AFC West Fantasy Preview

For the next two weeks we will be looking at each division in the NFL and giving you our picks of who to draft in your league and where to take them. We'll give you the top 3 Quarterbacks and Tight Ends/Defenses as well as the top 5 Wide Receivers and Running Backs. We'll begin with the AFC West and jump around to give you some targets for your upcoming draft.

The AFC West was once littered with fantasy football talent, such as LaDanian Tomlinson, Brandon Marshall, and Tony Gonzalez, but now the stars are few and far between. The division, which at one time was a two team race, seems to have been predetermined by NFL prognosticators and most of the fantasy talent resides in sunny San Diego. However, there is still a number of good fantasy talent that can be had late who might be useful starters on your fantasy team. So let’s look at quarterbacks where the best fantasy player in the division can be found.

QUARTERBACKS

When it comes to identifying the top quarterback in the division it’s a no-brainer, it’s Philip Rivers. Rivers is coming off a good year where he threw for over 4300 yards, with 27 TDs and 13 interceptions. The outlook looks just as bright for Rivers this year. I understand that head coach Norv Turner loves to run the ball and now rookie running back Ryan Mathews is toting the rock. Also, I realize that wide receiver Vincent Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeill are probably going to sit out most, if not all, of the season. But with all the uncertainty going on in San Diego you need to put the team on your leader’s shoulders and that means Rivers will step up in a bunch of close games. So instead of running out the clock in the fourth quarter, the Chargers may find themselves playing for the win and that means more passing. Rivers is a good deal in the fourth round of your fantasy draft. The second rated quarterback in the division is Jason Campbell. Campbell has a tough situation in Oakland with a poor receiving corps and inexperience with the offense. The reason that I like Campbell over other QBs in the division is because he has shown glimpses of being able to manage a game and he has an above average offensive line. I like him as a very late round pick in your draft. The third, and last, QB that we will be looking at is Matt Cassel. Cassel had a great season two years ago as the replacement for an injured Tom Brady. After having a horrid start to the year, last season, he showed some promise with the arrival of wide receiver Chris Chambers. With a full season of Chambers and fellow wideout Dwayne Bowe on the horizon, Cassel is a great buy low option with potential in this year’s draft. Look for Cassel towards the later rounds of your draft.

RUNNING BACKS

The running back position in the AFC West is packed with intriguing names which carry large question marks. At the top of the list is Ryan Mathews; who is in his first year as the running back for the Chargers. Why Mathews you may ask. He hasn’t done anything in the NFL to prove he is ready. He is currently going anywhere from the late first round to mid-second round. I personally can’t see myself gambling on him with my first pick, but he is in a great situation. First Coach Turner likes to run. Second he is the feature back who will be given a major workload. Finally, he has really looked explosive in the preseason. The reasons I would pass on him in the first is he’s unproven and you have to be extremely gutsy to take an unproven player with your first pick. The second back from this division should be Jamal Charles. Charles finds himself in an interesting situation as the number two back on his team but he is an explosive playmaker who is capable of scoring each time he touches the ball. I expect him to get the most touches for the Chiefs and to come off the board at the end of the second round or beginning of third. Knowhson Moreno is the third running back that I see being drafted. Moreno is currently dealing with an injury but is expected back within the week and I believe that he will be given every opportunity to succeed by Coach Josh McDaniels. Moreno is good value as a fourth round pick. The running back that intrigues me the most in this division is Michael Bush. I must preface this by saying that I have never seen a running back make it look as easy as Bush did while at Louisville, therefore I believe he can be a workhorse. The problem is that Darren McFadden is still in Oakland and Owner Al Davis is a stubborn man. So that means we’ll see a lot more of McFadden before we see Bush. I like Bush in the sixth to seventh round of the draft. The last running back that I would draft from this division is the starter in KC, Thomas Jones. Jones is ageless! Each year experts ride him off and he comes back and rushes for over 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns (1400 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2009). I expect him to get a good amount of touches in each game, especially in the redzone. So if you can get him in the 7th round, don’t think twice.

WIDE RECEIVERS

With the number one wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, now on the East Coast, it is hard to find good receiving talent in the AFC west. I still rank Vincent Jackson as the top receiver in the division, only because there isn’t another receiver with his skill set. Keep an eye on the situation because according to reports, Jackson might sit out the entire season. However, once football comes around, agents, players, and GMs begin communicating a lot more. If you can get him in the eighth round, he’s definitely worth the risk. Because of the situation mentioned above I think Malcolm Floyd is the next best option in the AFC West. If Jackson does sit, then Floyd will take over his role and that gives him a great opportunity to make a fantasy splash. If Jackson is sitting out, take Floyd in round six. If anyone in this division can have a bounce back year, it’s Dwayne Bowe. Bowe had a terrible third year, but he has the talent to make a difference on the field. If you are looking for possible sleeper, it’s Bowe. I see Bowe going late fourth, early fifth round. The last two receivers that I see coming out of the division are Chris Chambers and Legedu Naanee. Both players are long shot, late round sleepers whom you might be able to pick up after the draft. Remember that the Kansas City pass game showed some life once Chambers arrived and if Vincent Jackson does sit out, Naanee has the opportunity to catch a lot of balls in that aerial attack in San Diego.

TIGHT ENDS/DEFENSE

There are three top tier tight ends in fantasy football and Antonio Gates is the top one that you want to have from the AFC West. Gates is a stud and will be the primary option in the San Diego passing game. Round 4 four is a good landing space for him in your draft. Another tight end who is the primary weapon in an offense is Zach Miller. Miller is currently going six rounds after Gates but he could be a pleasant surprise and give you about 80% of Gates stats, for half the investment. With the tight ends being shallow I would look at the Chargers Defense as my next selection out of this division. The Chargers have few challenges within their division and will find themselves comfortably ahead in most games. This will put them in situations where they can create turnovers and score your fantasy team some points. I would scoop them up in the eleventh round if available.

The AFC West isn’t packed with talent but there are some names that you’ll want to target. You could easily fill your team with three to four players from the AFC West. So this year when preparing for your draft remember what you’ve learned and apply it towards success.