As we wrap our heads around a potential landmark year in offseason moves, The Undroppables will be breaking down each division team by team, highlighting the key players at each skill position for their offense, and what could change for them in 2021. Hope y’all are ready for our Raider faithful Tommy Mo to break down the AFC West!
You can check out our previous division outlooks at the corresponding links:
Kansas City Chiefs
2020 Fantasy Results
- QB: Patrick Mahomes, QB4 (25 PPG)
- RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB22 (12.2 PPG)
- WR: Tyreek Hill, WR2 (19 PPG)
- TE: Travis Kelce, TE1 (17.4 PPG)
Projected Starters for 2021
- QB: Patrick Mahomes
- RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- WR: Tyreek Hill
- TE: Travis Kelce
Potential Offseason Changes
The Chiefs went into 2020 on a high note and continued right where they left off in 2019, fresh off a Super Bowl win and ready to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy. Unfortunately, they expected to do so with relatively the same offensive core that came up short in the big game when new additions Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le’Veon Bell both were ineffective or hurt throughout the playoffs. The Chiefs are currently sitting at $22 million in the hole in cap space and need to make moves in order to improve clear deficiencies in the offense.
Both guards and the center for the Chiefs offensive line are free agents, as well as WRs Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins. Don’t forget FB Anthony Sherman either! Watkins carries the biggest salary, so they most likely will let all these guys (besides Sherman) walk in order to get closer to being in the black for the salary cap. On defense, DBs Dan Sorenson and Bashaud Breeland are hitting the free agent market. Sorenson is the biggest loss to the defense, but the Chiefs can let 3rd year player Juan Thornhill take over at FS since being drafted in the 2nd round in 2019.
Free Agency and the Draft
The Chiefs must draft another WR to compliment Tyreek Hill, as they were exposed in the Super Bowl for not having another pass option once Hill and Kelce were covered. With a deep 2021 class at WR, they can get a quality WR at the end of the 1st or 2nd rounds in the NFL Draft. CEH was drafted high for a reason, so I don’t expect any significant additions to the RB room. Interior OL is also a big need for the team, so I expect some improvements there to open up running lanes. On defense the Chiefs need a sprinkle of everything for depth, but absolutely must get another edge defender to help with the pass rush.
Oakland Raiders
2020 Fantasy Results
- QB: Derek Carr, QB13 (17 PPG)
- RB: Josh Jacobs, RB8 (14.3 PPG)
- WR: Nelson Agholor, WR29 (10.1 PPG)
- TE: Darren Waller, TE2 (14.1 PPG)
Projected Starters for 2021
- QB: Derek Carr
- RB: Josh Jacobs
- WR: Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
- TE: Darren Waller
Potential Offseason Changes
The Raiders came up short of fan expectations once again in 2020, with notable wins over the Chiefs and Saints, finishing 2nd in the AFC West with an 8-8 record. More consistency on offense with a much improved defensive unit across the board will help them get over that .500 hump in 2021. Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones are free agents in 2021, and Tyrell Williams is a Detroit Lion now, so we should see the real emergence of this rebuilt young WR corps soon. Due to limited cap space, the Raiders have begun trading key pieces of their OL that has been one of the better units in the league. On defense, there will be holes to fill at the LB and DL positions that should come through both free agency and the draft, but the majority of fantasy relevant players will return in 2021.
Free Agency and the Draft
Trent Brown was slated to return in 2020, but with a big cap hit which made him the subject of trade rumors, the 27 year old RT is now reportedly being traded to the New England Patriots with a reduced salary and a swap of 2022 picks (5th for a 7th). While the RT was exceptional when he played, his 2020 season was inconsistent and the Raiders free up cap space to find a more consistent tackle.
This is the first year in a few drafts that the Raiders will only have the picks they earned through their 2020 season performance, so they won’t have the luxury of relying on multiple picks to find the right guys to fill multiple holes. There are enough veteran lineman in free agency that I could see the Raiders signing one for a couple years, and then drafting a young guard or center like Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC to shore up the OL.
Linebacker has also been a huge need as of late, so a stud LB in the first round might do the trick to light the defense on fire with a guy like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to pair with a veteran free agent LB. The secondary is still a work in progress, so I would expect to also see some veteran additions to add depth to the young starters they currently have.
