Skyy Moore needs playing time over Justin Watson for KC Chiefs

After a rough day for Justin Watson, the KC Chiefs need to give Skyy Moore additional targets over the fifth-year veteran receiver.

When it comes to polarizing players on the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs, some people think of Orlando Brown Jr., while others mention Frank Clark. Right alongside them is rookie wide receiver Skyy Moore.

After being one of several new wide receivers brought to Kansas City, many fans had high expectations for the first-year player from Western Michigan, but it’s fair to say that he has not been the player we thought he would be so far this season. In 15 games, he’s totaled just 19 receptions, 217 receiving yards, 24 rushing yards, and no touchdowns, plus three muffed punts on special teams.

While it’s perfectly understandable to be disappointed with Moore’s season, it’s too early to completely give up on him. Although the Chiefs should give up on him as a punt returner, he needs to see additional snaps on offense. Many fans have been calling for this all season (including myself) and it makes perfect sense as players need snaps to help aid their development.

If Skyy Moore were to climb the depth chart, who should he play over? The obvious answer is Justin Watson. Another, less obvious, answer is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but we’ll just focus on Watson for now.

Justin Watson was considered a sleeper to make the active roster in the summer and he obviously ended up making the team. He has paid dividends for Kansas City, including a huge touchdown reception in Week 2 against the Chargers, but he’s done relatively little ever since. He also had a brutal game against the Seahawks, recording zero catches and zero yards on four targets, plus multiple tough drops. Over the past three games, Watson has been targeted eight times and has zero receptions. Why is he getting playing time over Moore? Yes, Watson may have “better chemistry” with Patrick Mahomes, but that has turned into just 30 targets, 13 catches, 221 yards, and two touchdowns. On the other hand, Moore has 19 catches on 29 targets for 217 yards.

In the game against Seattle, Watson out-snapped Moore 39-11 on offense and out targeting him 4-1. It’s certainly possible that Andy Reid and the coaching staff have a valid reason(s) to limit Skyy Moore’s snaps, such as knowledge of the playbook and run blocking, but I just don’t get the love for Justin Watson anymore in the passing game. Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney should see more targets than Moore, but the Watson affection by the coaching staff needs to stop, in my opinion. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is in the vicinity of joining that boat himself.

In conclusion, Skyy Moore isn’t the most talented player in the NFL, but he has solid route-running ability, is decent after the catch, and has yet to drop a pass this season. Watson is not better than Skyy at any of those things. If the Chiefs want to win Super Bowl LVII, they need to figure out their wide receiver depth chart, and that should start with nailing Justin Watson to the bench and increasing Moore’s role on offense.