Projections (9/02/03)

Passing Stats

Rush Stats

Receiving Stats

Fantasy

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Quarterbacks
Starter - Trent Green
Backups - Todd Collins, Jonathon Quinn

Starting Quarterback: Trent Green enjoyed a breakout season with the Chiefs last year. He drastically lowered his interception total (from 24 in 2001 to 13 in 2002), increased his completion percentage (56.6% to 61.1%), increased his touchdown passes (from 17 to 26) and had his YPA jump way up (7.23 to 7.85). He really settled into his situation with the Chiefs and should continue to play at a high level this season. He has a great tight end in Tony Gonzalez but his receivers continue to have some question marks that need to be answered. If Eddie Kennison, Johnnie Morton and Marc Boerigter can get the job done as well as Priest Holmes being able to stay healthy, Green will have another successful campaign. Footballguys.com has Green as a serviceable starting fantasy quarterback and a very good backup quarterback.

Backup Quarterback(s): Todd Collins is a decent backup quarterback. He only threw 6 passes last year but did complete 5 of them for 73 passing yards and a touchdown. There is no point in drafting Collins but he would make a valuable free-agent pickup if injury strikes Trent Green during the season.

Update - 8/27: This has been a rare off-season for Trent Green. He's healthy. <knock on wood>

Running Backs
Starter - Priest Holmes
Backups - Larry Johnson, Derrick Blaylock
Fullbacks - Tony Richardson, Omar Easy, Joe Hall

Starting Running Back: The burning question for Priest Holmes owners everywhere: "Is his hip healed or not?" Holmes had a monster season last year - in only 14 games he bowled over just about anything in his way while amassing 313 carries for 1615 yards (5.2 yards per carry average!) and scoring 21 rushing touchdowns. He added 70 receptions for 672 more yards and scored 3 times via the air. Those numbers made Holmes a one-man wrecking crew in 2002. However, he injured his hip and missed the final games of the season - and has yet to test the joint in any meaningful way during the offseason. The Kansas City brass insist that his hip is just fine - but they have a contract to negotiate with rookie Larry Johnson, Holmes' backup (and replacement if that hip doesn't hold up) - so what else would they say? Right now, we give Holmes the benefit of the doubt and project him to pound the ball 290 times in 2003, with 1305 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground (60 receptions for 522 yards and 2 scores through the air). Those numbers (as of 6/29/03) are good enough to rank in the top 5 of all fantasy backs (#5), making Holmes a probable top-5 draft selection in almost any league.

Backup Running Back(s): Larry Johnson is expected to fulfill the backup role in Kansas City this year, with Derrick Blaylock as the #3 reserve. If Holmes can't go, Johnson would be running behind one of the premier lines in the NFL and a probable rookie-of-the-year candidate.

Fullback(s): Tony Richardson's job as the starting FB is to clear the way for Priest Holmes. He does a fine job at that, but doesn't rack up much in the way of fantasy statistics (22 carries for 81 yards and 2 scores, with 18 receptions for 125 yards and 1 score). His backups are Omar Easy and Joe Hall.

Update - 8/27: The verdict is in, and it looks like Priest Holmes is ready to rock and roll again in 2003 (now if he would just get that new contract signed). We now rank Priest Holmes as the #3 running back in fantasy football, with a projected 290/1328/14 rushing and 62/555/3 receiving. It currently looks like Derrick Blaylock is going to be #2 in KC (at least to start the season), but look for Richardson and Johnson to get a few carries as well.

