Kansas City Chiefs: Who’s Making The Grade?
Aug 17, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs after catching a pass during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Tight Ends
Making the Grade
Travis Kelce: +5.0 overall grade
Travis Kelce is the highest graded tight end in the NFL through three preseason games and it isn’t even close. He graded out at +5.0 and the number two TE is at +3.2. Kelce has been great and you can make a strong case that his two touchdown receptions have been the two most impressive offensive plays of the preseason. If you wanted to nit-pick his performance you could point out that his run blocking grade of -0.8 could be better, but overall he’s been very impressive and may just prove to be the offense’s number three weapon behind Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe.
Missing the Mark
No One
When Sean McGrath decided to retire the Chiefs TE depth chart became all but set. Anthony Fasano and Demetrius Harris will join Kelce on the 53 man roster. All three TEs have seen time with the first string offense this preseason and I don’t expect that to change once the season starts. While neither Fasano or Harris have graded out as highly as Kelce, they don’t deserve to be on the “Missing the Mark” list. Both players have graded out at +0.6. That means that all three of KC TEs are ranked in the top 35 in the NFL when there have been 171 TEs graded thus far by PFF. TE is looking like a definite position of strength in 2014.
Next up, the offensive line…….