Fantasy’s Biggest Boom or Bust Candidates: AFC West
Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert, Rosterwatch.com

Emmanuel Sanders WR, Broncos: Sanders comes into Denver this season as arguably the fourth option in the Bronco passing game. The “replacement” for Eric Decker, the former Steeler was sitting pretty as a player who could play on the inside and outside, until Denver drafted WR Cody Latimer in the draft. Latimer would take time from Sanders, not Welker, in the Broncos’ scheme; and he could start eating into Sanders’ snaps right away. Sanders still maintains considerable upside, but he doesn’t have much room for error.

Dwayne Bowe WR, Chiefs: Bowe could always be relied on for 8-10 fantasy points per week until QB Alex Smith showed up last season and ruined his fantasy value. One has to think that the tandem will have a better on-field rapport this year, but the only certainty about Bowe’s prospects this year is more uncertainty. He has the skills to be a top receiver in the league, but those days might be over under Smith’s steady, but short, arm.

Vincent Brown WR, Chargers: Brown was supposed to be the guy last year in San Diego, but we all saw how that turned out. The hype machine for Brown is at work again this preseason, and he is actually having a good camp, but there are more mouths to feed this season with Floyd back and Green rising. The truth is that Brown will be a much better player in reality than in fantasy.

Travis Kelce TE, Chiefs: The sky is the limit for Kelce in K.C. with few options in the passing game beyond Dwayne Bowe, but he’s coming off of micro-fracture surgery on his right knee. The fact that he’s young should work in his body’s favor, but we don’t know how it will respond in game situations yet. He’s worth a flyer in deep leagues though.

Matt Schaub QB, Raiders: Schaub doesn’t have much boom potential in all honesty, but his bust factor is a constant. He’s got an arm, but Schaub has over the years regressed into nothing more than a game manager, due to what I can only surmise are confidence issues. Rookie QB Derek Carr is already nipping at Schaub’s heels in the pecking order, and I don’t think it will be long before fans are chanting the young man’s name. Still, if Schaub can just keep Oakland from losing, he could actually have a nice few years on a team that seems content with that outlook.

Maurice Jones-Drew/Darren McFadden RB, Raiders: MJD and McFadden are in similar boats, but MJD’s vessel is a little more seaworthy. Either back could end up being the hot hand that the Raiders ride to mediocrity, or they could both lose out to Latavius Murray at some point. MJD is the guy we’d waste a pick on first though.

James Jones WR, Raiders: Jones may have a rude awakening in Oakland after years of superb QB play to support him in Green Bay. He’ll probably see the most targets on the team, so he’s got that going for him, but they might not amount to the numerous touchdowns we’re accustomed to. Without the touchdowns, we’re not really sure what Jones’ fantasy value looks like.

Ryan Mathews RB, Chargers: Mathews is a perennial boom or bust candidate. It seems like every year prognosticators are all over the board on what his actual fantasy value will be, and every year it’s different. Mathews is coming off his best season, leading all NFL backs in points per snap, yet he’s still not being drafted as an RB1. That in itself says more about Mathews’ boom/bust potential than anything else. His injury history precedes him as a harbinger of fantasy doom.