Los Angeles Chargers
2020 Fantasy Results
- QB: Justin Herbert, QB9 (22.2 PPG)
- RB: Austin Ekeler, RB29 (13.8 PPG)
- WR: Keenan Allen, WR14 (13.9 PPG)
- TE: Hunter Henry, TE13 (8.2 PPG)
Projected Starters for 2021
- QB: Justin Herbert
- RB: Austin Ekeler
- WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
- TE: Hunter Henry or Donald Parham
Potential Offseason Changes
The biggest change for the Chargers came early in the new year with the firing of Anthony Lynn and hiring of another defensive minded coach in Brandon Staley. The move will hopefully turn around their 2020 7-9 performance. Trade rumors are swirling about Mike Williams, who is on the last year of his contract which also brings with it a $15M cap hit to cover the majority of his contract, but there’s no dead cap space if he’s released.
Chargers informed TE Hunter Henry that he will not be tagged, per source. Henry is headed to free agency.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2021
Besides this, most of the team is slated to return, as only a few key losses to either retirement or free agency have happened (e.g. Mike Pouncey, Hunter Henry, and Melvin Ingram). The Chargers will look to fill these holes in free agency and the draft with the 11th most available cap space.
Free Agency and the Draft
There are a few big holes to fill for the Chargers that you don’t want to miss out on. The Center position, the QB of the offensive line, now has a big hole after the Pouncey brothers decided to retire. The Chargers can make a big splash and take Rashawn Slater at 13th overall (if he’s available) and turn the Northwestern LT into a Center, where some have projected him as his best fit for the NFL.
TE is another big gap as Henry never fully reached his potential in LA. The Chargers can sign a veteran fill-in TE in Jared Cook, Kyle Rudolph, or Tyler Eifert, as well as draft a young up-and-comer like Brevin Jordan or Pat Freiermuth if either of those rookies fall into the 2nd round. A trade up into the early 2nd could help them secure that spot. Add in another LB, CB, and playmaking WR in middle of the draft, and the Bolts are back in action with the returning Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert at the helm.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65219379/1169088074.jpg.0.jpg)
Denver Broncos
2020 Fantasy Results
- QB: Drew Lock, QB23 (13.9 PPG)
- RB: Melvin Gordon, RB13 (12.2 PPG)
- WR: Tim Patrick, WR41 (9 PPG)
- TE: Noah Fant, TE12 (7.9 PPG)
Projected Starters for 2021
- QB: Drew Lock
- RB: Melvin Gordon
- WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy
- TE: Noah Fant
Potential Offseason Changes
The Broncos have been in the middle of a rebuild since Peyton Manning left, and have been rolling through QBs and trying to fix an offensive line that’s starting to get better. In fact, The Undroppables’ own Brad Wire has the Broncos offensive line ranked 15th going into the offseason. The contract situation was good to the Broncos going into 2021, as they only lose their RT and DE to free agency, and Tim Patrick being the one restricted free agent that they should re-sign.
A healthy Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and the burner in K.J. Hamler is a formidable WR corps. There should be very few changes for the Broncos this offseason, so with a few added pieces in free agency and the draft, they should be ready for a run back towards the top of the AFC West.
Free Agency and the Draft
With the #9 pick in this year’s draft, the Broncos can go in a few different directions. The smartest would be to draft a new cornerstone RT to add to their young but talented offensive line. There will also be a few stud EDGE players available at that point in the draft they may not want to pass up like Kwity Paye or Gregory Rousseau that would make their defensive line exceptional with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.
In the second round, the Broncos can draft a dominant RB of the future like Javonte Williams or Michael Carter to replace Melvin Gordon in 2022 when he’s an unrestricted free agent. The Broncos also have enough cap space ($33M) to make some free agency moves like signing an edge defender (Justin Houston, Jadeveon Clowney, or Yannick Ngakoue) and then focus on the offense in the draft. The Broncos have put themselves in a good position to finish their rebuild. I didn’t mention Drew Lock because they should let the kid play and then look to replace him next year if he doesn’t perform.
That’s it! Be sure to follow Tommy Mo on Twitter and stay tuned to our site for upcoming divisional offseason previews.
