Chiefs Underdog Players of the 2021 Season

My father was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I don’t know where or when it happened in his life, but somewhere he picked up the idea to root for the underdog. I can recall him kneeling in front of the TV, mostly because you had to change the channel by hand in those days, that’s right, he came from the lost land of no remotes, but as he crouched in front of the old boob tube, he cheer on teams he had no association with, just because they weren’t supposed to win those games.

That’s what we’ll be doing here today — no, not crouching in front of a tube type television — but cheering on our favorite Chiefs players this year, those who aren’t considered “stars,” be cause as Dr. Seuss in “The Sneetches” used to say, “They had no stars upon thares.” Meaning, their bellies. Let’s begin with someone who was originally slated to eb a star… but then wasn’t, and now we’ll be hoping he is…

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Baker was drafted with the 30th pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the New York Giants. Bakers rookie season appeared to be going along just fine but he ended up having off field issues the next summer and on July, 27, 2020, well, here’s Giants.com to tell the story:

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“The NFL today placed DeAndre Baker of the New York Giants on the Commissioner Exempt List. Baker was charged with multiple felonies, including armed robbery and aggravated assault, following an incident in May.”

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The Giants waived Baker 6 weeks later and as we all know, Andy Reid is a man of Second Chances, so Brett Veach signed Baker in November last year. Baker then fractured his femur on a non-contact play in the last game of the season when the Chiefs were sitting their starters and trying to get a good read on what Baker could offer going forward.

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Fast Forward and in Preseason Games this year, Baker has taken:

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• 61% of the snaps in PS Game One vs the Cardinals (3rd most on Defense)
• 41% of the snaps in PS Game Two vs the 49ers (6th most on Defense)
• 47% of he snaps in PS Game Three vs the Vikes (tied for 7th most on Defense)

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I’m guessing the achievements of another CB that the Chiefs signed, who was also a 30th overall pick, but the year before, Mike Hughes, has taken some of he luster off of what Deandre Baker has done, is doing, and will do this year. Go Baker Go!

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With the Chiefs starting three new players, essentially rookies, on the right side of their offensive line, a ton of publicity has come their way. However, of the those three “rookies,” Lucas Niang has gotten the least amount of coverage.

Creed Humphrey was a 2nd round pick this year and if all things went his way, which they apparently have, he was going to be the new starting OC. Check.

While RG Trey Smith was a 6th round pick this year and because of medical issues he was passed over — multiple times — by every team, including K.C., until the 6th round that is. With Smith already getting a load of national press and being called the “Steal of the Year” by some, he’s etching out his place at RG, for years to come. Check.

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Then we come to the soft spoken, RT Lucas Niang. Many believed Niang would sit behind Mike Remmers this year and wait his turn after the vet shows him the ropes. It was Remmers doing the sitting in Training Camp practices in St. Joe, due to back spasms, and with Niang stepping in, he’s never looked back.

While there have been times I’ve thought Trey Smith was the Chiefs best OL in training camp — and mostly because of his highlight pancakes — it’s Niang who’s been the most consistent, right there with Joe Thuney. Go Niang Go!

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Daurice Fountain has been called, “Dwayne Bowe” lite at points in the preseason.

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I’m not so sure he has Bowes’ upside, but if he does, watch out. We’ve often thought, “What if Patrick Mahomes had gotten to play with a RB like Jamaal Charles?” Well, here’s a chance to see what it might be like for Mahomes to play with Bowe… er, Fountain. Fountain is a sure handed 6-foot-1, 210 lbs. wideout who can go up and win a battle for the ball. He offers a WR who can win in the short distance throws, something that was dearly lacking from anyone not named Travis Kelce in Super Bowl LV.

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There’s a chance that Reece Fountain can become the 2nd best WR on this team by the end of the year. Better than Mecole Hardman? Yes, at least more dependable. He was a 5th round pick of the Colts in 2018 and has three years of NFL experience under his belt. Let’s not downplay the impact a 5th round pick can have. Remember, Tyreek Hill was a 5th rounder and while I’m not saying he’ll become a Hill — there’ll never be another Hill — he could become a Bowe. Go Fountain Go!

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The Chiefs kept four TEs on the 53-man roster this year, including: Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Noah Gray, and Jody Fortson. Fortson was a UDFA wideout for the Chiefs in 2019 and spent the past two years on the Practice Squad. Fortson is one of those players who actually develops into a player who makes the 53-man roster, like he did this season. It’s taken a lot of hard work on his part:

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I’m not only pulling for Fortson, but he represents an important idea to other UDFAs coming in –> that if you work hard and devote yourself to our craft, you can make the 53 man roster with the Chiefs. I’m also excited about what HC Andy reid can do with four tight ends. Fortson should be helpful when K.C. goes to the 14 personnel (4 TEs). Go Fortson Go!

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While Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon are the Chiefs speedy backs, Darrel Williams is the plow horse. At 5-foot-11, 224 lbs., Williams is built like a truck and is a perfect ramrod for a goal line plunge.

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Brett Veach has quoted his size as an ideal for RBs they look for. Darrel Williams is much more than that. He’s a positive locker room guy who was a UDFA for K.C. in 2018 out of LSU. He may not get as many snaps this year as Clyde Edwards-Helaire, or even Jerick McKinnon, but when he’s in he game, he moves the needle, literally. Go Darrel Williams Go!

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Watts has had an up and down and up again three years with the Chiefs. Right now he’s on an upward trajectory and has made several excellent plays this offseason, as well as in Preseason games:

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While Juan Thornhill, and Tyrann Mathieu, have been the headline stealing Safeties so far this preseason — and for good reason — Watts appears to be coming into his own. Watts was a 4th round pick for the Chiefs in the 2018 NFL draft, and is playing his best ball since coming into the league. Go Armani Go!

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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