AFC West Divisional Podcast Recap for 2025 (Fantasy Football)

As NFL training camps begin, The Fantasy Footballers Podcast is previewing each division for fantasy football. Following coverage of the AFC East, North, and South, they turn to the AFC West – a division that sent three teams to the playoffs last season. While the Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the AFC West for nearly a decade, winning nine consecutive titles, their path to a tenth title is less clear after the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers significantly improved in 2024, both winning 10 games and making the playoffs.

The analysis focuses on the Kansas City Chiefs, who hold an 11.5 Vegas projected win total for 2025. Key roster changes include additions of RB Elijah Mitchell, RB Kareem Hunt, and WR Juju Smith-Schuster, alongside the departures of WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Justin Watson, and RB Samaje Perine. Rookies added are WR Jalen Royals (Round 4) and RB Brashard Smith (Round 7). Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has an impressive 33-5 career record against the division, but his fantasy performance has declined recently. He finished as QB8 and QB11 over the last two seasons and received an "F" in the Ballers' Consistency Ratings over his last 17 games, posting career lows in several passing categories and scoring 20+ fantasy points in only 23.5% of those games.

Hope for Mahomes' fantasy rebound hinges on young WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Rice started 2024 strong, averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game with a 35% target rate per route before injury. Worthy's rookie speed offered promise. Veteran Marquise Brown, returning from injury, could contribute in deeper leagues. The key question is which WR emerges as the primary target. Tight end Travis Kelce showed signs of decline, finishing outside the top 5 TEs in 2024 for the first time since 2016 despite leading TEs in red zone targets. His draft capital reflects this, falling to the late 6th round.

The biggest fantasy uncertainty is the Chiefs' backfield. Starter Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula early in 2024, leading to a split workload with Kareem Hunt by season's end. If healthy, Pacheco could reclaim his role of 15+ touches per game. However, the re-signing of Hunt suggests a potential committee approach. Rookie Brashard Smith, a converted WR with explosive athleticism, is a wild card who could earn PPR value in the passing game.