AFC WEST Denver Broncos And Kansas City Chiefs

Denver Broncos

Fantasy Studs -- Thanks to Josh McDaniels, Denver has no fantasy studs anymore. They traded the only two they had! Aside from a possible emergence of Knowshon Moreno, the Bronco offense projects to be ineffective.

Breakout -- All is not loss for Denver's fantasy impact. As stated above, Knowshon Moreno figures to be more involved offensively. It's not out of the realm of possibility to see him achieve 1,000 yards rushing and emerge as a No. 2 fantasy RB.

Sleeper -- After a stellar rookie season, Eddie Royal jersey disappeared in 2009. His drop-off was highly disappointing for fantasy players. With that said, someone has got to pickup the slack, so Royal is worth keeping an eye on throughout preseason and in September.

Player to Avoid -- If you're going to take one thing away from this piece, avoiding Denver's QBs is a good choice. Kyle Orton has never been an effective fantasy QB. Plus, the team traded away Brandon Marshall, who was it's top playmaker. Also, there are some young guys breathing down Orton's neck, but neither Brady Quinn or Tim Tebow should even be considered if they are lucky enough to get playing time.

Rookies -- Now don't go drafting any of these players, but the Broncos fooball jerseyshave some intriguing rookie WRs. Demaryius Thomas will get the first shot, but his transition to the NFL might be difficult. At Georgia Tech, he didn't run an NFL route tree, which could hinder his development early on. If by any chance his development were to stall, Eric Decker could possibly make some noise. But this is for only very deep fantasy leagues. The probability isn't very high of either of these guys helping you in a 12 or 14 team league.

Defense -- After overachieving a year ago, Denver's defense will come back to reality in 2010. Losing coordinator Mike Nolan might be the biggest reason why. With him out of the picture, the Broncos will turn to their third defensive coordinator in three years. That can't be good for continuity. However, Elvis Dumervil should continue to be one of the AFC's best sack artists. If you're in an IDP league, he's definitely worth grabbing.

Kansas City Chiefs

Fantasy Studs -- Forget about Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles is the elite fantasy player in Kansas City. A year ago, he topped 1,000 yards rushing, including four consecutive 100-plus yard games to close out the season. His 259 yards in week 17 was a team record. Selecting him as a No. 2 fantasy RB wouldn't be a waste.

Breakout -- After spending a year in Todd Haley's doghouse, new Dwayne Bowe jersey should be a vital part of the Chiefs' offense. His ability and Charlie Weis' offensive mind mesh together well. From a pure talent stand point, he's head and shoulders the top receiving threat the Chiefs have.

Sleeper -- Considering coach Haley is hard on his players, there isn't a guarantee Bowe works his way out of the doghouse. If that's the case, Chris Chambers will reap the reward. Last year, with the Chiefs, he had 608 receiving yards in only nine games. That can be projected to over 1,000 yards over the course of a 16-game season. Still, his fantasy value is pretty much dependant on whatever happens with Bowe, as this isn't an offense big enough for two solid fantasy WRs.

Player to Avoid -- Not that I would avoid Thomas Jones entirely, but he's not your ordinary RB coming off a 1,400 yard season. He'll take a backseat to Charles and figures to be a bench player at best.

Rookie -- Don't be surprised if Eric Berry makes a run at defensive rookie of the year. However, if there is a rookie gem, it's Dexter McCluster. The all-purpose player will definitely get some looks all over the field, but he'll probably make his biggest impact in the return game. If you're in a league that rewards points in the return game, he's worth looking into.

Defense -- Look, the fact is Kansas City's defense is putrid. They don't have any pass rush and they don't generate turnovers. Oh by the way, they give up a lot yards and points. Fellow fantasy players, avoid this defense at all costs.