The AFC West has been home to some great wide receivers over the years, creating exciting duos with their quarterbacks and striving as playmakers. This season, there will be some new faces to these teams and their offense. Here’s a look at how the receiving groups in the West match up.
1. Denver Broncos
The Broncos will be without Julius Thomas this year as he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. Wes Welker, another prime target for Peyton Manning, is also on the market. Despite the loss of these two players, Denver still has the best receiving core in the AFC West.
With Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders still on the roster, Manning will continue to have great targets. Last season, Thomas had 111 receptions for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sanders had 101 receptions for 1,409 yards and nine touchdowns.
Denver’s passing game will regress in 2015, but they still have a strong receiving core to accompany a solid run game. Last year they were ranked fourth overall in the passing game with an average of 7.9 yards per pass and 40 touchdowns.
This continues to be an overall complete roster, and with new head coach Gary Kubiak, there may be some changes in the way the offense operates.
As long as these receivers have Manning passing them the ball, they will have an opportunity to be playmakers and gain a lot of ground when moving the chains.
2. San Diego Chargers
San Diego is home to one of the best tight ends to play the game in Antonio Gates, who is a huge part of the Chargers offensive success. Gates has played 12 seasons with the Chargers, racking up great career numbers. The tight end had 69 receptions last year with 821 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Keenan Allen, alongside newcomers Jacoby Jones and Stevie Johnson will look to create an even better passing game with quarterback Philip Rivers. Last year with the Chargers, Allen had 77 receptions for 783 yards and four touchdowns. Both Johnson and Jones provide depth on this San Diego offense, which was ranked tenth in passing last season with 4,098 yards and 31 touchdowns averaging 7.5 yards per pass.
The Chargers missed out on the playoffs in 2014, despite a strong offensive showing. The Bolts have made some acquisitions to better this squad and make a run for the division once again.
3. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders finished the 2014 season with a 3-13 record, but when it comes to the passing game, have made moves to improve the offense. James Jones was released, but the Raiders have brought in Michael Crabtree to takeover a veteran-type role on offense and represents a reliable target for young quarterback Derek Carr. Oakland also drafted Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft, who will become a playmaker and prime target for Carr for years to come.
These two acquisitions along with Rod Streater create a better offense for Carr to work with in 2015. Mychal Rivera is also an option, but hasn’t been too splashy thus far in his time with the silver and black. This team has lacked a playmaking receiver since the days of Hall of Famer Tim Brown, and they hope they’ve gotten just that in Cooper.
Last season the Raiders were ranked 26th in the passing game with 3,275 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging only 5.5 yards per pass.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
KC had zero touchdown receptions in 2014, but have made moves this offseason to change that. Despite this stat, the Chiefs won nine games and nearly made the playoffs last season.
Dwayne Bowe was released as the Chiefs brought in Jeremy Maclin. Maclin will serve as a top target for Alex Smith alongside tight end Travis Kelce who had some big plays last season.
Maclin had 85 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns last season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
KC was ranked 29th in passing in 2014 with 3,182 yards and an average of seven yards per pass attempt.
Luckily for the Chiefs, they have the best running game in this division led by Jamaal Charles and are able to execute with the run.