2025 AFC WEST DIVISIONAL PREVIEW
WELCOME TO THE FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 AFC WEST DIVISIONAL PREVIEW!
The AFC West division — or the AFC Chiefs, given their nine straight division titles — remains a fun and competitive group. It boasts numerous offense-minded coaches who light up the scoreboard, anchored by Andy Reid and Sean Payton. The Raiders are turning heads by hiring Chip Kelly as their new offensive coordinator. The division is loaded with top talent at quarterback, led by Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and an emerging second-year starter in Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos. The Raiders drafted an exciting prospect in running back Ashton Jeanty, who has already climbed draft boards and is poised to be the first player taken from the division in many fantasy drafts.
The AFC West is ready to put on a fantasy showdown worthy of the wild, wild west.
Now, before we start going position by position, let’s break down the ins and outs of each team from this past season!
***Also, stats & info from all of our divisional previews are sourced from the following outlets: PFF, Fantasy Points Data Suite, FantasyData, FTN, & NFL Next Gen Stats.***
Now that we’ve seen where these teams left off in 2024, let us preview where their players at different positions can either help or hurt your fantasy football teams in 2025!
Quarterback
Justin Herbert (FIF Consensus: QB13, Personal: QB14)
Herbert feels like an afterthought heading into 2025, currently slotted at QB13. He quietly posted eight top-12 finishes last season, showing he still offers a solid weekly floor. With a more balanced, run-heavy offense under Jim Harbaugh, Herbert may lack the ceiling he once had, but he remains a dependable low-end QB1 you can draft late in drafts.
Patrick Mahomes (FIF Consensus: QB9, Personal: QB6)
What’s not to love about getting a former QB1 who threw for over 5,000 yards just two years ago—outside the top five? Mahomes enters 2025 with arguably the deepest set of pass catchers he’s ever had. Never bet against “Big Red” and #15.
Bo Nix (FIF Consensus: QB10, Personal: QB10)
The experienced college standout showed poise and promise in his rookie season, tossing 29 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions en route to a QB7 fantasy finish. With another year under Sean Payton’s guidance, there’s room for growth. Nix also offers sneaky rushing upside, making him a strong late-round target to round out the top-10 quarterbacks.
Geno Smith (FIF Consensus: QB26, Personal: QB27)
There’s a drop-off in receiving talent moving from Seattle to Las Vegas, but Geno gets a notable upgrade along the offensive line—especially in pass protection. The Seahawks ranked 25th in pass blocking last season, while the Raiders were 13th. Smith should be firmly cemented as a mid-range QB2, and that’s where I expect him to finish.
Best Value at QB
Landing Mahomes outside the top eight at the position feels like a gift. With continuity on offense and his unmatched upside, he remains one of the few quarterbacks with a realistic path to finishing as the overall QB1.
Running Back
Omarion Hampton (FIF Consensus: RB20, Personal: RB20)
Drafted 22nd overall, Hampton lands in Greg Roman’s run‑first scheme with every opportunity to headline the Chargers’ backfield. A first‑round investment plus Roman’s history of feeding his RB1 make Hampton a strong bet to outperform his mid‑RB2 ranking right away.
Najee Harris (FIF Consensus: RB27, Personal: RB29)
Harris has been a model of consistency since entering the league in 2021, posting 1,000+ rushing yards in each season without missing a single game. Now with the Chargers, Harris may take a back seat to rookie Omarion Hampton, but his durability and experience should keep him in the low-end RB2 or high-end flex territory.
Isiah Pacheco (FIF Consensus: RB26, Personal: RB26)
A fractured fibula in Week 2 last season took him off the field for a good chunk of the year. With a full offseason to recover, he’s a prime bounce-back candidate in a high-powered Chiefs offense. At RB26, he’s a scary good value—and could be one of the biggest steals at the position in 2025 drafts.
Kareem Hunt (FIF Consensus: RB66, Personal: RB60)
He’s no longer the electric back who averaged 18.4 PPR points per game as a rookie in 2018, but Hunt still has something left in the tank. He could carve out a role as a goal-line and receiving option behind Isiah Pacheco, making him a deep-league stash worth monitoring.
RJ Harvey (FIF Consensus: RB29, Personal: RB24)
He may stand just 5’8″, but Harvey packs a sturdy 205-pound frame and offers a true three-down skill set. He posted back-to-back monster seasons at UCF, topping 1,400 rushing yards in 2023 and exploding for over 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns last year. The upside is real, but expectations should be tempered—he’s most likely to settle into a solid RB2 finish.
J.K. Dobbins (FIF Consensus: RB49, Personal: RB40)
Dobbins is a high-upside dart throw at this ADP. If he stays healthy, he could carve out a nice role and pay off big late in drafts.
Ashton Jeanty (FIF Consensus: RB5, Personal: RB9)
There’s a ton of hype around Ashton Jeanty—and rightfully so. The Boise State product averaged a ridiculous 6.95 yards per carry and now steps into a Chip Kelly offense built to feed him. The volume should be there from Day 1, drawing comparisons to Saquon Barkley’s rookie workload.
