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Kansas City Chiefs: Demarcus Robinson’s role in 2018

By Travis Steffen

Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Chiefs will have a battle at the wide receiver position come 2018. Who will be the third receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins?

The Kansas City Chiefs have the best problem to have when it comes to the wide receiver position going into 2018 training camp. That problem is having plenty of receivers trying with talent fighting for a starting role in the Chiefs 2018 offense. We discussed how wide receiver Chris Conley could be in for a breakout season, but another receiver will be battling for the same role.

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson enters his third season with the Chiefs and looks to finally show off his full potential. When Kansas City began their offseason workouts in late May, Robinson was on the depth chart as the third wide receiver behind Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill. He also spent time moving all over the offense much like Hill and Watkins have proving that he can play from anywhere.

Given the number of weapons that young quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have, whoever starts as the third receiver on the roster will have limited roles in the offense. Guys like tight end Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, Tyreek Hill, and even running back Kareem Hunt will all be given the most opportunities to make plays in 2018.

If there is one thing about head coach Andy Reid that we all know, it’s that he loves finding ways to get guys that defenses would least expect the ball. He did it very often with former Chiefs wide receiver Albert Wilson over the last couple years and even DeAnthony Thomas. This year it will likely be a mixture of Chris Conley and Demarcus Robinson.

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Robinson has shown his good speed, hands, and ability to track the deep ball over the past two seasons. The 23-year-old receiver got more playing time in 2017 as the season went along and when Chris Conley’s season ended with an Achilles injury. He recorded 21 catches for 212 yards over the span of last season.

His most recent performance came in the playoff loss against the Tennessee Titans when he was forced to step up and become a bigger part of the gameplan. When Travis Kelce went down with a concussion, Robinson helped the Chiefs to a 79-yard final drive of the first half recording 57 yards and the first touchdown of his career.

While Robinson got better as the season progressed, he still proved inconsistent. He had issues adjusting his routes with former quarterback Alex Smith and dropped some crucial passes. One player that he did not have issues bonding with was Patrick Mahomes. The two connected often during the preseason last year which could benefit Robinson already having that connection with the Chiefs new young quarterback.

During the final game of the season when Mahomes took charge of the offense against the Denver Broncos, he targeted Robinson ten times. While only completing four of those ten targets, it showed that Robinson was the guy that Mahomes felt comfortable getting the ball to.

Chris Conley has held down a starting role in the Chiefs offense the last couple of seasons but it looks like he could be in a battle to have significant reps in the 2018 offense. Both Conley and Robinson sustain incredible talents that have yet to be utilized. They both could be utilized better under a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes.

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If Conley is healthy, I see him giving Robinson a big run for his money as the third wide receiver on the depth chart. However, if Mahomes and Robinson continue their connection from last season, it wouldn’t be a major shock for him to earn the role. Reid wants to give Mahomes the best opportunity in 2018 and these two players could quietly be a huge part of his success during his first season starting.

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