Another training camp is in the books and the first pre-season game has been played.

There’s lots of clarity already with this current Chiefs roster and the starting lineup. In this update of the Kansas City Eye in the Sky Report, I’m sharing my views of how the 2023 Chiefs’ roster is shaping upin true eye-in-the-sky fashion.

QUARTERBACKS:

Patrick Mahomes is THE MAN! He’s had a legendary first 6 years in the NFL and the Chiefs’ QB is just hitting the ‘peak’ years, turning 28 in September. The 17-game schedule sets Mahomes up annually for 40+ TDs and 5000 yards. Coach Andy Reidlikes a sage veteran behind his starting QBs. Now that Chad Henne is no longer on the team Coach Reid will rely on 12-year vet Blaine Gabbert to be the man out of the bullpen if needed. Gabbert is no Mahomes and not even close as far as arm talent goes. Should he be forced into action the KC offense will shift to a more traditional west coast offense, with shorter slants, digs, outs and screens. Steve Buechele is QB3. He’s skillful with some athleticism but not ready for a true backup role. Chris Oladokun is a raw power pitcher who is learning the nuances of the position. Oladokun can hit a wideout 70-yards downfield (I’ve seen him do so in college)but he has no grasp of the finesse throws. He’s headed for the practice squad.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Many are projecting a WR1 breakout season for Kadarius Toney. Don’t bet the house on that folks. The comparisons that have been made to Tyreek Hill are ludicrous. Toney has rarely been healthy long enough to improve his game out of college. He is nowhere near the sharp, smart router that the Cheetah is, nor as sturdy physically or mentally. Toney is most likely to fill a Mecole Hardman role than an every down WR1-2 assignment. Skyy Moore, on the other hand, has been studious and patient. Moore mostly spent his 2022 rookie season learning how to be an Andy Reid type wideout. He’s worked hard, pressed the playbook and has had an outstanding camp. Moore has quietly seen almost all of the snaps when the Chiefs set up in 2-WR formations. Just a refresher, Moore hauled in 95-1292-13.6-10 TDs in his final season at Western Michigan. Moore flashed 4.41-forty wheels at the 2022 Combine, runs sharp patterns and now, understanding the WR concepts of this offense, he’s playing fast and loose. MarquezValdes-Scantling has not been mentioned much at all through camp, though he is currently ‘penciled’ in as one of the starting wideouts (Moore and Toney the others in 3-WR sets). Kansas City had a wonderfully deep WR group in camp and now into pre-season practices, scrimmages. The next line of WRs are Justin Watson, Richie James and rookie (2^nd round) Rashee Rice. Watson’s team value is his versatility, lining up in the slot, outside and some TE. He is also a solid special teams bomber. Richie James, if you ask me, has outplayed (by far) Toney in camp and practices (when Toney actually takes part). James is a terrific gadget receiver who can YAC it up, run threatening jet sweeps and return kicks. He ‘fits’ what Coach Andy wants out of his wideouts. Rice has had a quietly solid camp, but… he’s a rookie in the Andy Reid offense. Watch and learn, kid! Justyn Ross has been making plays daily all off-season. Ross is in the ‘big’ receivermold of thisoffense, as is Valdes-Scantling. The big difference is Ross lacks Valdes-Scantling’s speed and durability. Injuries dating way back in college have sullied his once sparkling potential. AS impressive as Ross has been I just cannot see him making the active roster. If he has practice squad eligibility left, there’s his lot in 2023. An undrafted WR out of Fresno State is going to force Coach Reid and GM Brett Veach into a tough decision. Nikko Remigiodoes it all and does it all at full speed. Last year at Fresno State the 5’9"-187 weapon caught 74-852-11.5-6 TDs and added 6 runs for 42 yards (7.0 YPC) and 2 TDs. Between his years at CAL and Fresno State Remigio returned 41 kickoffs at 25.1 yards per and 1 TD. He also took back 58 punts at a 10.4 yards clip and scored 2 times (both last season). In camp and pre-season action for the Chiefs Remigio has lined up slot, outside and in the backfield as well. The rookie also returned a kickoff and a punt. Nice effort versus the Saints in Sunday’s pre-season tilt; caught 4 of 6 targets for 71 yards (17.8 YPR). His roadblock is Richie James, who does all that Remigio does and has proven he can get it done at this level, entering his 5^th pro season. I see the Chiefs sending Remigio to the practice squad. The live roster winners are Valdes-Scantling, Moore, Toney, Watson, James and Rice.

