NFL Today: KC Again in 2024?
Khalil Shakir could be a real sleeper next season. (Buffalo Rumblings)
The Super Bowl is well in the rear view mirror, so it’s time to start thinking about next season. With the NFL Combine kicking off on Tuesday, here are some stories around the league we’re following…
The Chiefs Favoured Again Next Season
Having made it to the AFC Conference Championship game five straight years, at +600 the Kansas City Chiefs are already the favourite to win it all again in 2024 according to future odds.
Hey, the team definitely deserves props, but raise your hand if you’re over KC already…
Buffalo WR Sleeper Alert
In early October, we pegged Buffalo WR Khalil Shakir as sleeper for Week Five given how injury-ravaged the Bills’ wide receiver corps was at the time. Sure enough, he enjoyed his finest showing of the season (three receptions on five targets for 75 yards and his only TD of the campaign). After that, however, Shakir more or less disappeared from the Buffalo offense, being targeted no more twice in a game until the playoffs.
Yes, the Bills are flush with offensive weapons, but man, was Shakir ever overlooked in their scheme given the potential the 2022 fifth rounder has. The fact that Buffalo traded up to select him makes his lack of use even more puzzling. The Bills reportedly viewed Shakir as their WR4 heading into the season, but proceeded to give him just 20 targets over 14 games.
As a result, his highlight reel is pretty sparse (see video below), but Buffalo needs to figure out how give this kid a bigger role next season (perhaps as the starting slot receiver?). We’ll have to see how things play out, but he’s definitely a sleeper for Fantasy purposes given his talent. And it doesn’t hurt that Shakir is spending the offseason training with former star receiver Eric Moulds.
Eagles Expected to Beef Up D in the Draft
After coming oh so close to winning it all this year, the Philadelphia Eagles are well-positioned to run it back given that they have two first round picks (numbers 10 and 30).
Given that they currently don’t have any picks from round four through six, it’s quite likely they will trade one of the first rounders in an effort to add more draft capital. Expect them to go after a cornerback and/or an edge rusher with their first rounders, again assuming they use them both. And if free agent Miles Sanders leaves, Philly could use its second rounder to add a running back.
Pending how other teams fare this offseason, it’s again looking like Philadelphia will battle San Francisco for NFC supremacy next season.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Tom Cochrane will be 70 in May, and yes, that makes us feel old. Here’s another track from his classic 1995 effort, Ragged Ass Road. This is the disc’s final track, the aptly named “Song Before I Leave.”
