Young KC Chiefs Players to Watch in Week 18 vs. LA Chargers
In this story:
The Kansas City Chiefs are locked into the three-seed in the AFC playoffs and have already announced Patrick Mahomes will not play on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
As a result, it is more than likely some young players will play significant snaps in the final week of the season. This is an excellent opportunity for the organization to evaluate some of its talent for future years. Let's take a look at a handful of players to monitor in Week 18's game.
Running back Deneric Prince
The undrafted free agent from Tulsa has yet to get a touch this entire season. After some training camp buzz, Deneric Prince has been on the practice squad for pretty much the whole season.
With Isiah Pacheco being the only running back under contract for 2024, Sunday could be an opportunity for Prince to show that he can be part of the rotation next season. His size and speed combination is unique for the position. One trait that kept being harped on coming out of training camp was his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. In the modern NFL, having a multi-purpose running back is extremely important. Hopefully, Prince can show his rushing and receiving prowess in Week 18.
Defensive ends Felix Anudike-Uzomah and BJ Thompson
The rookie season for first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah has understandably been underwhelming. While he's behind the likes of George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna in the defensive end rotation, it'd be nice to see him earn more than five snaps per game. In the past 11 games, Anudike-Uzomah has only played double-digit snaps once. Sunday should be an ample opportunity for him to play a majority of the snaps and show off the talent that made him a first-round pick. The season's final game could provide positive momentum for him going into the playoffs and next season.
Kansas City took another defensive end in the 2023 NFL Draft. In the fifth round, they selected BJ Thompson. The bet when drafting Thompson was clearly on his rare size and athleticism combination. This season was expected to be a redshirt year for the development pass rusher. However, with the Chiefs' seeding being clinched, it gives Thompson the opportunity to get some game action and show the growth he's made throughout the year.
Defensive tackle Neil Farrell
Before the cutdowns, the Chiefs traded for Neil Farrell to help bolster their defensive tackle depth. However, he has only appeared in two games this season, playing a total of 28 snaps. The plan may have always been to get talent in the building for the future. Still, with Farrell being the only defensive tackle under contract for the 2024 season, it'd be beneficial for him to show his ability as a run-stuffer. A strong performance may help him get some snaps during the playoffs, but it could definitely help him solidify his spot on the roster for next season.
