Mecole Hardman DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. played the role of hero for his team in Super Bowl LVIII, reeling in the game-winning touchdown from three yards out to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22. Hardman pulled in each of his three targets for 57 yards in Sunday's big game, also coming down with a 52-yard bomb to get the Chiefs into a goal-to-go during the second quarter. After playing just one snap in the AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens, the 25-year-old stepped up as a deep threat when it mattered most for a Chiefs offense desperate for playmaking down the field all year long. Though he authored quite a feel-good story going from a New York Jets castoff to catching a championship-winning TD, Hardman's Super Bowl heroics are unlikely to make him worth rostering in the majority of 2024 fantasy drafts. Whether it's back with K.C. or another squad, the former Pro Bowl kick returner should find a home next season.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. paced the team in receiving yardage during Week 18's 13-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, gathering six of his 11 targets for 77 yards. Hardman ended up being the most significant beneficiary of K.C. holding Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce out of action for a contest with no consequence, generating more yardage in this matchup alone than he had coming into play in 10 appearances this season (47). It was certainly a positive takeaway for the 25-year-old deep threat, who may have earned a bit more playing time in the postseason for a Chiefs offense desperate for playmaking down the field. Hardman will still carry nothing greater than dart-throw DFS status for next weekend's Wild Card round, with Rice and Kelce certainly returning to the field on Saturday versus the Miami Dolphins.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. has a chance to end on a high note what has easily been his least effective season in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In nine games over time also with the New York Jets, Hardman has cobbled together nine catches on 13 targets for 47 scoreless yards. Rashee Rice (hamstring) will take a seat on Sunday, with Travis Kelce likely operating on a shortened snap count to boot. Hardman returned to run two routes in last Sunday's home win over the Cincinnati Bengals after a five-game hiatus due to surgery for a sprained thumb, but he could be forced into an amplified role in his second contest back on the field. The speedy 25-year-old is a candidate to frequently occupy three-receiver sets for head coach Andy Reid in the regular-season finale, but Hardman is still a low-floor fantasy bet given his weak production overall.