Fantasy Football: Is There Any Hope for Kadarius Toney?

Disappointing isn't a strong enough word to describe Kadarius Toney's 2023 season.

Per FantasyPros' consensus ADP data, Toney entered last season as WR44 at pick 111. He finished the year out as WR114, averaging a mere 3.0 fantasy points through 14 games.

The former first-round pick in the NFL draft hasn't been able to get his career off the ground, notching just 3 touchdowns on 115 targets in his calamitous professional career, but we saw just how low the floor could be last season.

This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired better and bigger assets at wideout. Does Toney have any chance for redemption, or is the end near for the former Florida Gators star?

Kadarius Toney Fantasy Football Outlook

Toney's 2023 Recap

Patrick Mahomes didn't have many appealing targets last season, but Toney was the worst of all.

Not only did Toney sport the highest drop rate in the league, but he also averaged just 6.3 yards per catch, a league-low mark at wide receiver.

Toney saw his target share collapse to 8.1% despite Kansas City's tendency to share the wealth. All in all, he totaled 169 yards and one touchdown on 27 receptions and 38 targets.

His poor play and remarks about the organization led to him being benched for the duration of Kansas City's playoff run. We've come quite a way since Toney's historic 65-yard punt return in Super Bowl LVII.

Fantasy football managers are justly sour on Toney. Currently, he is being taken as WR120 at pick 324.

Can the 25-year-old resurrect his career, or has the opportunity in Kansas City already passed him?

New Additions in Kansas City Could Push Toney Out

If there was ever a signal-caller to force a wideout back on track, Mahomes is probably the guy.

Late last season, time was of the essence for the Chiefs. Mahomes and company could not play shenanigans with Toney following an infamous Week 17 dropped pass, which was the nail in the coffin for his campaign. But the upcoming fresh season alongside Mahomes could have been grounds for greener pastures.

The problem is, the defending champs have little to no reason to spend any of their efforts on Toney.

Last year, Kansas City was depleted at the position. Rashee Rice emerged as KC's top target in his rookie bid, but Justin Watson as WR2 and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as WR3 speaks to the lacking receivers room.

Fast forward to now, and the Chiefs have since built out a strong receiving core. They signed Marquise Brown to a one-year, $11 million contract and drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Brown, Worthy, Rice, and Travis Kelce will undoubtedly gobble up the lion's share of targets in KC's offense. Rice could have a potential multi-game suspension coming his way, which may pave a path for Toney to temporarily move up a spot on the depth chart.

Mahomes provides a fantasy-relevant outlook for many of his teammates. Brown, Worthy, Rice, Kelce, and Isiah Pacheco all fall into that bucket. But as of now, Toney is at best the WR4 on the Chiefs.

Can Toney Carve Out a Role?

When we pair Toney's horrific 2023 season with Kansas City's additions at wideout, the conversation regarding his outlook would theoretically come to an impasse.

But despite everything, he still seems to hold a strong place on the team, at least according the organization. Andy Reid told reporters that he is expecting Toney "to come back ripping and ready to go." Kansas City's GM Brett Veach even went as far to say that Toney is "probably our most talented wideout" (per ESPN's Adam Teicher).

The Chiefs are signaling that they have yet to give up on Toney, and he participated in throwing sessions with Mahomes during this offseason. Even still, the depth chart doesn't lie, and it's hard to picture Toney climbing above Brown, Worthy, and Rice when those three are healthy.

Notably, Toney has been taking snaps at running back in training camp. The Chiefs are clearly looking to find a fit for Toney and could be aiming to leverage his athleticism and versatility, especially after letting Jerick McKinnon walk.

Kadarius Toney Fantasy Football Projection

numberFire's season-long NFL projections expect Toney to log 39 receiving yards and 0.34 touchdowns on 4 receptions and 6 targets this season. They also forecast him to rush for 51 yards and 0.40 touchdowns.

These projections are based on a full 17-game season and tap Toney as a complete non-factor. All in all, these expected marks are good for a WR130 rank.

Toney's projected outlook is equally as gloomy as his league-low marks in drop rate and yards per grab from last season.

We have every right to be completely sour on him, both because of his performance and the new additions to Kansas City's offense. But the Chiefs do seem bullish on at least trying to make it work with Toney, and he could benefit from the nice ecosystem. He's at least worth having on your radar as a possible early-season waiver add.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.