Kansas City Chiefs: Wide Receiver Situation in 2016
The Kansas City Chiefs have a clear number one wide receiver heading into the 2016 season, in Jeremy Maclin. Who is the number two wide receiver for next season though?
In last year’s offseason, the biggest question for the Kansas City Chiefs was the wide receiver situation. The reason for that was because in 2014, there were zero touchdowns by a wide receiver for the whole season. That’s hard to believe in a time where throwing the ball is more common than handing it off to a running back.
Kansas City then released Dwayne Bowe (who went on to be a bust in Cleveland) and signed former Eagle and Missouri Tiger Jeremy Maclin. Maclin brought the spark to the offense that helped quarterback Alex Smith have the most productive season of his career.
The number one spot is pretty much locked up by Maclin, who last year had 87 receptions for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns. Jeremy Maclin became Alex Smith’s go-to receiver mainly due to the sure hands of Maclin, who rarely dropped the ball when thrown to. Maclin also brought a deep threat that kept defenses honest, while also opening up the running game that the Chiefs rely on.
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The impact that Maclin had on the team was clear in the divisional playoff game in New England. With Maclin not at full force, he was ineffective and it showed in the execution of the Chiefs offense.
The good news is that Maclin will be back in 2016, and as long as he is healthy the Chiefs offense should be in good shape on offense.
The number two slot is a little more of a mystery, but I believe that Chris Conley will be taking the reps at the number two position. Conley was a rookie last season and played very well towards the end of the season. Overall he caught 17 out of 31 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown. He also had a critical catch for a touchdown in the AFC Wild Card game against the Texans.
Conley will come back and be a very reliable receiver, and will give the offense another weapon to utilize. He is a big receiver that has fairly good route running skills, if he is able to threaten defenses like Maclin, then that will open up more plays for other players like tight end Travis Kelce.
The slot receiver could have some surprises though. It would not surprise me if De’Anthony Thomas and Albert Wilson split the reps here depending on the play.
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Thomas is one of the fastest players in the league, but he is also injury prone so his reliability is in question. When he’s healthy and does get the ball, he is very fun to watch. Defenses have to prepare for him every week because he is a threat no matter where he is on the field.
Albert Wilson played the number two spot most of the season and performed very well when called upon. This season he was 35 of 51 for 451 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson will be a part of the offense, but the return of De’Anthony Thomas will take away from the impact of Wilson.
The dark horse candidate for 2016 is Fred Williams, who I think will make the roster this year and could take Albert Wilson’s spot on the team. Last preseason Fred Williams caught 15 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
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If he can have another productive camp and preseason look out for him to be a part of the Chiefs offense in 2016.