TIGHT ENDS:

Travis Kelce!That’s that!

Noah Gray remains the most likely stand-in if disaster strikes and Kelce is out. Jody Fortson remains a situational RedZoner and Blake Bell the blocking hammer on short yardage plays.

RUNNING BACKS:

Here’s really all we need to know and understand; Clyde Edwards-Helaire played and started in Sunday night’s pre-season opener against the Saints. Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon sat out. Yes, Pacheco is being nursed along carefully through his shoulder and hand rehabs, but that confirms Coach Andy has Pacheco SHARPIED in as the starting and lead RB of the offense. McKinnon is now a savvy vet who is a lethal RedZone weapon for Coach Reid. McKinnon IS what Mecole Hardman was supposed to be and Toney should be. Book it! Pacheco and McKinnon are the 1-2 punch of the Chiefs 2023 backfield. Now, I’ve heard ‘experts’ project Edwards-Helaire as the take-over back should Pacheco miss games. The potential of Pacheco missing a few here-n-there is very real, given his aggressive, impact-seeking style of running. However, I’m not handing that assignment over to CEH just yet, and I don’t see Coach Reid doing that either. Keep a watchful eye on former Jets’ 4^th rounder (2020), La'Mical Perine. Perine has a similar style as Edwards-Helaire, is stout and a tad bigger than CEH as well. He frankly out-performed Edwards-Helaire Sunday night versus New Orleans. Perine rushed 6 times for 24 yards (4.0 YPC) while CEH barely dented the line of scrimmage, carrying 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 YPC). I would not be shocked to see Perine pressure CEH out of a job in Kansas City. Rookie Deneric Prince (undrafted) has had a good camp but he lacks speed and will most likely hit the practice squad.

THE FANTASY EYE IN THE SKY PERSPECTIVE:

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are locked and loaded for another super season. It is truly amazing that Mahomes blew past 5000 yards and hit on 41 TD tosses last season with what was pretty much a patchwork WR corps. After Kelce, the 2022 receiving group was quite flawed.

The 2023 WR crew is still a patchworkbunch but the unit has the potential to form a beautiful pass-catching, play-making quilt for Mahomes. Fantasy folks looking for the ‘next Tyreek Hill’? Drop it, as Coach Reid has moved on from relying on a WR1 styled playmaker. IF you ask me to put some fantasy money on a leader rising above the rest, I’d lay it down on Skyy Moore. Heck, sluggish JuJu Smith-Schuster somehow accumulated 78 passes and 933 yards, working mostly out of slot. Moore is now that slot guy and is far more explosive than Smith-Schuster ever was. Kadarius Toney? Show me! Richie James may help fanballers out some weeks in good situational matchups (and when Toney is out).

The backfield belongs to Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon. Pacheco will be more involved as a receiver, but make no mistake that job is mostly McKinnon’s. La'Mical Perine and Clyde Edwards-Helaire will fight for the scraps. Fanballers, what’s not broken in Coach Reid’s offense won’t be fixed, but it will be enhanced. McKinnon was 3^rdoverall in receptions on the club last year (56) and 2^nd behind Travis Kelce in TD catches with 9. Pacheco gained 4.9 YPC as a rookie, rushing 170 times for 830 yards and 5 TDs. He wasn’t the lead RB until week 10, and from that point on Pacheco was productive as heck. 4 of his 5 rushing TD came through the final 7 games. Just be sure if you invest in Pacheco, cuff with McKinnon.

IDP looks next EYE IN THE SKY.

End.