Fantasy Football 2011 | Kansas City Chiefs Team Outlook
The Kansas City Chiefs came out of nowhere to go 10-6 and win the AFC West in 2010, while making Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles, and Dwayne Bowe fantastic fantasy options in the process.
The exit of offensive guru Charlie Weis can’t help their fight to make further progress in 2011, but there still remain some fantasy options in KC worth drafting. For a breakdown of the big names and the lesser know guys who could be heard this year, read on:
QB Matt Cassel
Cassel finally realized his potential in his second season in KC, as he tossed 27 touchdowns and just seven picks in 2010. However, as efficient as he was, he came up flat in the playoffs, and enters the 2011 season without offensive guru Charlie Weis at his side. Needless to say, there’s a decent chance Cassel crashes down to earth this year, and at the very least, his interceptions should rise considerably.
He can still put up decent QB2 numbers, but don’t bank on the QB1 touchdown and interception numbers.
RB Jamaal Charles
Regardless of what any Chiefs depth charts says on the web, all you need to really know is that Charles is the most talented running back in KC, and he’ll almost certainly be getting increased touches in 2011. And even if he doesn’t, he’s still a stud because of his elite versatility and ability to break long plays. He hasn’t been a touchdown machine, but he’s been consistent with eight scores in each of the past two seasons.
Bank on more rushing attempts than last year (at least 230+), and another season of at least 40 receptions.
RB Thomas Jones
Jones has the name and the depth chart positioning, but he’s lost our love. He could still be a touchdown vulture, but don’t expect the same amount of carries as last year. Jones posted his lowest rushing yardage total in six seasons, and had a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry in his first year with the Chiefs. The soon-to-be 33-year old is very much in decline.
WR Dwayne Bowe
Bowe was a fantasy superstar in 2010, hauling in a career-high 15 touchdowns, while putting together a string of seven consecutive games with at least one touchdown. That’s all great and well, but prior to his breakout season, Bowe had never posted more than seven scores in one season. In fact, he’s posted more than five just once, as well. He’s not a reception or yardage beast, and Charlie Weis is gone. He should still be good for WR2 numbers as KC’s top guy, but there’s a very good chance he comes nowhere close to last year’s production.
WR Steve Breaston
Breaston was brought in to help Kansas City fans forget about the regressing Chris Chambers, and also because rookie big man Jonathan Baldwin is probably too raw to rely on in 2011. While he’ll likely have a decent role in the slot, and also has a history with head coach Todd Haley, Breaston only has one season worth noting in his career, and is playing in a run-first offense. He has some upside as a WR3, but that has to be his realistic ceiling.
WR Jerheme Urban
Urban is getting a little hype based off of his experience in a Todd Haley offense and his reliable hands and route-running. Unfortunately, buying into the notion that he’s suddenly going to pull a Brandon Lloyd and breakout at 30 years old is just a tad unrealistic. Urban has some speed and can make plays, but he’s never been a huge fantasy contributor. If we’re not high on Bowe in this offense, you can imagine we’re not about to tell you to draft Urban as a serious answer in your starting lineup.
WR Jonathan Baldwin
Early in the off-season, Baldwin’s size and ball skills offered a ton of hope for KC’s possibly evolving passing offense. However, with the addition of Steve Breaston and promotion of Urban, it’s clear the Chiefs aren’t sold on Baldwin contributing right away. You should feel the same way. Unless Breaston and/or Urban go down with an injury, Baldwin has no fantasy value.
TE Tony Moeaki
Moeaki turned out to be a successful draft pick out of the gates in 2010, working the middle of the field with ease and developing into a reliable security blanket for Matt Cassel. Moeaki hauled in a solid 47 receptions for 500+ yards and three touchdowns, and despite the loss of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, should continue his solid work as Cassel’s safety valve. He’s a big target and doesn’t make many mistakes, while his size and defense’s foscus on Dwayne Bowe could make him more valuable in the red-zone. He’s not a TE1, but he’s going to progress and post solid TE2 numbers in 2011, at the very worst.
K Ryan Succop
Succop shouldn’t be your first choice based on accuracy or leg strength, but in an offense that could fail to find the end-zone with the regularity they did in 2010, Succop could be a surprise in fantasy football this year.
Kansas City Team Defense
The Chiefs improved on defense in 2010, using an aggressive 3-4 to get after the quarterback (39 sacks), while holding opponents to just over 20 points per game. Their defense is still in tact and could improve further in 2011, but with a huge chance in their offense (loss of Charlie Weis), expect them to regress a bit.
Kevin Roberts 
Keet Bailey 
Taylor Smith 
Michael Cellars 
Trevor Gunn 
Terrence Kirker