By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Alex Smith, Patrick Mahomes
RB: Kareem Hunt, Charcandrick West
WR: Tyreek Hill, Albert Wilson, Chris Conley, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris
2018
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QB: Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne
RB: Kareem Hunt, Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West
WR: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Chris Conley, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris
Pre-Draft Offseason:
Whenever you have a new starting quarterback, that move will be the most important one of the offseason. That is the case with Kansas City, which let Alex Smith go and has replaced him with second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It couldn’t have been an easy decision, especially after Smith had a career year, but the future is Mahomes and his ceiling is much higher than Smith’s. We can’t foresee how quickly Mahomes gets the offense down and can play at the level needed to help himself and his teammates rack up fantasy points, but the ability and opportunity is ripe for him as a fantasy quarterback.
The Chiefs also let Albert Wilson go, who I like quite a bit, but they did get Sammy Watkins to replace him and we know Watkins has the goods, especially as a deep threat and touchdown producer. Watkins simply did not gel well with the Rams’ offense last season. I expect he will work better with Mahomes, who can throw the ball out of the stadium. Watkins is going to be risky as a fantasy player for sure, but I do like his upside in Kansas City’s vertical passing game.
The running back situation remains good with Kareem Hunt as the starter, but Spencer Ware could return to take away some of the work. Kansas City has been shopping Ware around, so there is a chance he ends up traded at some point, which would help Hunt’s upside a bit. Hunt was used oddly at times last season, but he did finish with over 300 total touches. If he can get that again this coming season, he’s a no-doubt stud.
Post-Draft Update
I expected Kansas City to go after defensive players, and the organization did not disappoint. The Chiefs were awful defensively last season and will likely still be poor defensively even after making all six of its picks on that side of the ball. The offense is built to move the ball with strong skill players at every position, and I expect Kansas City will need to build up big leads to win games this year. That’s good news for fantasy, and I’m bullish on the Chiefs for fantasy.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce
Solid: Tyreek Hill
Sleeper: Patrick Mahomes, Sammy Watkins
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
More 2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Dec. 15
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
