Kansas City‘s banner night ended badly, losing to the Detroit Lions last week 20-21. WR Kadarius Toney’s play certainly hurt more than helped. Should fantasy football managers trust Toney in their lineup in Week 2?
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Should I Start or Sit Kadarius Toney in Fantasy This Week?
The door was wide open for Toney, or any other pass catcher for the Chiefs, to seize the opportunity with TE Travis Kelce missing the game with an injury. However, how Toney played arguably cost KC the game the same night KC hung their Super Bowl banner.
KADARIUS TONEY TAKES IT DOWN TO THE 5 YARD LINE.
THIS GAME. 🔥🔥🔥
📺: #SBLVII on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/d8gBDzRt2m pic.twitter.com/bFMl6VQPUA— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2023
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes did target Toney five times during the game but only caught one of those targets for one yard. Also, one of those targets was an ugly drop, resulting in a pick-six.
In Toney’s defense, most Chiefs WRs had a rough outing as no pass catcher hit 50 receiving yards as Mahomes spread the ball to six different receivers, with rookie WR Rashee Rice benefitting from one of Mahomes’ two TDs.
Here’s the problem: Toney still has the best QB in the league and plays for one of the top offenses in the NFL. The potential for league-winning weeks is always there. The talent with Toney has always been there. Knowing which week will be that week is what will frustrate fantasy managers. With Kelce out of the lineup, many expected that to happen last week.
After last week’s game, Mahomes said he trusts Toney and will still be “one of those guys he goes to in crucial moments.” But I still have difficulty trusting Toney in my lineup this week vs. Jacksonville.
Fantasy Outlook for Toney vs. the Jaguars?
Toney will have a chance to redeem himself in a potential shootout with Jacksonville. With an expected game total of over 51 points and Kelce still limited in practice, points must come from somewhere for Kansas City.
MORE: 2023 WR Fantasy Football Rankings
Suppose Kelce were to play in Week 2. In that case, the target pie will be small for all other pass catchers. Also to consider, Mahomes will spread the ball around evenly between the rest of the WR group. Fantasy managers will need Toney to get into the end zone because the targets and yards don’t seem to be there.
To keep things in perspective, Toney has nowhere to go but up after Week 1’s performance. I view Toney as nothing more than a flex purely because of the offense he is in, Mahomes being his QB, and a potential shootout with the Jaguars.