NFL Week 1: Marquez Valdes-Scantling

The Detroit Lions underwent a significant transformation in their secondary during the off-season, a move that was desperately needed after their lackluster performance last year. While there are reasons to believe that improvements are on the horizon, it’s also important to acknowledge that there might be some early-season hiccups. This is partly due to the continuity in coaching strategies, as Aaron Glenn continues to hold the reins as their defensive coordinator.

In light of this, my attention is drawn to Marquez Valdes-Scantling (MVS) and his potential impact for the Kansas City Chiefs. MVS managed to hit impressive receiving yardage figures in 8 out of 17 games last season, and it appears that he’s poised to become an even more integral part of the Chiefs’ offensive plans. Notably, he stands out as the most seasoned wide receiver on the roster (excluding Kelce) and has been listed as a starter alongside Skyy Moore.

Considering the uncertainties surrounding Kadarius Toney’s recovery from injury, it’s plausible to assume that he may have limited involvement in the early part of the season. Additionally, other wide receivers may see action primarily in specific packages during these initial games. This sets the stage for MVS to shine.

What adds to the intrigue is the Chiefs’ matchup against the Detroit Lions, a team that surrendered the highest yards per passing completion last season (a staggering 12.59 yards per reception). Against such a vulnerable defense, we can anticipate the Chiefs looking for opportunities to exploit this weakness, potentially unleashing deep passes.

Furthermore, the Lions have displayed a tendency to bring their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage when defending against talented tight ends, which often results in one-on-one matchups for their cornerbacks. If Marquez Valdes-Scantling fulfills his role and manages to beat his man on a couple of occasions, we could witness him having a breakout performance on game day.