KC Chiefs: Three reasons for optimism at wide receiver

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Last season, Marquez Valdes-Scantling averaged right around 40 yards per game as a target for Patrick Mahomes. That’s right in line with his career average range—on the higher end, really—after also playing four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. In other words, to point to MVS and say that more is possible might be irresponsible.

But here’s the thing: the Chiefs typically had others who were in the way for Valdes-Scantling to really do anything. When tasked with stepping up, he was able to do exactly that at key moments. Case in point, the AFC Championship game when injuries arose and the Chiefs needed someone to step up. In response, MVS had 6 catches for 116 receiving yards and 1 touchdown.

The primary question here is whether or not Valdes-Scantling can prove himself to be more consistent in 2023. Remember this is MVS’s second season in the playbook. There’s every reason to expect some leap forward in communication, chemistry, and instinctual play. Mahomes knows him better. The spacing, the signs, the expectations, the routes—they’re all more familiar. This has to translate somewhere.

Now, whether or not it’s a major leap forward is another thing. If you’re expecting a huge leap forward from the receivers on the Chiefs roster, you should look elsewhere than MVS. Valdes-Scantling might take a step rather than making a leap, but together with his young teammates, it might be enough for K.C.