Junior

Hemingway

A three-year starter, Hemingway had a modest 34/699/4 line as a fifth-year senior. Although he does possess nice size at 6'1" and 225 pounds, Hemingway is more of a role player who gets credit for the late-career skill-set of Hines Ward: effort, blocking, and possession skills. Hemingway is headed for a special teams role in Kansas City if he earns a roster spot.

Drawing comparisons to Wes Welker “every day of his life,” Wylie projects as a long-term slot receiver and punt returner. Formerly a top prospect, Gray has a chance to take Jackie Battle’s roster spot as the final running back. Long will vie for a backup spot on the defensive line. Hemingway will help more on special teams than at receiver.

A seventh-round pick out of Michigan, injury limited Hemingway to just two preseason games, where he caught only one pass for 14 yards. He’ll be stashed on the practice squad. Gordon appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season, making 23 tackles and two sacks.

Copper, 31 in March, caught eight passes for 79 yards on the season, but he holds more value to the Chiefs as a special teams player. He’s under contract for $840,000 in 2013. Hemingway was taken in the seventh round of this past year’s draft out of Michigan.

It means McCluster will finish the preseason with just two catches for 21 yards if he sits out of Thursday’s finale. The Chiefs supposedly want McCluster to have a big role this season, but that’s been a challenge McCluster hasn’t been able to meet through his first three NFL campaigns. He’s off the fantasy radar. Junior Hemingway got some major run with the first-team offense in McCluster’s absence this evening, catching three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. It suggests he might make the roster.

He was the third receiver behind Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery only because Dexter McCluster missed the game with an illness, but it’s notable nonetheless. A Michigan alum, Hemingway caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers and appears to have sewn up No. 4 wideout duties.

A.J. Jenkins, Dexter McCluster, and Hemingway played leading Week 17 roles for the Chiefs, who rested their starters in this meaningless game. Hemingway has been Kansas City’s No. 4 receiver throughout the season, behind Dwayne Bowe, McCluster, and Donnie Avery. That won’t change in the playoffs.

The Chiefs were absolutely throttling the Redskins from the jump, so it looked like a good spot to get Jenkins some extra reps. Instead, those chances went to Hemingway. It’s yet another shot across the bow of the 49ers’ 2012 first-round pick.

This one came out of nowhere, as Hemingway entered the game with just 27 receiving yards all season. His big play occurred on a first-quarter touchdown pass via Alex Smith from 17 yards out. Hemingway is Kansas City’s No. 4 receiver, behind Dwayne Bowe, Dexter McCluster, and Donnie Avery.

Hemingway became the Chiefs’ No. 3 receiver after Donnie Avery went down with a concussion. A second-year seventh rounder out of Michigan, Hemingway caught nine passes over the Chiefs’ final five games. He’s not going to be gifted No. 4 receiver duties in 2014, but has the inside track on a roster spot. A burly 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Hemingway needs to improve as a blocker to ensure he sticks around in Kansas City.