Fantasy Football 2012: Breaking Down the Kansas City Chiefs

What can the Kansas City Chiefs do for you this fantasy season? Check out Athlon Sports' team report as we break down the rookies, veteran players to watch and avoid, fantasy playoff schedule and more to help you get ready for the 2012 season.

Inside the Locker Room
with Kent Babb, Kansas City Star

How will Romeo Crennel divide the carries between Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis? Can they both provide fantasy value?
Assuming Charles is healthy, he’ll get the majority of carries — although he has been at his best with a power rusher splitting part of the load. Particularly with Charles returning from an ACL tear, the Chiefs will be careful with how much responsibility they give him, at least until he proves he has the same agility and breakaway speed he had before the injury. Hillis will be used in short-yardage situations, similar to the way Thomas Jones was used the previous two years. He’ll be a good source of touchdowns, but it’ll be Charles — if he’s healthy — who racks up the yards.

After Dwayne Bowe, who is the next wide receiver to target?
Steve Breaston is a solid receiver, but he’ll lack big plays and touchdowns. A sleeper choice would be second-year wideout Jon Baldwin, who is similar in build and hands to Bowe. He wasn’t dazzling in his rookie season, and the Chiefs will need him to take a step forward in his second year. Breaston is the safer choice, but Baldwin has the higher upside — and, of course, the higher risk.

Does Matt Cassel provide any fantasy value whatsoever?
If he’s at 2010 form, when he rarely threw interceptions, then sure. But Cassel also rarely has 300-yard passing games, even when he’s at his best. He’s a decent (very) late-round quarterback choice or a very good fantasy backup, but Cassel’s ceiling is remarkably low, even with a terrific rush offense and some very good receivers.

Will Tony Moeaki return to his rookie form of 2010 when he caught 47 passes for 556 yards and three scores?
Moeaki is another high-risk, high-reward player. If he’s healthy, he has the potential to be one of the league’s better tight ends. But that’s a huge if — and it has been since his college days. Moeaki has incredible hands and a remarkable ability to get open. The problem with him, and always has been, that he can’t stay healthy. So fantasy owners who take a chance on Moeaki, should probably draft another tight end in the early to mid-rounds, just to avoid the buyer’s remorse when Moeaki again suffers an injury.

Athlon's Best Bets

Sleeper: Tony Moeaki, TE
Deep-Sleeper: Jon Baldwin, WR
Overvalued: None
Top Rookie: Devon Wylie, WR
Bounce-Back: Jamaal Charles, RB
Top IDP: Derrick Johnson, LB

2012 Draft Class

Fantasy Impact: The Chiefs’ first three picks were spent upgrading both lines, so there’s not much fantasy value likely to come out of this class. Defensive tackle Dontari Poe can be dominant, but his effort was questioned at Memphis. Jeff Allen played tackle at Illinois but could move inside to guard in the NFL. Devon Wylie will help on special teams and is penciled in as the No. 4 receiver. Running back Cyrus Gray was a solid late-round pickup but faces an uphill battle for playing time.

Fantasy Playoff Run: Weeks 14-16 (at CLE, at OAK, IND)

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll comes over after coordinating for Miami and Cleveland. He had no top-10 fantasy producers for the Dolphins, and no Browns are on the tip of your tongue over the last five years. If a consistent player does emerge, the Chiefs do get the Raiders and Colts, easy fantasy defenses from a year ago, in the playoffs.

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