Ten Kansas City Chiefs players who need to step up in 2020

6. Rashad Fenton

Of all the players on this list, Rashad Fenton is probably the one that had the most promising season in 2019. While many of the others on this list had mediocre or even disappointing years last season, Fenton actually out-produced most peoples’ expectations as a 6th round rookie last year. So why would I put him at No. 6 on my list of Chiefs that need to step up in 2020? The simple answer is positional need.

The Chiefs have a Super Bowl caliber roster, but the one position that most people agree is the most worrisome is cornerback. The Chiefs return Charvarius Ward, but their other starter Bashaud Breeland could be facing a suspension. With the loss of both Kendall Fuller and Morris Claiborne in free agency, a suspension would leave Ward and Fenton as the only returning Chiefs cornerbacks with any real playing time.

Given the fact that defenses play three corners on such a high percentage of snaps anyway, Fenton will likely be a starting player even if Breeland is on the field. While the Chiefs have added several rookie corners, none of them are projected to be ready to play meaningful snaps right out of the gate. Therefore it is essential for the Chiefs defense that Fenton build off his solid rookie year and be a key contributor at corner this season.

The good news for Chiefs fans is that Fenton looked capable of doing so last season. In fact, on his 244 defensive snaps last season, Fenton actually graded out better than both Ward and Breeland with PFF, with a 71.9 overall grade and a 74.4 coverage grade. If he can sustain or build off that this season it will be a huge relief to Chiefs fans and their defense.

Next up, the first of several defensive end options for the Chiefs.