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The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the least productive groups of wide receivers in the NFL last season. In fact, Jamaal Charles was the team’s leading receiver with 70 catches and 693 receiving yards. Donnie Avery was third on the Chiefs, catching 40 of his 72 targets for 596 yards and two touchdowns.
Avery’s underwhelming numbers weren’t a big surprise. 2013 was Alex Smith’s first season in Kansas City, and wideouts typically don’t put up big numbers with him under center. Smith has a hard time making one receiver fantasy relevant, so it’s tough to see how he will make his No. 2 receiver worth a fantasy roster spot.
Last season, Smith had a career-high 3,313 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, but still couldn’t help a single wide receiver put up decent numbers. As a conservative quarterback, running backs and tight ends tend to get a lot of targets in his offense.
If the Chiefs do manage to produce a decent fantasy option at wide receiver this season, it’s going to be Dwayne Bowe. Smith and Bowe’s chemistry picked up heavily as the 2013 season went along. In the first eight games, Bowe never had double-digit targets, but had games with 10, 12, 13 and 14 in the second half, suggesting that he could become Smith’s go-to guy.
Even if Avery didn’t have these factors working against him, he still isn’t a very reliable wideout. His career has been plagued with drops and injuries. The 30-year-old has managed just four 100-yard games in his entire career. The Chiefs’ offense gives little hope for a boost to his numbers.
With a large group of talented rookie receivers with coming into the league, Avery is a no-brainer to sell. He’s not reliable and has a very low ceiling. Unless you’re in a league with 20-plus teams, Avery is not worth a roster spot.
Aaron Charles is a Kansas City Chiefs writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on twitter @aaroncharleskc or add him to your network on Google
