LeSean McCoy released, signs with Kansas City Chiefs: Fantasy context

LeSean McCoy released, signs with Kansas City Chiefs: Fantasy context

LeSean McCoy

Although being released from a team a player was expected to be a starter on is often not good for a player’s fantasy value, it turned into a best-case scenario for the two time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler. Landing on the Chiefs is a serious boon for his fantasy value. In Buffalo, he had a more talented back waiting behind him in Devin Singletary. While that may still be the case in Kansas City with Darwin Thompson, McCoy’s contract indicates was brought to Kansas City to get starters touches.

Many are a bit down on McCoy after he fizzled and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in 2018. This was by far the lowest mark of his career. However, let’s put his season in context. He was running behind an offensive line that ranked as the third worst in the league according to Football Outsiders.

McCoy played for a Buffalo Bills team that had zero talent at wide receiver or tight end, and for the majority of the season quarterback. This meant that opposing defenses could key on McCoy on every play. Playing for such a poor team also led to a -4.32 game script, a mark that ranked as the fourth worst in the league. The result of this is that McCoy saw over 11 carries in just six of his 14 contests. He produced at an RB2 level in four of those six games.

While he has a lower weekly floor than one would expect from a starter on the Chiefs, he has the same theoretical RB1 upside many were placing on Damien Williams when they thought he was the starter. He is a borderline RB2/3 with massive weekly upside. There was not a better landing spot in the NFL for Shady as he gets to reunite with former head coach Andy Reid and will be jumping into a system he has already mastered.