Stock Up, Stock Down: Offense
27 repliesWe’re doing stock market changes after the regular season, splitting it into offense and defense. First, let’s start with offense.
Patrick Mahomes: Stock Up
Besides one game, Mahomes was phenomenal for most of 2020. 4700 yards and 38 touchdowns in 15 games. 14-1 record. Multiple game-winning and game-sealing drives on his arm and legs. This has been apex Mahomes so far in my mind, even if it isn’t there statistically.
Chad Henne: Stock Up
Henne got his first start as a Chief in week 17, and looked solid. He was throwing accurate underneath, and was putting a lot of zip on the ball. Reid clearly trusts him if Mahomes ever has an injury, so his stock went up.
Matt Moore: Stock Down
Moore did start two games in 2019, but the Chiefs clearly trust Henne more than Moore. He got put on the practice squad all year, and when the game didn’t matter, it went to Henne. Moore was demoted this year, so his stock is down.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Stock Up
Clyde had an interesting rookie season. He had a really strong debut vs the Texans, struggled some the next four games, was great vs Buffalo, but then Bell came in. Still, before his injury, Clyde had his most productive receiving output vs Miami, and his best YPC performance vs New Orleans. I think the Chiefs were ramping him up before the postseason, and he was performing super well, so I think those performances give me positive indications on what he could’ve been.
Le’Veon Bell: Stock Down
Look, I love Le’Veon Bell. He’s one of my favorite players of all-time. But he didn’t meet expectations in KC. Now, is he bad? No. He’s still a powerful, patient runner with great contact balance and receiving traits. But he looks slow. He’s lost almost all of his juice, and he’s not able to make dudes miss in space continually. He’s still a quality running back and way better than a backup, but he’s not anywhere near Pittsburgh Le’Veon.
Darrel Williams: Push
He’s pretty much the exact same player he was. He hasn’t really improved or digressed in anyways. Darrel is a solid rotation back, and that’s fine.
Darwin Thompson: Stock Up
Week 17 sold it for me, and besides one horrific fumble vs Baltimore, he’s been good! He has plenty of juice, good receiving ability, and shows really solid agility running. The vision and trust with Mahomes is still poor, but if he has another good camp, I’m cool with giving Darwin a roster spot.
Tyreek Hill: Stock Up
This was Tyreek Hill’s best season, until he hurt his hamstring in the Tampa Bay game. Hill had 269 yards receiving that game on 13 catches. After that? In 3 games, 197 yards. I think Hill was a little more timid in his ability to cut and make some in-breaking routes, which makes sense. He was still uber-dynamic. If that hamstring doesn’t flare up, he puts up his best season statistically. He’s polished his entire skillset. This might be apex Hill.
Sammy Watkins: Stock Down
Sammy Watkins looked slow. After coming back from injury, he looked really slow. He wasn’t running with the same ferocity, and sustained another injury before the playoffs. Maybe playoff Sammy comes back and dominates, but this was his worst regular season of his career. I was disappointed.
Demarcus Robinson: Push
Similar to Darrel, my perception of D-Rob didn’t really change. I still like him, but acknowledge his many flaws. He’s a solid route runner, but is super careless with the ball. He works with Mahomes well off of free plays, but also makes careless mistakes. This has been the case for years, but I still value him on the roster.
Mecole Hardman: Stock down
Mecole Hardman regressed. There’s no other way of saying that. After the organization expected him to play more snaps, he played 49% of snaps. What did he do in 2019? 49%. His stats went down as well.
- Explosive Plays: 2019=9, 2020=6
- Yards Per Catch: 2019=20.7, 2020=13.7
- Yards Per Target: 2019=13.1, 2020=9.0
- Drops/Drop Percentage: 2019=1, 2.4%, 2020=8, 12.9%
- 1st Down Percentage Per Target: 2019=43.9%, 2020=34.8%
- 15 more catches in 2020 (21 more targets), but only 22 more receiving yards
- Touchdowns: 2019=6, 2020=4
For the most part, his other stats stayed the same, even with higher volume. Simply, Hardman wasn’t as efficient. The route tree didn’t expand much, his hands became an issue, and there are still many miscommunications with Mahomes. He’s still dynamic and explosive, but the Chiefs expected more, and frankly, he didn’t match the expectations. I’m very worried about Mecole Hardman.
