Team news: Kansas City Chiefs | Page 7

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco could start training camp on the active/PUP list, head coach Andy Reid said in Tuesday's press conference. Pacheco underwent hand and shoulder surgeries during the offseason.

Related Players: Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Deneric Prince

The current favorite to lead the Chiefs backfield in touches, Pacheco started gaining some consistency by the end of last season and was delivering as an RB2 in fantasy down the final stretch of the regular season. "Starting" training camp on the PUP list doesn't necessarily mean he'll remain there throughout camp, so we'll keep an eye on the situation over the next few weeks. Pacheco is currently slightly ahead of Jerick McKinnon in our half-PPR ranks, where they both are floating around the RB30 mark.

Kadarius Toney, the projected No. 1 receiver, will participate in his first camp with the Chiefs since the team acquired him midway through last season via a trade with the New York Giants. Strengthening the connection between Mahomes and Toney will be a major focus of camp for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Related Players: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice

As much as we would love a consistent alpha option to emerge in Kansas City, we saw in the first year without Tyreek Hill that the Chiefs are more than happy to spread the ball around. We've got a full training camp of puff pieces ahead of us, so we'll see how high Toney's ADP takes him, but we currently have him ranked as a borderline WR3/4.

The rookie third-rounder has impressed his coaches and teammates with his route running and talent. Wilson benefited from DeAndre Hopkins not taking part in any of the voluntary workouts before he was released and Marquise Brown not being involved much this offseason, either. That led to him getting a significant number of reps, which has helped him climb the depth chart to a point where he could be a factor in Arizona's offense from Day 1 of the season.

Related Players: Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal

With Rondale Moore operating as a gadget player from a past regime, and Marquise Brown apparently still working his way back to health, there is a very real chance that Dortch or Wilson could lead the team in targets over the 2023 season.

That may end up being nothing more than a technicality, and not that exciting for a Cardinals team that projects to be pretty awful this year. We currently only have a single option ranked in the top-45 wide receivers (Brown - WR27)

Prince, a rookie undrafted free agent, took advantage of a thin running back depth chart and stood out as a receiver during offseason practice, making several difficult catches. With Isiah Pacheco recovering from offseason surgery, Prince has a chance to claim not only a roster spot but some playing time if he shows an aptitude for pass protection at training camp.

Related Players: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon

While the UDFA Prince is most likely an addition for special teams purposes, any running back with a role in the Cheifs' offense is enough to perk our ears. After all, Pacheco was the team's second-to-last selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and the fantasy community drooled over him all of last offseason.

Keep Prince on your radar and maybe scour your Dynasty waiver wires just in case.

Isiah Pacheco’s offseason surgeries have kept him off the field for organized team activities (OTAs) — and reigning December and January AFC offensive player of the month Jerick McKinnon has not been spotted at any of the three sessions open to media viewing.

That has led to critical reps for Deneric Prince, who is working with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La’Mical Perine.

While the UDFA Prince is most likely an addition for special teams purposes, any running back with a role in the Cheifs' offense is enough to perk our ears. After all, Pacheco was the team's second-to-last selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and the fantasy community drooled over him all of last offseason.

Keep Prince on your radar and maybe scour your Dynasty waiver wires just in case.

Per Zac, Elijah Moore was frequently targeted by Deshaun Watson throughout Wednesday's practice, mostly on quick passes. Their best connection of the day came in a red-zone 7-on-7 period for a touchdown as Moore used a double move and turned to see the ball delivered right where he wanted it. The Browns are clearly stressing three things: fast tempo, an attacking mindset on defense, and feeding wide receiver Moore.

Related Players: Marquise Brown, David Bell, Donovan Peoples-Jones

Jackson would continue later in the article; "We’re seeing Moore line up in different spots and plenty of Moore going in motion. How his exact role shakes out remains to be seen, but from two open practices, it’s clear the Browns want to get him the ball on short passes and let him create."

This is good news for Moore and those of us who wanted to see him get another chance after his interesting talent set was left to die on the vine while catching passes from the Zach Wilsons of the world. If the Browns really do use him in the inside and outside, there is a chance we can see Moore in some 2WR sets this season.

This has been the hope for DeAndre Hopkins for some time. The Cardinals had trade talks for months, and they heated up before the draft. Ultimately, no deal. Now, he's a free agent.

Related Players: Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Michael Wilson

We will have to wait and see what other team will be heavily impacted by the eventual signing of Hopkins, but as of now we can expect a target increase for each of Brown, Moore, and, likely, third-round rookie Michael Wilson.

The players projected at the top of the depth chart are Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore. But Mahomes, at this point, doesn’t know which of his teammates is the favorite to be the No. 4 receiver. Rookie Rashee Rice, a second-round pick, didn’t make any major mistakes Wednesday and caught an easy touchdown pass from backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Receivers Richie James and Justyn Ross were also impressive with their targets.

Related Players: John Ross

This is an interesting observation from beat writer Nate Taylor, as the current order of the KC depth chart according to Underdog ADP is; Toney, Moore, Rice, MVS, Richie James. Not only that, but Rice is going almost three entire rounds prior to Valdes-Scantling even though it seems he may be behind him in 3WR-sets.

We're still very early in the process and the rookie could very easily find the field more as the summer months move on, but MVS might need to be in higher consideration.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ interest in wide receiver Kadarius Toney goes back well before they acquired him in a trade last season with the New York Giants. They were hopeful he would fall to them in the 2021 draft and then tried to trade for him last spring before finally getting him out of New York last fall.

It’s no surprise then that the Chiefs believe Toney is first in line to be their next No. 1 wide receiver.

Related Players: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Richie James, Rashee Rice

The sky is truly the limit if Toney truly secures the position of being Patrick Mahomes' number one target. Though we did see in the first season without Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs didn't necessarily operate in the way that had with Hill; they spread the ball around much more. Juju Smith-Schuster technically operated as the WR1, but he finished as the WR41 in half-PPR points per game (9.1).

Toney's explosiveness should yield a better result if he is often the first read.

The Chiefs have officially re-signed RB Jerick McKinnon today. McKinnon played an integral role for the Super Bowl champs last year, leading the team with 9 TD catches, and was named a team captain during the playoffs.

Related Players: Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire

As we can expect, it's a yearly occurrence that the fantasy community clamors over who the Chiefs could take at running back during the draft, and once again, it was a low priority in 2023. Outside of UDFA Deneric Prince, the team didn't bother with the position, leaving the incumbents another chance to prove themselves.

McKinnon had eight TD receptions in Weeks 13-18 last season, and is in a great spot to continue his success in the passing game out of the backfield.