Jason Campbell takes over QB for the Raiders.

BY ROB SHAW
sportsnet.ca

What a wacky off-season for the AFC West. The Raiders made some solid strides while the Chargers seemed to be falling apart. The Broncos have traded away their best playmaker, but similar to the Chiefs, they will bank on young talent to rise to more prominent roles.

DENVER BRONCOS

QB: An interesting quarterback battle ended with veteran Kyle Orton securing the starting position. Nonetheless, there was a surprise, as Tim Tebow made some strides to become a legit NFL quarterback, something many NFL pundits believed to be impossible. The Broncos will start the season with Orton as their No. 1, and likely Tebow as the No. 2. Brady Quinn will have a tough time finding the field.

RB: Injuries hampered the Broncos' running backs throughout the preseason, but there shouldn't be any changes. Knowshon Moreno enters his second year in the NFL and will earn the bulk of the team's carries with Correll Buckhalter next on the depth chart. Justin Fargas has been cut and LenDale White is lost for the season due to an Achilles injury.

WR: Without Brandon Marshall, the Broncos will have to find alternatives for the receiving game. Eddie Royal figures to return to prominence and Demaryius Thomas will get every chance to become a big part of the offence. The sleeper may be veteran Jabar Gaffney who will likely start the season as the team's second wide out.

TE: By trading away Tony Scheffler, it became clear that the Broncos will start Daniel Graham this season. Of course, Graham is not much of a receiving threat; so don't expect any fantasy value.

Defence: Poor Josh McDaniels hasn't caught any breaks in his second season at the helm, as injuries will keep the Broncos shallow on defence. Nonetheless, there is some talent on the line and plenty of young players will have a chance to evolve into starters.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

QB: Last season was a tale of two halves for Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. In the first half of the season, he was solid with 10 passing touchdowns compared to five interceptions. In the second half of the season, Cassel floundered with just six touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions and three fumbles lost. Of course, it's tough to be a consistent quarterback when your best target is journeyman Chris Chambers. This season, the Chiefs hope Dwayne Bowe will return to prominence while rookie Dexter McCluster is considered a key playmaker. Cassel should look more like the first half quarterback from last season.

RB: Jamaal Charles was very much an elite running back in the second half of last season, but before you pick him in the first round, keep in mind that the Chiefs signed veteran Thomas Jones, an elite running back over the last five years. The end result will be a split backfield with both running backs limited in value.

WR: When motivated, Dwayne Bowe is an elite wide out who can easily surpass 1,100 yards. Chris Chambers is solid, but lacks the high ceiling of the team's younger talent. Perhaps the greatest sleeper on the team is Dexter McCluster, who can play a role similar to Percy Harvin in Minnesota.

TE: The 6'8 Leonard Pope returns to the Chiefs, but his career has stalled in recent seasons. The more exciting option is Tony Moeaki who was drafted out of Iowa in the third round. He has plenty of speed, but it may not translate to big production in his rookie season.

Defence: With a coaching staff full of Bill Parcells disciples, it's no surprise that this team is working on toughness and getting more physical. While there is no guarantee that it will translate to performance, it does make you want to consider the defence against some of the inferior offences in the NFL such as Buffalo, Oakland, Cleveland, Seattle and St. Louis.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

QB: The good people of Oakland will finally get to at least see an average quarterback this fall. Jason Campbell replaces JaMarcus Russell, which at least provides the team with a chance. Campbell should be his usual ho-hum self as he has a solid tight end and young talented receivers to throw to.

RB: There is a lot of young talent in the Raiders' backfield, but Michael Bush and Darren McFadden visit the infirmary more than the end zone. Once again, both young running backs have been banged up during training camp, so there is no clear-cut starter entering the season. Bush has a better NFL career so far, while McFadden earned believers as the best running back in the NCAA during his time at Arkansas.

WR: Darrius Heyward-Bey had a rookie season to forget, but assuming Jason Campbell is healthy, he should at least rack up 600 yards this season. Chaz Schilens has a lot of promise, but he struggles to stay on the field due to foot problems. Look for Louis Murphy to start, but he may end up being a short-term play.

TE: Zach Miller has been the lone bright spot in Oakland the last few years. He's got great hands and wonderful toughness that should do him well with a solid passer this season.

Defence: The team addressed its defence in the first two rounds of the draft, but it may not be enough against the rush. On the other hand, the pass defence should be solid, making the Raiders a surprise wild card in fantasy leagues this season.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

QB: The only issue with Philip Rivers is that his top receiver form a year ago is holding out and suspended. The good news is that he does have some other options including top-notch tight end Antonio Gates and rising wide outs Patrick Crayton and Malcom Floyd. Rivers is a decent second-to-third tier quarterback.

RB: The Chargers will depend on rookie running back Ryan Matthews. He's a popular first- or second-round pick in fantasy leagues, though he is clearly unproven. Darren Sproles will play backup, a position he will have to get used to since he is considered too small to be an every down back.

WR: The Chargers will lean on a pretty unproven group. Floyd has made some nice strides in recent years, but there are some real questions about former Cowboys wide out Crayton. Former Boise State star Legedu Naane will also get a shot to make an immediate impact on the Chargers. If he impresses, he could end up starting the entire season opposite Floyd.

TE: Antonio Gates does not need an introduction. His value should only rise now that he is the clear-cut No. 1 option for Rivers. He also should get more red-zone looks now that LaDainian Tomlinson is in New York.

Defence: Between holdouts, trades and injuries, I am not sold on the Chargers this season. Consider grabbing some other lesser-known fantasy options because Shawne Merriman alone will not hold down the fort.