Byron Pringle: Stock Up
It won’t show statistically, but Pringle was really good this year. He’s shown a lot as a route runner, contested catches, and running hard on every snap. Pringle is a RFA this offseason, I would easily bring him back to replace Robinson if he walks this offseason.
Travis Kelce: Stock Up
It’s hard to increase your stock when you’re as good as Kelce, but he put up the best tight end season ever in 15 games. Kelce has always been better than Kittle, but this season, he increased the gap between him and Kittle. He’s the best tight end in the league. He’s the best tight end in Chiefs history. Everything after this year is just icing on the cake for his all-time case.
Nick Keizer: Stock Down
I wanted to just say push for Keizer, because I think the criticism of Keizer went too far. I think he’s a perfectly solid tight end on the roster, and a capable blocker. But as a receiver, he’s simply not good. His hands aren’t good, and I don’t think he provides anything as a route runner. He’s a roster-able player, but for a guy receiving 25% of snaps consistently, he’s not good enough.
Deon Yelder: Stock Up
I’m not sure why Yelder doesn’t play over Keizer. I think Keizer is definitely the better blocker (which is why he plays), but I sorta like Yelder as a receiver. No one will say he’s good, but he provides a more dynamic threat vertically and after the catch. I thought he played well in week 17. I’m intrigued.
Anthony Sherman: Push
Locker room guy.
Eric Fisher: Stock Up
This wasn’t Fisher’s best season (2018), but he was way better than his 2019 output. He still has his bad games like he does every season, but he was healthy and capable, which was a huge plus for this offensive line. I wouldn’t mind keeping Fisher for a few more years.
Mike Remmers: Stock Up
The fact that Remmers, who was brought in to be guard depth and 3rd string tackle, started 10 games and is going to start the entire postseason, and didn’t absolutely suck is amazing. And honestly, Remmers played fine. He had his bad games (Miami, Tampa Bay), but for a 3rd string tackle, I couldn’t ask for anything else. If he has a bad postseason, I won’t be upset. Remmers shouldn’t have had to play right tackle, and the fact he did it admirably earns my respect.
Mitchell Schwartz: Stock Down
Schwartz’s stock has tanked completely. Schwartz’s best attributes were health and consistency, and he didn’t really provide enough of that this season. I think Schwartz is going to retire or leave the Chiefs this offseason. He’s had a great career, but his injury has tanked his stock for me. It’s not his fault, but it’s reality.
Lucas Niang: Push
Niang opting out (while totally justified) really did hurt when Schwartz got hurt. Then again, his contract didn’t start for the Chiefs, so he’s basically a rookie next year. We could get 4 years of really cheap tackle play after Schwartz. So it’s a push.
Nick Allegretti: Stock Up
We finally got to see Allegretti play this season, and…it was whatever. He had an awesome debut vs Buffalo, but his pass protection has been really suspect. His feet are really slow, and he lacks the movement skills and balance to excel in pass protection, but if he’s your 5th offensive lineman, you can succeed. His stock is up because we finally got to see Allegretti play.
Kelechi Osemele: Stock Down
He was great when he played, but he only played 4 full games. I love Osemele, I want him back, but the injury history scares me. He was easily our best IOL when he played, so if he’s healthy, bring him back. But we also need to bolster the depth behind him.
LDT: Stock Up
This has nothing to do with the football player LDT, but the doctor and man. And as that, his stock could never be higher. Thanks, LDT.
Austin Reiter: Stock Down
After last year, I can’t believe his stock went down again. Reiter is an NFL player, but he’s started over 35 games now. That’s way too many. He still can’t block in short yardage situations at all, and his anchor vs power rushers is bad. His communication up front is good, but besides that? Yikes. Don’t bring him back please.
Daniel Kilgore: Stock Up
Kilgore looked like a competent NFL center at times. He’s super limited athletically and can’t move, but he’s at least powerful as a run blocker. He can move defensive tackles well. I wouldn’t bring him back to start, but if he wants to back up our new center next year? I’m cool with it.
Andrew Wylie: Stock Down
Wylie is really bad. His balance is terrible. He can’t anchor. Good athlete, but he plays with terrible technique. If he’s a backup lineman I’m cool with it, but he’s started too many games for me. I can’t believe he’s still playing.
Yasir Durant: Stock Up
I’m intrigued. He’s played more tackle than guard, but I think he’s best as a guard. He’s got really good length and power, and quality athleticism for the interior. I could see him sticking on this roster for a while as a guard. He’s got quality traits for the interior if the Chiefs use him there.
