AFC West stock up, down at midpoint: Chiefs future Hall of Famer leads the way

At the season’s midpoint, here’s whose stock is up and down in the AFC West.

Stock Up

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end: Although Kelce is 34, he’s not slowing down. In seven games, he leads the Chiefs in every major receiving category with 54 receptions for 583 yards and four TDs. Per Nate Taylor of The Athletic, he’s the eighth TE in league history to have 500 yards at 34 or older.

“He’s the best TE [ever] in terms of catching the ball,” former Patriots TE and future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski recently said on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast,” via Taylor. “When he’s not on the field, which is very rare, the Chiefs aren’t the same team.”

Expect Kelce to join Gronkowski in the HOF one day and climb the all-time TE ladder.

Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end: Crosby has been the silver lining for the Raiders this season. Through eight games, he’s tied for eighth in the NFL in sacks (6.5) and second in tackles for loss (10). Pro Football Focus gives him a grade of  91.6, third among edge-rushers.

Crosby needs more help. No other Raider has recorded more than one sack, and the 26-year-old has played on a career-high 98 percent of defensive snaps. He’s durable, however, and has never missed a game in five seasons.

Don’t be surprised if he enters the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. OddsChecker gives him the eight-best odds (+6500) to win the award.  

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver: Allen missed seven games with a hamstring injury last season. He’s remained healthy this season and is re-establishing himself as an elite WR. In seven games, the 31-year-old has 54 receptions for 643 yards, eighth in the NFL.  

The Chargers need Allen to keep thriving. Starting WR Mike Williams suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, and no other Los Angeles pass-catcher has logged more than 23 receptions. If he keeps excelling, he could earn his sixth Pro Bowl nod in 10 seasons.

Stock down:

Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback: Garoppolo, who signed a three-year, $72.75M deal this offseason, has flopped. The 32-year-old leads the NFL in interceptions (nine in six games) and has posted a below-average 35.2 QBR.

On Wednesday, Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed the team will bench Garoppolo and start rookie Aidan O’Connell, a fourth-round pick out of Purdue.

It wouldn’t be unsurprising to see the Raiders move on from Garoppolo this offseason and select a QB in the first round of the draft. Per Over the Cap, releasing him with a post-June 1 designation in 2024 will incur $15.5M in dead cap and save $13M in cap room.

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos wide receiver: Jeudy was viewed as a potential breakout candidate under new Denver HC Sean Payton, but that has yet to happen. Through seven games, he’s only caught one TD and is averaging 12.4 yards per reception, the second-lowest mark of his career.

Denver reportedly tried to trade the former first-round pick before the trade deadline on Tuesday but fielded no compelling offers. Clearly, the 24-year-old WR needs to get his act together. Otherwise, the Broncos might find a replacement in the draft or free agency.

Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver: The Chiefs hoped Moore, the 54th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, would turn the corner this season. He’s failed to meet expectations, though. In eight games, he only has 14 receptions for 168 yards and one TD.

Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes needs pass-catchers to thrive. If Moore doesn’t improve in the second half of the season, don’t be shocked if Kansas City drafts a WR in the first round. PFF’s mock draft simulator predicts the Chiefs will select Texas’ Adonai Mitchell or his teammate Xavier Worthy with the 31st overall pick.