Chiefs' underrated receiver is listed as 'X-factor' for the 2023 season
The Kansas City Chiefs have a player who is pretty underrated when it comes to the national outlook on him, but he recently got some respect he deserves. The Chiefs did something pretty amazing last year. If you're a Chiefs fan, you likely already know where I'm going with this, and non-Chiefs fans won't really […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have a player who is pretty underrated when it comes to the national outlook on him, but he recently got some respect he deserves.
The Chiefs did something pretty amazing last year. If you're a Chiefs fan, you likely already know where I'm going with this, and non-Chiefs fans won't really get it. But, last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year, or a retooling year for the Chiefs.
That's what all of the national media said. They said because the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes lost Tyreek Hill, they would be forced to rebuild or retool. However, they had other ideas. Instead, the Chiefs went out and won the Super Bowl, and Mahomes won the MVP award with only one receiver he had the previous year in Mecole Hardman.
At the deadline, they traded for Kadarius Toney, a guy who the New York Giants had already given up on. Mahomes and Andy Reid had other ideas, as Toney ended up catching a wide-open touchdown in the Super Bowl. Toney is underrated, as the casual fan doesn't really know about him and the national media doesn't really talk about him.
But finally, one national media analyst listed him as the Chiefs' 'X-factor' in 2023.
X-Factor for 2023: WR Kadarius Toney Acquired in a midseason trade with the Giants, Toney showed flashes of the kind of playmaker he can be in the Chiefs' offense. A full season in Andy Reid’s system should do wonders for the speedster. –Dalton Wasserman and Jim Wyman, PFF
Toney is underrated for a few reasons. First, he only had 171 total receiving yards and two touchdowns last year. Now, he was hurt a bit, but still, he has never had more than 430 yards in a season and is only going into his third year. We see flashes of what he can be when he was healthy, and man does it look fun.
The Chiefs falling short of the DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes means Toney would become the wide receiver one until further notice. Sure, they drafted Rashee Rice, but Toney is a guy that can literally do it all. He is an athlete.
Toney can highpoint the ball, as we saw in his amazing catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is fast, strong, and his route running is insane when he is on. All of those things make him special and make him a huge reason why Mahomes will love throwing the ball to him. Expect to see a lot of YAC in 2023 from Toney.
The Chiefs' 'X-factor' could very well be a guy that a lot of people don't know about how good he really is.