Wide Receivers
Starters - Eddie Kennison, Johnnie Morton
Backups: Mark Boerigter, Dante Hall, Marvin Minnis, Sylvester Morris

Starting Receiver(s): Eddie Kennison was the team's leading receiver last year, having his best season since his rookie year in 1996. He has track-star speed and averaged over 17 yards per catch. He had 16 receptions of 20 yards or more, leading all AFC receivers in that category. Kennison has decent hands, but can be sloppy in his routes. Johnnie Morton had a disappointing season last year after coming to the Chiefs from the Detroit Lions. He's had four 1,000-yard seasons in his career, but only managed to catch 29 passes for 397 yards in 2002. Morton runs good patterns and has sure hands, but lacks great size and speed, and tended to disappear from games for long stretches last year. He will be pushed for his starting job by Marc Boerigter and Dante Hall this season.

Backup Receiver(s): Marc Boerigter had just 20 receptions last year, but led the team in receiving touchdowns with eight. The former CFL receiver has great height and jumping ability and can stretch the field with his speed. However, the lanky WR had only two games in all of 2002 in which he caught more than two passes, and over half of his production on the season came against the San Diego Chargers, who had the worst pass defense in the league. Dante Hall is a super quick WR who is one of the more exciting open-field runners in the league. He can start, stop, and change direction with great suddenness, and has the speed to stretch the field. At only 5-8, 187, he may have problems when matched up against more physical corners. Sylvester Morris and Marvin Minnis are each trying to come back from injuries after they showed flashes of talent in their rookie years in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Like Boerigter, Morris is a big receiver who has gotten a large chunk of his career production against the Chargers. He suffered a knee injury before the season started in 2001, and has missed all of the past two seasons. Minnis is a quick receiver who runs good patterns and can cut on a dime, but missed most of the 2001 season after injuring his foot in a preseason mini-camp.

Update - 8/27: Marc Boerigter has had a nice preseason, and has established himself as the Chiefs' #3 WR. If either Morton or Kennison falters during the season, Boerigter could be worked into the starting lineup.

Tight Ends
Starter - Tony Gonzalez
Backup(s) - Jason Dunn
Tony Gonzalez is still the man in Kansas City. He's arguably the most talented pass catching TE in the NFL and a lock to finish in the top three at his position. Gonzalez doesn't have the stranglehold as the #1 tight end in the NFL anymore, but no one will be surprised if he finishes there again. His numbers have declined the past two years, but Gonzalez has given up on his basketball hobby and rededicated himself to the Chiefs.

Update - 8/27: There was a bit of scare in the Chiefs camp yesterday when Gonzalez went down with pain in his left knee. The initial reports were that ligaments were strained. This morning, the Chiefs report there was a little stiffness, but they are pleased with the outlook. Head Coach Dick Vermeil described the tears as "Tiny, the kind you don't repair and you let heal on their own." They are optomistic Gonzalez will be ready for the season opener.

Place Kicker
Morton Andersen, Jose Cortez: Anderson led the NFL in extra points last season even though he missed the last two games with a torn ligament in his leg. Cortez was brought in to finish the season and provide insurance should Anderson not be ready to go. The Chiefs fully expect Anderson to return to health. If the Kansas City offense relies on the return to health of Priest Holmes, the same can be said of Anderson's chances to remain a top kicker in 2003.

Update - 8/27: In another example of the rumored deal with his younger brother Methuselah, Andersen appears to be healthy enough to keep his job. He will be the team's kicker as Cortez has been released.

Offensive Line
C-Casey Wiegmann; G-Brian Waters; G-Will Shields; T-William Roaf; T-John Tait
Good coaching, great talent and solid teamwork make the Chiefs offensive line the best in football. Solid right across the line, there is no weakness for defenses to exploit. This is the second season they will play together as a unit, which could result in even stronger results than a year ago. Will Shields and William Roaf are amongst the best at their position in the NFL. What makes this line even stronger is that Brian Waters and Casey Wiegmann were perhaps the best two offensive linemen on the team a year ago. The line was very durable last season and will be outstanding if healthy. The Chiefs drafted two offensive tackles, Brett Williams and Jordan Black in the draft with the teams' fourth and fifth round draft choices. Both can play at guard or tackle but both need significant practice time before they'll be ready to contribute.