I probably won't be able to post tomorrow or Tuesday as I'll be traveling without reliable internet access. Reviews will return on Wednesday!
Watch out Eddie Kennison and..uh..that other guy!: Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe
After reviewing wide receivers who were drafted by teams that didn't need wide receivers, it's nice to finally see somebody go where they're needed. The first guy in that category is Dwayne Bowe (23rd overall) who should be happy to be drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.
From a fantasy perspective, all the Chiefs wide receivers pretty much stink. They're "led" by Eddie Kennison (860 yds, 5 TDs) with Samie Parker (561 yds, 1 TD) as their #2 receiver and Dante Hall (204 yds, 2 TDs) getting some playing time. On pure skill alone Bowe may be better than any of those three guys, however he won't suddenly be the center of the passing offense. There are a few other things to consider.
First, the Chiefs quarterback situation is unsettled. It may be veteran Trent Green who is a proven field leader. It may be Damon Huard, who stepped in for the injured Green last season and performed very well. It may be second year man Brodie Croyle, who is rough and inexperienced but the coaching staff thinks he has what it takes to lead the franchise. Right now, nobody knows who it will be.
Second, the Chiefs aren't a passing team. With Larry Johnson, the Chiefs like to run the ball, run it again and then run it some more. No matter who the Chiefs have at quarterback they're not going to suddenly turn into a passing offense. That limits the fantasy output that Bowe can produce for you.
Third, the best receiver on the team is tight end Tony Gonzalez. When the Chiefs pass the ball, they look to him first. On the other hand, with the offensive line woes that Kansas City has, Gonzalez will likely be spending a little more time blocking and less time catching the ball.
Add all that up, and what does it mean for Dwayne Bowe? Assuming nobody gets injured I see Bowe having a solid season as a #3 fantasy wide receiver. I project about 50 catches for 750 yards and five touchdowns. That might make him worth a starting spot on your fantasy team during a bye-week or if you're in a large league.
If you've been paying attention, you may have realized that my projection for Bowe is about the same as Eddie Kennison's totals for last season. Odds are that somebody in your league used Eddie Kennison for at least one week - and maybe more - last season. That's a good guide for where Bowe should end up in your fantasy league.