The Buffalo Bills signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. MVS is no stranger to playing with elite quarterbacks between his time with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, and he'll now be in line to catch passes from Josh Allen in Buffalo. The 2018 fifth-round pick out of South Florida has not posted monster fantasy football numbers, but he has spike-week upside thanks to his field-stretching speed. That said, he's likely going to be more useful in "real life" compared to fantasy football based on his production profile thus far. In six NFL seasons, the 29-year-old has not eclipsed 690 yards or six touchdowns in a single season. Last year, he caught just 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 games. He's an interesting late-round flyer in best ball formats, but he might be a wasted roster spot in traditional leagues. MVS will compete with Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel for snaps in 2024, as second-round rookie Keon Coleman should be a locked-in starter.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling made a stop in Buffalo on Monday night. The wideout had a recent visit with the Chargers, although it appears nothing came of it. MVS hasn't been productive in years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by recording career lows in catches (21), receiving yards (315), and touchdowns (one). However, the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs this offseason, so Valdes-Scantling could work his way up the depth chart. Yet, he'll need to prove his value to fantasy managers no matter where he signs, which won't come until he has at least a few decent performances.
Free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is scheduled to visit the Chargers on Monday. The 29-year-old had six trips to the end zone in 2020 while still a member of the Green Bay Packers. Since then, he hasn't come close to that mark. He finished the 2023-24 campaign with Kansas City by posting career-lows in catches (21), receiving yards (315), and touchdowns (one). Valdes-Scantling's most notable contribution last season came in the postseason, with the 2018 No. 174 overall pick pulling in a 16-yard touchdown throw from Patrick Mahomes in the Chiefs 25-22 overtime win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Nonetheless, MVS will likely find work this season. But it will be difficult to tell how things will look from a fantasy standpoint until he inks a deal, although he could get looks from Justin Herbert if he signs with Los Angeles, considering the team no longer has Keenan Allen or Mike Williams on the roster.
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.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Not A Recommended DFS Play
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.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashee Rice Practicing In Full
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) practiced in full on Tuesday and looks ready to play in his first career postseason contest on Saturday against the visiting Miami Dolphins. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (oblique) was also a full participant. The Chiefs chose to rest their leading receiver in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 3 seed already locked up. After a slow start in his rookie campaign, the 23-year-old eventually became quarterback Patrick Mahomes' go to receiver, other than tight end Travis Kelce. He finished with 79 receptions, 938 yards and seven touchdowns and will be plenty attractive in DFS with a DraftKings price of $6,600 while going up against a banged-up Dolphins secondary in wild-card weekend. Valdes-Scantling should be ignored.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling A Volatile Week 18 Option
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has endured a disastrous campaign in 2023, with his 21 receptions on 42 targets for 315 yards and one touchdown all signifying career-low outputs. After his snap rate was rightfully beginning to dip during the middle portion of the season, Valdes-Scantling has risen back up to 81.3% and 73.1% clips in each of his past two outings respectively. That status may actually put the 29-year-old field stretcher at risk of getting veteran's rest during Week 18's regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers with the AFC's No. 3 postseason spot set in stone for the Chiefs. Valdes-Scantling couldn't find a rhythm with big-armed superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes at any point this season, rendering it somewhat unlikely things suddenly click with backup signal-caller Blaine Gabbert in the Week 18 saddle. MVS is a Hail-Mary DFS choice.