Best Value at RB
If Isiah Pacheco is fully healthy, there’s no reason he can’t return to top-end RB2 production. He finished as the RB15 in 2023, and now steps into an even clearer role in one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
Wide Receiver
Ladd McConkey (FIF Consensus: WR11, Personal: WR11)
Even in a run-heavy Chargers offense, McConkey made an immediate impact and broke franchise rookie records. He now holds the most receptions and receiving yards by a Chargers rookie wide receiver, surpassing the mark previously set by Keenan Allen. McConkey’s strong debut cements his value as a rock-solid pick in the 2nd to 3rd round range of your fantasy football drafts.
Rashee Rice (FIF Consensus: WR22, Personal: WR36)
Rice’s fantasy outlook is clouded by the expectation of a suspension following his involvement in a high-speed driving incident that led to a multi-vehicle crash with injuries. I currently have him ranked as WR36, anticipating a 6–8 game suspension. If the punishment is lighter—closer to 3–4 games—I’ll move him up closer to his consensus ranking. The talent and connection with Mahomes are there, but availability will ultimately determine his value.
Xavier Worthy (FIF Consensus: WR30, Personal: WR28)
I’m holding Worthy steady at WR28 for now, but he has serious upside if Rashee Rice is hit with a lengthy suspension. In that scenario, Worthy could vault into mid-WR2 territory as the potential top wideout tied to Patrick Mahomes.
Marquise Brown (FIF Consensus: WR64, Personal WR52)
Injuries derailed Brown’s first season in Kansas City, limiting him to just two late-season appearances. Dating back to his Ravens days, he’s struggled to shake the injury-prone label. Still, at WR64, there’s minimal risk if it doesn’t work out—and in a Mahomes-led offense, a bounce-back season is well within reach and could pay off nicely.
Courtland Sutton (FIF Consensus: WR24, Personal WR25)
Sutton built strong chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, earning a career-high 135 targets. That volume alone makes him a reliable WR2 with a solid weekly floor.
Jakobi Meyers (FIF Consensus: WR39, Personal WR43)
Meyers isn’t going to turn heads on draft day, but he quietly continues to produce. With TE Brock Bowers likely leading the team in targets, Meyers slots in as the top wide receiver option. He’s reliable, especially in PPR formats, and makes for a steady flex play you can count on most weeks.
Best Value at WR
With Rice facing a suspension, Worthy has a clear path to an early opportunity. His game-breaking speed and ability to stretch the field make him a perfect fit for Mahomes. A strong start could cement him as one of the top WR values in 2025 drafts.
Tight End Summary
Oronde Gadsden II (FIF Consensus: TE39, Personal, TE30)
Gadsden isn’t draftable in most redraft leagues—yet. But keep him on your radar. A converted wide receiver with a 6’5” frame, he has the physical tools to be a red zone weapon for Justin Herbert if he can beat out Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin. He’s a true deep sleeper with upside worth monitoring throughout camp.
Travis Kelce (FIF Consensus: TE9, Personal, TE5)
I get the age concern—he’s 35 and turns 36 midseason—but Kelce hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. He finished as the TE5 in 2024 and remains Mahomes’ go-to target. With Rashee Rice likely facing a suspension, expect even more volume. Landing Kelce near the TE10 range is phenomenal value.
Evan Engram (FIF Consensus: TE8, Personal TE9)
Should be productive in the Broncos’ offense, giving Bo Nix a formidable weapon to lean on. It’s important to temper expectations, however, because Engram has never scored more than six touchdowns, which was in 2017 during his rookie year.
Brock Bowers (FIF Consensus: TE1, Personal TE1)
Brock Bowers broke records as a rookie, posting 112 receptions and 1,194 yards — the most ever by a rookie tight end. At a position that’s usually a weekly crapshoot, he stands out as a reliable target. Even in a less-than-ideal offense, Bowers is a target hog and should once again lead the team in targets. Having him locked into your starting tight end spot gives you a clear weekly advantage.
Final Thoughts on the AFC West
The AFC West is once again loaded with fantasy talent.
Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert are still top-tier options, and Bo Nix is an intriguing second-year starter who played well as a rookie. The Raiders might quietly have two players who are top five at their positions in Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ new-look offense under Jim Harbaugh could give Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris both solid running back value as a run-first team. Kansas City, as usual, offers reliable production across the board. But even Travis Kelce comes with some risk now, as he moves into the twilight years of his career. Rashee Rice is a player to monitor closely, and depending on your risk tolerance, you may want to avoid him.
With rookies, aging vets, and unsettled depth charts, the AFC West might hold your most significant edge — or your worst regret.
Thanks for taking the time to read the FANTASY IN FRAMES’ 2025 AFC WEST DIVISIONAL PREVIEW! You can follow me at @KZ1180 on Twitter/X. Feel free to reach out for any fantasy football questions you might have!
***For more 2025 Fantasy Football Divisional Previews, click here.***