When it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs and fantasy impact, they’ve got Jamaal Charles and a whole lot of next to nothing. However, Charles is our #1 RB and overall player. He’s a pretty big deal. Photo: Icon Sportswire

Data as of July 25 | Current Cheatsheets | Current Projections

NR = Not ranked

QB Alex Smith

Traded to the Chiefs prior to the 2013 season, Smith put together the finest season of his nine-year career, throwing for 3,313 yards with 23 touchdowns, both career highs, while tossing just eight interceptions in 509 attempts. He also ran for a career-high 432 yards, scoring once. Despite all of that, Smith still only ranked as the 16th best fantasy quarterback. Now you know his upside, although, to be fair, we should point out that he only played in 15 games. Had he started in Week 17, he likely would have finished as the 11th ranked quarterback. However, we’re not banking on a huge improvement in 2014 since the Chiefs will have the misfortune of having to face four solid defenses in the NFC West. Not helping matters is that the Chiefs did precious little to upgrade a group of wide receivers that features Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery and little else to go along with no solid, proven pass catching tight end. Did we mention they like to hand the ball off a fair amount to some dude named Jamaal Charles? While Smith rates as a safe QB2, he offers little upside.

RB Jamaal Charles

After finishing last season as the top ranked fantasy running back, Charles will attempt to repeat that performance in 2014. Not only did he post 1,980 total yards with 19 touchdowns for a whopping 312 fantasy points, he was remarkably consistent in doing so, hitting double digit fantasy points in 13 of 15 games (he and most of the rest of the Kansas City starters sat out Week 17). His lowest point total of the year came in Week 11 when he posted 72 total yards. If you are looking for red flags in 2014, we can give you a couple. First off, the Chiefs offensive line will feature three new starters with left tackle Branden Albert and guards Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz having departed in free agency. Secondly, Charles’ 329 touches last season increase his injury risk profile although he has remained fairly healthy during his career other than his injury shortened 2011 campaign. However, with only the marginally productive Knile Davis behind him at running back and a group of wide receivers and tight ends that ranks amongst the league’s worst, Charles should be in line for another workhorse season. That spells opportunity and we know what he can produce when given plenty of touches. That makes Charles our number one ranked fantasy running back in 2014.

RB Knile Davis

Taken in the 3rd round of last year’s NFL Draft, Davis had the misfortune of opening his career behind a player who produced close to 2,000 total yards in Jamaal Charles. Davis totaled just 70 rushes on the season, gaining 242 yards and four touchdowns while averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. The Arkansas product has the talent to handle a full-time workload and possesses blazing speed, making him a must have handcuff for Charles owners. Subbing in for Charles in Week 17 when the Chiefs rested their starters and in the team’s Divisional Playoffs loss when he was injured, Davis totaled 186 yards while finding the end zone four times. If you get Charles, don’t wait too long to snag Davis.

RB De’Anthony Thomas

With Dexter McCluster having signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent after four non-descript seasons as a Chief, Kansas City was in the market for a gadget guy and used a 4th round pick to acquire Thomas. The 5’8”, 174 pound Oregon product is ill-suited to handle anything close to a full-time workload, making him a total non-factor for fantasy purposes. Unless your league starts a returner, Thomas has no right being on your fantasy squad.

WR Dwayne Bowe

Tell me you didn’t see this coming. After signing a five-year, $56-million contract with a $15-million signing bonus prior to the 2013 season, Bowe promptly put together the worst non-injury shortened season of his seven year career. With play it safe Alex Smith at quarterback, Bowe hauled in just 54.3% of his targets (57 of 105), gaining 673 yards and five touchdowns. While Bowe is a talented receiver and just 29 years of age, he is also one of the league’s most confounding players. However, with his fantasy value at an all-time low and Kansas City sporting one of the league’s least talented crop of wide receivers, this is year where he can be had for cheap. Given his upside, solid fit in Andy Reid’s offense and low expected ADP, Bowe is worth gambling on as a low end WR3.

WR Donnie Avery

Playing in the Colts pass heavy offense in 2012, Avery put together a career year with 60 receptions for 781 yards and three touchdowns, earning himself a three year, $8.5-million contract and position in the starting line up with the Chiefs. He promptly spit the bit, hauling in just 40 of his 72 passes for 596 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While Avery can put together the occasional highlight reel play due to his blazing speed, he is almost mind-numbingly inconsistent and has never gained a reputation as a receiver that his quarterback can trust. With Alex Smith, that’s not a good thing. Avery rates as a low end WR5 and is generally best kept on the waiver wire. The truth is that given his size, he just isn’t a great fit in head coach Andy Reid’s offense.

WR Junior Hemingway

Taken in the 7th round of last year’s NFL Draft, Hemingway had a marginally productive rookie campaign, catching 13 passes for 125 yards and a pair of scores. The 6’1”, 225 pound Michigan product will battle A.J. Jenkins and a host of former undrafted free agents for a backup spot with the Chiefs in 2014. While we don’t like his chances of having any fantasy value this season, it’s worth noting that there are major holes in the Chiefs depth chart at wide receiver with Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery rating as one of the league’s worst duo of starters at the position.

WR A.J. Jenkins

Taken by the 49ers in the 1st round of the 2012 draft, Jenkins was tossed overboard by San Francisco after just one year in a swap of failed high draft picks with Jonathan Baldwin going the other way. Jenkins did little in his first year in Kansas City to suggest the 49ers were wrong in jettisoning him until he posted a respectable three reception, 67 yard performance in the Chiefs final regular season game when they rested their starters. With Dwayne Bowe coming off a horrendous season and Donnie Avery not exactly a confidence inspiring starter, there is a chance that Jenkins could get some significant playing time in 2014. Or he could get axed before opening day. It’s a situation worth monitoring.

TE Travis Kelce

While Anthony Fasano may be listed as the starting tight end for the Chiefs, the only player on their roster capable of having any fantasy value at the position is Travis Kelce. Taken in the 3rd round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Kelce missed all of his rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery. A productive receiver in college, Kelce also has the requisite size to develop into a sturdy blocker and the team’s long term future at the position. However, he will need to come back successfully from a knee injury for that to happen and we don’t expect him to emerge as a solid fantasy contributor in 2014, although it’s worth noting that dink and dunk artist Alex Smith runs the team’s offense and that’s not a bad thing for a tight end. Kelce rates as a potential waiver wire add and a middling dynasty prospect.

TE Anthony Fasano

Fasano emerged as the Chiefs starting tight end last season and he hauled in 23 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. His receiving yardage has dropped every season since he posted a career high 528 yards in 2010 and he has averaged under nine yards per reception in each of the last two years. With a stud like Jamaal Charles at running back, it’s easy to draw the conclusion that Fasano’s playing time rests almost entirely on his ability as a blocker. There’s no fantasy appeal here, folks.