Fantasy Owners, Mecole Hardman's Week 1 Shouldn't Cause Panic
After a Week 1 performance that left more to be desired, questions about Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Harman's usage rose to the forefront after the game.
Hardman had one catch for six yards in the Chiefs' 34-20 win in the season opener but is this game cause for panic?
I talk about this with Arrowhead Report's Mark Van Sickle on today's episode of Roughing the Kicker where we discuss the fantasy values of multiple Chiefs players after the first game.
Going into the season, Hardman's expected usage was high. Fantasy experts were predicting Hardman to be a solid sleeper pick in the late rounds of fantasy drafts. While he wasn't projected to be the star of the offense, the second-year receiver out of Georgia was expected to see more than one target.
Hardman's usage could be down simply because head coach Andy Reid didn't need to call plays specifically for him. I've thought this about running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire but I think it applies to Hardman as well.
Why show the Chargers and Ravens one of your secret weapons? With 31-unanswered points and the lead secured, Reid had no need to show off the receiving talents of both Edwards-Helaire and Hardman.
With so many viable options for quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw to, it brings up the question, "Who do you play?" The Chiefs' biggest strength on the field is having a multitude of talented targets for Mahomes.
That is also a negative for fantasy owners. We saw wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson have big games but with Mahomes and company able to spread the ball around and find other options, it's tough to have consistency with a secondary Chiefs receiver week after week.
With the potential of a double-digit win over the San-Diego Chargers this week, Hardman could see similar numbers to Week 1 if Reid continues to hide what he has with him. Come Week 3, Hardman's abilities should be out in full force, and will be a solid option as a FLEX player.
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