Marquez Valdes-Scantling's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling ahead of free agency in a cap-saving move. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the team saves $12 million on the cap. The veteran speedster spent two seasons with the Chiefs, totaling 63 receptions for 1,002 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 33 games. He wasn't overly productive, but he did catch two touchdowns in the 2022 playoffs and caught a touchdown in the victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Valdes-Scantling is unlikely to sign a big-money deal this offseason, but his field-stretching skill set will be attractive to a few teams.

The Athletic's Nate Taylor writes that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the team's most logical cut candidate this offseason despite being the team's most experienced player at a position the Chiefs need to revamp. Releasing him would create $12 million in salary cap space, with just $2 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap. There's a slim chance both sides agree to a one-year contract extension since Valdes-Scantling was at his best in the postseason, but if the Chiefs think they can make a significant upgrade in free agency, the decision to move on from Valdes-Scantling would be understandable. The 29-year-old caught just 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 games during the 2023 regular season and will turn 30 in October.

After going 10 consecutive games without reaching the 30-yard barrier, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has made some clutch plays during the playoffs. Valdes Scantling came down with two 30-yard passes in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, and he sealed the deal during the AFC Championship victory over the Baltimore Ravens with a 32-yard reception in the game's waning moments. The 29-year-old perimeter wideout shares duties as K.C.'s vertical threat alongside Justin Watson, which makes him only a volatile DFS option on Super Bowl Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. While MVS is not a bad choice among Sunday's salary-relief options, he's in line to square off most frequently on the outside with top Niners cornerback Charvarius Ward, who led all corners with 13 pass break-ups during the regular season entering this matchup against the team he won Super Bowl LIV with.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling made perhaps the biggest play of Sunday's 17-10 AFC Championship triumph over the Baltimore Ravens, coming down with a game-clinching 32-yard reception right before the fourth quarter's two-minute warning to get his team into victory formation. Showing a pulse with two 30-yard gains in the Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills following a dismal regular season, Valdes-Scantling struck again when it mattered most and closed with 38 yards on two catches in total to help K.C. reach their fourth Super Bowl since the 2019 season. The Chiefs may be wondering where this Valdes-Scantling has been all year long, but the ill-fated 29-year-old deep threat is certainly peaking at the right time. MVS hopes to make another big play when his team clashes with the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 after going catchless in last year's big game.

Showing signs of life in last Sunday's Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's 62 yards marked the second-highest total of his star-crossed second season with the Chiefs. Valdes Scantling's 17.7 average yards of target distance, which ranked second among wideouts in the regular season, keep him in play as a dart-throw fantasy option in Sunday's AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens. With that said, the 29-year-old deep threat has transcended the 40-yard plateau just twice during 18 games to date in 2023. Even with Skyy Moore (knee) ruled out and Kadarius Toney (hip) questionable, MVS is still not a recommended choice outside of single-game DFS showdowns. Shutdown Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) practiced in full on Friday, boding poorly for MVS's expectations after Humphrey ranked first in catch rate allowed (43.6%) among corners this season.