2019 NFL Draft Dynasty Review: AFC West

The AFC West is no doubt one of the most fascinating divisions in all of football. Last season, this division contained the two teams with the best records in the NFL. The Chiefs and Chargers look to continue their success from 2018, and the Raiders and Broncos have potential to be surprising teams in 2019 if all pans out with their rebuilding plans.

While many fans were indeed focused on the Chargers and Broncos and their selections in the 2019 NFL Draft, few teams had more national interest in their selections than the Raiders and Chiefs. The Raiders, of course, had three first round draft picks. Meanwhile, the Chiefs were looking to fill holes in their roster that suddenly opened up thanks to their players’ off-field issues. In this article, let’s delve into the fantasy-relevant selections each team made.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

JOSH JACOBS, RB ALABAMA (ROUND 1, PICK 24)

Jacobs has been the near-consensus rookie RB1 in both fantasy football and among NFL scouts seemingly since the off-season began. The Raiders confirmed that the Alabama product is indeed their RB1, selecting Jacobs with one of their three first-round picks. While analytically one of the worst first-round running backs in recent memory, he enters into a backfield with a plethora of opportunity.

The Raiders, through their selections, trades, and free agency, have made it clear that this team does not want to go through a true rebuild. With additions such as Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams and now Jacobs, the Raiders will be a completely different offense from what they were in 2018. It will be exciting to see. Jacobs will enter dynasty and redraft running back rankings as a RB2 and is a lock to be selected in the top three picks of the vast majority of rookie drafts.

FOSTER MOREAU, TE LSU (ROUND 4, PICK 137)

Moreau’s profile will not blow you away, but he was a solid pick for the Raiders in the fourth round with a clear need at tight end. As a fourth-year senior, he never eclipsed 24 receptions or 300 yards receiving in a season. He was just two receptions away from having the second most receptions on the LSU offense in his final season. Much of his lack of production can be explained by LSU’s tendency to spread the ball around to many different receivers.

Athletically, Moreau has the size and speed to be a potential playmaker at tight end. At 6’4” and 250 pounds, Moreau flashed 4.66 wheels along with solid measurables at every other testing drill. If there’s anything that’s a good indicator of a good tight end prospect in dynasty drafts, it’s athleticism and opportunity. Moreau has both. In a Raiders offense that lost 101 targets with the departure of Jared Cook, Moreau should have plenty of opportunity to win a starting role and flash potential as soon as year one.

HUNTER RENFROW, WR CLEMSON (ROUND 5, PICK 149)

Renfrow is just one of many in the long line of Clemson receivers to go to the NFL. Smaller in stature at only 5’10” and 184 pounds, Renfrow profiles as a slot receiver for a team that potentially needs one. With Brown and Williams soaking up the vast majority of outside targets, opportunity is there for Renfrow to earn playing time in the slot as early as this season. While one should not expect great things from a fifth-round NFL pick, Renfrow has the skillset and opportunity to be of service to the Raiders this year and beyond.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

MECOLE HARDMAN, WR GEORGIA (ROUND 2, PICK 56)

Perhaps one of the most shocking picks (at the time) of the 2019 NFL draft, the Chiefs “reached” for Hardman in the late second round. Hardman has a very interesting profile. He has great speed, never truly broke out in college, and would be best served as a deep threat in the NFL. If only there was a team that knew how to use this exact type of player . . . .

Needless to say, the Chiefs picked Hardman as the closest possible type of player they could find in this draft to replace Tyreek Hill. Whether or not they took Hardman too early, their selection in the second round indicates they have faith in their evaluation of what Hardman can bring to the table. Easily one of the biggest risers of the 2019 draft due to landing spot and draft capital, Hardman is now firmly in consideration a top-15 rookie selection, with many poised to take the Georgia receiver in the top eight selections. If and when Hill misses time, Hardman has immediate opportunity to be a legitimate fantasy producer, particularly with Patrick Mahomes on the throwing end of his targets.

DARWIN THOMPSON, RB UTAH STATE (ROUND 6, PICK 214)

The other position that was of supreme interest for many fantasy owners in regards to the Chiefs’s draft was running back. As seen last season, the primary back in the Kansas City offense has RB1 overall upside. The only running back the Chiefs drafted (though they did sign UDFA James Williams as well) was Thompson in round six.

A smaller back (coming in under 200 pounds at the NFL combine), Thompson isn’t particularly athletic by NFL running back standards. He did manage over 1,000 yards rushing and 23 receptions in his final season at Utah State, but don’t expect him to win a training camp battle over incumbent Damien Williams or newcomer Carlos Hyde. Do keep an eye on him or stash him in deeper leagues on the off chance he gets touches in this elite offense.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

EASTON STICK, QB NORTH DAKOTA STATE (ROUND 5, PICK 166)

The Chargers did not do much on the offensive side of the ball during the 2019 NFL draft. They did, however, draft a potential – though unlikely – heir to the Philip Rivers throne in Stick. He has dual-threat capability as both a passer and runner. He threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He managed over 1,300 yards on the ground as well as 39 touchdowns over the same two years.

It’s possible the Chargers want to use Stick similar to how the Saints use Taysom Hill. However, with Philip Rivers expected to play for at least two to three more seasons, it’s unlikely the Chargers ever truly move forward with Stick as their starting quarterback.

DENVER BRONCOS

NOAH FANT, TE IOWA (ROUND 1, PICK 20)

As the second tight end drafted, Fant found himself in a position to  immediately succeed with the Denver Broncos. With Joe Flacco under center (for now), Fant will see the field and find targets early in his career. Fant is thought by many to be the superior pass-catcher between he and former teammate TJ Hockenson.

The Broncos appear to be rebuilding. Their starting wide receivers – assuming Emmanuel Sanders in unable to play much of the season – are all second-year players. Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick, and now Fant are young players who will need time to develop. This is an offense dynasty owners will want to pay attention to in the coming years. It would not surprise me if Fant has the better career both short term and long term than Hockenson given this landing spot.

DREW LOCK, QB MISSOURI (ROUND 2, PICK 42)

With all of the Broncos’ aforementioned young assets, it makes sense that they also would want to grab a young quarterback. Flacco is the odd man out in what appears to be a team set up to win in the future. Lock is a very solid superflex option who will only rise in value once he gets his chance to start in the NFL.

Lock was a polarizing prospect this offseason. His arm strength is undeniable, but his decision-making needs work. As a second-round prospect, Lock compares to other prospects like Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. Other prospects who landed in this area of the draft also include Geno Smith, Jake Plummer, and Drew Stanton. Second-round draft capital for quarterbacks is not what it is for other positions. Do not hesitate to draft Lock in superflex or 2QB formats, just be sure to temper expectations.

JUWAAN WINFREE, WR COLORADO (ROUND 6, PICK 187)

Winfree was an interesting pick late in the sixth round. He was not on my radar at all pre-draft, and upon further research, rightfully so. He will likely be a contributor on special teams for the Broncos. He is listed as having played defensive back for a year in college. He brings some versatility to an NFL roster, with good size and the ability to fill in at multiple positions potentially. Other than that, there’s nothing on Winfree’s profile that would suggest he’s a good target in dynasty leagues.