2024 Kansas City Chiefs Team Outlook
Having won 3 of the past 5 Superbowls, including going back-to-back, the Kansas City Chiefs went into the offseason with their eyes set on becoming the first NFL team to three-peat.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs finished ninth in total offense averaging 351.3 yards per game. However, despite being able to move the ball, Kansas City averaged just 21.8 points per game, which ranked fifteenth.
To enhance their scoring potential, the Chiefs have brought in former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown (51/574/4). Despite his career lows in yards per target and catch percentage, Brown's past performance and KC's offensive strategy suggest a promising future. It's worth noting that Brown hasn't played a full season since 2021. But in that campaign, he finished with over 1000 yards. Before his injury in 2022, Brown was on track for 1300 yards and 120 receptions, indicating his potential impact on the team's offense.
Brown wasn't the only receiver brought in to bolster the club's passing attack. Kansas City also traded up in this year's draft and selected Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Today's game is all about speed. With Brown and Worthy's ability to stretch the field, expect Travis Kelce to have a monster fantasy season after falling 16 yards shy of 1000 in 2023.
Worthy will have an opportunity to produce immediately. As a freshman, Worthy caught 62 passes and scored 12 times. You may have also heard Rashee Rice (79/938/7) may face league discipline for an offseason incident.
When the Chiefs are at full strength, defensive coordinators will be the spokespeople for Tums. Kelce, Brown, Rice, and Worthy are dynamic playmakers, and we aren't even talking about Patrick Mahomes. Even in a "down season", Mahomes finished with the seventh-most fantasy points per game, averaging 18.4 per contest thanks to casually throwing for 4,183 yards and 27 touchdowns.
The Chiefs have made strategic moves along the offensive line. They did lose a key member in guard Nick Allegretti. However, they have also drafted a pair of linemen, Kingsley Suamataia and Hunter Nourzad, who bring versatility and potential to the team. Suamataia will eventually take over at left tackle, and Nourzad can play right guard and center, indicating the team's thoughtful planning and preparation for the future.
Replacing that offensive line is not only a measure the Chiefs put in place for Patrick Mahomes but for Isiah Pacheco as well. Kansas City re-signed Clyde Edwards-Helaire but added no real threat to Pacheco's production. Pacheco is coming off a season in which he ran for 935 yards and hauled in 44 passes for an additional 244 yards. With no critical additions to the backfield, Pacheco should be considered a top-12 fantasy option at the running back position.
QB Patrick Mahomes, KC - Stud (low risk)
There was a noticeable dropoff in Patrick Mahomes's play last season. Mahomes posted a career-worst 6.8 ADOT and was forced to scramble 51 times as the potent downfield element was missing from Kansas City's attack. Enter record-setting Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown to quell that concern. Even in a "down" 2023 showing, Mahomes completed a career-best 67.2% of his attempts and rushed for 389 yards in another top-10 showing. In addition to the speed infusion, Andy Reid bolstered the offensive line with three selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. The improved supporting cast will help Mahomoes immensely, so a positive regression to the mean is in order. ADVICE: Locked in Tier One option
RB Isiah Pacheco, KC - Solid/Safe Pick
One of the most enjoyable runners to watch, Isiah Pacheco is trending toward a Year Three breakout. Pacheco took a huge leap in his second season, ranking 14th in fantasy points per game and averaging 96.3 total yards while finding the end zone eight times in KC's final nine games (including the postseason). He really thrived in games without Jerick McKinnon, producing six top-6 PPR weeks in the seven weeks McKinnon missed. The Chiefs also beefed up their receiving corps, which will only open things up further for Pacheco, who already ranked third last year in yards accumulated on designed runs. Get the rocket emoji ready. ADVICE: Breakout candidate with Top-5 upside
RB Carson Steele, KC - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)
From nowhere to making the Chiefs' 53-man roster, Steele turned 11 preseason carried into 87 yards and a score. Additionally, he broke 11 tackles and created 81 yards after contact. "Warhorse" is a sneaky late-round investment who might factor in as a red-zone option in KC's diverse offense.
RB Samaje Perine, KC - Bye Week Fill-in
After being released by the Broncos, Perine quickly signed with the Chiefs. Perine ranked 18th in the NFL in RB targets last season. This is a massive upgrade. He will fill in that Jerick McKinnon role as the passing-down specialist. Definitely a player to keep in mind in the latter rounds of PPR drafts.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC - Fantasy Handcuff
ADVICE: CEH is one play away from a significant role in one of the NFL's best offenses. He's one of the top late-round handcuff backs to target in the waning rounds of the draft.
WR Xavier Worthy, KC - Quality Backup
Patrick Mahomes had the lowest average depth of target total of his career as the Chiefs lacked a viable deep threat. Enter Xavier Worthy, who just set the all-time NFL Scouting Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash. Worthy also has 96th-percentile burst and inside/outside flexibility. He's not just a one-trick pony. Worthy set the Texas record for receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (12) by a freshman. Although he's undersized (5-11, 167) Worthy will help open things up for Mahomes. He's a fantasy WR4/flex option that will account for some huge plays, making him a viable option, especially in best ball. ADVICE: Elite speed makes Worthy an instant big-play threat