Darrel Williams,D. Rop & Any TE Not Named Kelce can Kick Rocks AFAIC … ; )
Man I really hope that Reiter and Wylie don’t come back. I wasn’t a fan of those two last year either.
I dont know enough about the ins and outs of OL so I wont speak on that much except to say that Fisher is a push at best this year in my opinion. He let Defensive Ends just blow right by him to many times to say he was better this year and I dont actually want this years Fisher back unless its on a cheap prove it deal. Again I dont know about judging OLine outside of the eye test so maybe it was the players beside him that hurt him but again he just looked serviceable at best, again in my opinion.
hardman I can agree with except Im not worried about him yet and going to chalk it up to Sophomore Slump, but it does feel like next year he will be #3 behind Pringle which is a little disappointing because I believe they wanted him to be a #2 and Watkins replacement at that point and maybe with an actual offseason he’ll finally get there. Concerned not necessarily worried
The rest i can agree with although I still dont want Henne in the backup position, he showed enough to be trusted not to lose to badly if hes ever thrusted into the starting role but Id still rather have him in the Moore role and have a Mahomes very light at the primary backup, someone who isnt necessarily a starter but has potential rather than known commodity like Henne. Kind of like Mariota was this year for the Raiders, you know if he starts for long term its not going to work but if he has to come in hes good enough to make some things happen that the season isnt over
I think you’re underrating Fisher slightly. He had his bad games (LAC, NOR), but for the most part, he was fine
Here’s my deal with Hardman; it wasn’t like he was great his rookie year, and look at the class after him. Metcalf, Scary Terry, even Diontae were already better than him and surpassed him way more than those guys
Excellent article.
3 more Chiefs win – all that matters!!!
Divisional round
Championship round
Super Bowl
CHIEFS!!!
CEH isn’t on the team anymore?
I had something for him, weird. Give me a minute
Clyde Edwards-Helaire on track for playoffs, The Chiefs should get their starting running back for the Divisional Round — per a few media outlets
It’s fixed now, I apologize
via GIPHY
I don’t know how he could be anything but stock up. He was a piece we didn’t need, but ended up getting great production out of. He singlehandedly won us a couple of games on the ground.
true dat … he was also invisible for a few games here and there (that said, stock has to be up with a year of learning and playing with the “big boys”)
I thought Keizer was going to be an upgrade over Bell. I could not have been more wrong. Keizer is absolutely terrible. I’m really surprised this is the best that the Chiefs could come up with as a number two.
Osemele assessment is a bit harsh. Guy took vet min and was our best interior lineman, maybe our only decent interior lineman before a freak non-contact injury. I really hope he comes back next year.
They’re going to need to draft a number of lineman to fix this mess.
Bell looks like a starter compared to Keizer.
Where the hell have you been ?
Definitely need to draft o-line early and often. Mahomes is incredible at making something outa nothing but damn it’s frustrating seeing him scrambling for his life.
Agree. I’d like to see how Rodgers would do behind this line. I’m hoping for playoff matchups against teams that don’t have a pass rush. So right now I’m rooting for the Titans. There’s not the one lineman I would grade above a “C”.
excellent analytical tidbits, Nate … well done, have a wreck!
favorite line: “We finally got to see Allegretti play this season, and…it was whatever” … yeah, powerful statement there
Yes absolutely great work. I agree with every assessment. Especially Bell, who just, looks slow.
That is a lot of stock down on the OL. But Big Fish is still churning.
He’s churning but he can’t handle power rushers. He was abused in the Saints game. It looked very similar to the super bowl.
Fish is our best and most consistent lineman now. He’s not better than Schwartz, but he’s been healthy.
and the best ability is availability …
The fact that he is our best is not a ringing endorsement. Patrick doesn’t get enough credit for having to play behind this line.
I’m not denying any of this. Patrick Lavon Mahomes II covers up almost every game-time deficiency in this offense. “A high tide raises all boats” as the saying goes. I just think Fish has been maligned since the start of his career because he was the #1 pick in 2013. He’s been a starting caliber LT since like 2015. Once the Chiefs stopped putting turnstiles at the LG position, he showed how good he could be. He’s not an All-Pro LT. Not even close. But he’s a starter, and that’s good enough for Mahomes.
Let’s be fair, he shouldn’t have been playing at all. His back clearly wasn’t healthy at all, and with no back, there’s no way he should’ve been handing power well