Thursday, September 7, 2023

Kansas City Chiefs Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 1 roundup for the Kansas City Chiefs in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 1

On the hot seat: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Edwards-Helaire is most likely in his final season with the Chiefs and could be playing for his career as well. He hasn't proved worthy of the first-round pick the Chiefs used on him in 2020 and has been passed on the depth chart by Isiah Pacheco, a 2022 seventh-round pick. The Chiefs declined the fifth-year option on Edwards-Helaire's contract, and he will need to play well in the opportunities he gets to earn a contract with another team for 2024. -- Adam Teicher

NFL.com -- Rank: 1

It's always a bit surprising when the rival Chiefs and Raiders make a trade. But the real reveal here is acquiring DT Neil Farrell from Las Vegas might be an indication the Chiefs really are prepared to start the season without Chris Jones, who still has not reported to the team as of this writing. Jones has already hinted at sitting out until Week 8 amid his contract dispute with the club, and Travis Kelce was pleading for his return last week. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes seem to be taking a more zen-like approach to his absence for now. The Chiefs' Super Bowl title defense will be challenging enough with Jones, but it's an even steeper climb without him. They've been without him for two- and three-game stretches in recent seasons, but never anywhere close to half a season.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 1

The champs open in the top spot and will once again push to win it all. That's what having Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes does for a franchise.

USA Today -- Rank: 1

Thursday night will provide the first glimpse of Kansas City's title defense, one that could be bolstered by its young wide receivers. It will also (likely) provide the first glimpse of Kansas City's Chris Jones-less defense ... and that could be a serious repeat hindrance.

The Athletic -- Rank: 1

Best-case scenario: Business as usual for the best quarterback who's ever lived.

Worst-case scenario: Chris Jones never returns from his holdout and is traded at the deadline for relative pennies on the dollar, and the pass rush craters as a result. Travis Kelce finally looks his age, and Andy Reid misses the playoffs after hurting his shoulder in an attempt to break ChiefsAholic out of prison by trying to bust through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man. The Los Angeles Chargers win the AFC West and Kansas City loses on the road in the wild-card round.

FOX -- Rank: 1

The reigning champs have done more than enough to deserve the top spot for Week 1. They addressed their losses at tackle by signing a solid duo of free agents in Donovan Smith and Andrew Wylie, and they've stockpiled young receiver talent. The only real question is how long Chris Jones' ongoing holdout will last. The Chiefs belong here. But if they play a large chunk of the season without one of the league's best defenders, it's bound to have an effect.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 1

Is it good or bad that the Chiefs have a ton of wide receiver options but no true No. 1? Kadarius Toney looks like he might play Week 1 (though we shouldn't assume he'll be good to go all season because it's always something with Toney), Rashee Rice had some promising preseason moments, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is capable of big plays but not much else, and Skyy Moore still needs to prove himself after a disappointing rookie season. Patrick Mahomes has a lot of intriguing receivers to work with, and we'll see if he finds one he really likes.

PFT -- Rank: 1

Having Chris Jones absent from the team isn't ideal, but they still have Patrick Mahomes.

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