansas City won their first Super Bowl since Super Bowl IV, when they beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. Then last year, the Chiefs offensive line was horrendous in a 31-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

There is no doubt the most popular Chiefs player from a fantasy perspective is quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who enters the season as the third ranked player at the position, behind Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. Last season Mahomes completed 390 passes in 588 attempts for 4740 yards, 38 touchdowns and six interceptions. A major reason why Mahomes was number three is because he averaged 316 passing yards per game.

Meanwhile, the best tight end in the NFL is with the Chiefs. You could argue that Travis Kelce is the most dominant player at one position among all positions in the entire league. He is extremely valuable. Last season Kelce had 207.76 fantasy points. That was 36.16 more fantasy points than Darren Waller of the Las Vegas Raiders, who was second with 171.6 fantasy points.

At running back, there were high expectations a year ago from Clyde Edwards-Helaire of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, his season was rather mediocre leading up to a late-season hip and ankle injury, which knocked him out of the fantasy football finals. In 181 rushes, he had 803 yards and four touchdowns, along with 36 catches for 297 yards, and another touchdown. Edwards-Helaire is ranked 20th among NFL running backs.

Meanwhile at wide receiver, Tyreek Hill of Douglas, GA is ranked second behind Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers. Last season, Hill had 87 catches for 1276 yards and 15 touchdowns, with one sensational game in particular. On November 29, in a 27-24 Chiefs win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hill had 13 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns. The 269 receiving yards were the most yards by one player during the 2020 NFL season, and the 14th most by a player in a single game in NFL history.

On defense, the Chiefs are in the middle of the pack when it comes to fantasy, ranked 14th. Tyrann Mathieu had a career-high six interceptions. When it comes to a kicker, you may want to take a pass on Harrison Butker. The native of Decatur, Georgia missed six converts last season and kicks in unpredictable Kansas City weather.

The Chiefs are expected to be in contention to represent the AFC Championship for their third straight Super Bowl. However, their offensive line will need to be better in order to get by conference contenders such as the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.

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