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Fantasy football: Three Chiefs to avoid in your upcoming draft

By Jacob Milham

Dec 12, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25) celebrates with wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25) celebrates with wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the league’s most prolific offensive attacks. But, this does not always translate to success for your fantasy team.

The 2021 Kansas City Chiefs had a three-headed fantasy monster. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and tight end Travis Kelce all finished in their respective positions as top seven fantasy performers. While that group led the 2021 Chiefs to a top-five offensive unit, big changes are underway for the 2022 Chiefs.

Hill has gone south to Miami, in search of warmer weather and bigger paychecks. Kelce could see a reduced role, as his targets, receptions, and receiving yards declined from 2020 to 2021. Mahomes is going to Mahomes but could see some growing pains with new offensive weapons. While the Chiefs are still Super Bowl contenders, individual offensive players may not produce for a fantasy team.

Currently, here are 2022’s top ten Chiefs fantasy players, according to FantasyPros:

  1. Travis Kelce – TE1, 13 ADP
  2. Patrick Mahomes – QB2, 32 ADP
  3.  Clyde Edwards-Helaire- RB27, 68.7 ADP
  4. Juju Smith-Schuster – WR33, 80.7 ADP
  5. Ronald Jones II – RB43, 121 ADP
  6. Marquez Valdes-Scantling – WR58, 140 ADP
  7. Skyy Moore – WR60, 147.3 ADP
  8.  Mecole Hardman – WR64, 164 ADP
  9. Harrison Butker – K4, 183.3 ADP
  10. Jerick McKinnon – RB79, 256 ADP

Few surprises on that list, but there are two options fans should avoid in their upcoming fantasy drafts.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

For running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the “former first-round selection that hasn’t met expectations”  narrative has been beaten to a pulp. He would have to have a massive year, or two, to salvage favor with the Chiefs fanbase. Frankly, Edwards-Helaire has not done much to quell fans’ displeasure with him.

Edwards-Helaire posted pedestrian rushing numbers in 2021 while regressing in the passing game as well. Injuries and a solid running back room could be to blame, but Edwards-Helaire has not met expectations.

Fantasy experts project for better production from Edwards-Helaire in 2022, but what fuels that? The Chiefs signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones, re-signed veteran Jerick McKinnon, and even drafted Isaih Pacheco. These moves not only give Edwards-Helaire more competition but signal the team’s lack of faith in him.

Besides, McKinnon significantly outperformed Edwards-Helaire in postseason action, where every touch means more. McKinnon tripled Edwards-Helaire’s touches and yards from scrimmage, albeit with Edwards-Helaire’s suffering a minor injury in December 2021. In high-leverage games, the Chiefs chose to ride McKinnon over Edwards-Helaire, by a significant amount.

All in all, there is a crowded running back room, with Jones as a goal-line back and McKinnon as the third-down back. Both are valuable in a fantasy setting, and Edwards-Helaire has neither designation. He may get more touches in 2022, but not enough to warrant a top-75 selection in a fantasy draft.

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