The camp is closed. Time to ready the tribe for week one action.

What have we learned?

The QB appears to be in mid-season form and focused on crushing it this season. Patrick Mahomes has been razor-sharp in his practice and game works. There is a heightened sense of determination on the part of Mahomes yet he remains loose and comfortable around his teammates. The sting of the beat-down absorbed by the franchise QB and the team in last year’s Super Bowl loss is a sort of rallying point for Mahomes and the entire organization. Top-to-bottom the Kansas City players are attacking their assignments, executing and winning the individual battles while succeeding in meshing together as an all-for-one-and-one-for-all brigade. It all starts with Mahomes who is on a mission to get back to the big game and right the wrong of 2020. Fantasy GMs, take notice, Patrick Mahomes may be on his way to his best pro season yet.

One reason the QB seems poised to dominate like never before is the deeper WR corps he is working with in 2021. Most of the names are the same but the pass-routing athletes Mahomes is throwing to have elevated their intensity, sharpened their focus and gained a new level of maturity as receivers. Tyreek Hill is as fast and sudden as ever but is running his patterns as if he owns the field. Hill is dictating to enemy CBs what he wants to do and just goes about doing it, regardless of the level of expertise the CB lining up across from him possesses. The biggest turn-around in camp has been Mecole Hardman. Hardman hasn’t really packed on pounds of new muscle or gotten any faster (he was already fast anyway), but he’s discovered the nuances of route-running and how to play without the ball coming his way. Hardman will never be a WR1 type ala Tyreek Hill; he’s just not physically constructed to handle a heavy target load and the pounding that comes with an abundance of touches. No, Hardman looks to be ready to be the dangerous playmaker that can tear up man coverages while Tyreek Hill draws heavy defensive fire form opposing teams’ top CBs. Demarcus Robinson is a reliable sort who shows up every week ready to play. Robinson’s bugaboo has been inconsistent hands, which have been a cause of many failed opportunities to make the WR2 gig all his. Robinson has displayed sticky fingers in camp and his pre-season action thus far. D-Rob will never be more than a 40-50 catch produced at best, but if Mahomes can trust the veteran wideout to hold onto those key targets when it counts his upside of 50 receptions and 6 TDs is attainable. Hill, Hardman and Robinson are the starting 3-WR crew. Byron Pringle was the ‘hot’ name to make a run at a breakout this year, but since camp opened and the pads went on Pringle has played himself into a WR4 gig while continuing his fine kick return work. I’ve been touting rookie wideout Cornell Powell, but frankly he’s disappointed. Ex-Colts’ prospect Daurice Fountain has had some impressive practice days and Maurice Ffrench made some plays in the last pre-season tilt that got the attention of the coaching staff.

TE Travis Kelce is ready to roll. Fanballers can plan on 85+ catches once again. Rookie Noah Gray entered camp with momentum after showing off his receiving chops in OTAs and mini-camps. However, when the pads started popping in training camp, Gray seemed to struggle across the board. There’s no doubting his ability but he needs work getting up to NFL speed.

The offensive line is going to be a strength for this offense, a return to top-10 quality. The Chiefs outright stole RG Trey Smith in the 6^th round of the 2021 draft. Smith is showing first-round ability and is playing with a motivational chip on his shoulder after falling to the 6^th. He has RG locked up, relegating the good doctor, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, to a reserve role. Rookie Center Creed Humphrey is the real deal. Coach Andy Reid just knows line talent when he sees it. Humphrey had fired a few errant shotgun snaps early in camp but seems to be settling in now there. LG is sealed and delivered with quality. Veteran Joe Thuney is everythingCoach Andy Heck could ask for in a veteran lining up next to a rookie pivot. He is smart, accomplished, experienced and all-around sound as an interior lineman. Speaking of everything a line coach could want, LT Orlando Brown is just that and more. Brown is a wonderful revelation for this blocking unit and the offense overall, presenting a passion of the game and his team, a positive voice in the locker room and in the huddle. On top of it all, Brown is a lock-down blindside protector for Mahomes, and a young one at that. RT looks to be in the hands of 2020 third round pick Lucas Niang. Niang sat out his true rookie season after opting out. Though he enters his 2^nd year in the pro ranks, he has yet to take an NFL field in regular season action and by all accounts can be viewed as a rookie. Niang, Humphrey and Smith are all first year players, one way or another, Brown and Thuney are in their maiden runs as Chiefs. This is a completely revamped squad, and it is darn impressive.

Fanballers should be ready to pounce on RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Yes, he suffered an ankle injury in the last pre-season game, but it is deemed minor and he should be ready to rock week 1. Edwards-Helaire worked on his pass-game skills a lot this pre-season. It is anticipated that Coach Reid will incorporate the 2^nd-season feature back much more as a receiver this year. There are many who continue to downgrade Edwards-Helaire as a top-10 fantasy RB, basing lowered expectations on his modest rookie contributions. CEH is a bargain pick for fantasy folks in the 2^nd round. The Chiefs finally cut bait with Darwin Thompson, releasing him on Monday. Thompson never found his pro-level stride and watching him in camp one could easily see he was struggling mightily to make things happen, especially as a receiver, fighting the ball on almost every target. His release leaves Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon as the backs off the bench after Edwards-Helaire. Williams may have been outplayed and overtaken in the pecking order by McKinnon. McKinnon has been sporty rushing the rock, electric catching and YACing it up. McKinnon looks as if he will cut in on Edwards-Helaire on passing downs quite a bit, but this offense has enough volume to go around. My expectations for Clyde Edwards-Helaire are 1700 YFS, 50-55 catches and 15 total TDs on offense.

Since we’re projecting numbers:

QB Patrick Mahomes, 4900 passing yards 42 TDs

WR Tyreek Hill, 89 catches, 1400 yards and 9 TDs

WR Mecole Hardman, 55 catches, 650 yards and 7 TDs

TE Travis Kelce, 85 grabs, 1000 yards, 11 TDs

Watch this offense out there. They are playing in unison, together, for one another. WRs are flying up field to throw blocks for RBs to gain added yards. RBs are getting after pass-rushers with gusto. The O-line are active, synchronized and meticulous performing some detailed and complicated zone and counter blocking schemes. There’s energy, confidence, and a general enjoyment on the field.

Something special is on the come in Kansas City.

I’ll see what’s special with this club’s defense in the next EYE IN THE SKY REPORT from KANSAS CITY.

End.