Willie Gay Jr.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. is back at practice.

Fantasy Impact

Gay is back at practice after serving his suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, but head coach Andy Reid was noncommital on his Week 7 status. Gay was playing at a high level before the NFL handed down the suspension, but Darius Harris has performed admirably in his absence. Gay should, by all accounts, take his role back when the staff deems his ready, but we may see a maddening rotation behind Nick Bolton going forward. This is a situation for IDP managers to monitor. Gay should be left on benches until he is back to his regular snap share. Darius Harris can be dropped where feasible.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Fantasy Impact

Gay was arrested in January on misdemeanor property damage and will be suspended for four games. Gay was playing well and had been holding off intriguing rookie Leo Chenal but now gives the rookie an exciting opportunity to wrestle the job away, or at the very least force a maddening timeshare as we saw from the Chiefs over the last couple of seasons when Ben Niemann and Damien Wilson were still on the team. Gay should be dropped outside of dynasty and the deepest of redraft leagues. Chenal is an LB3 option, while Gay serves his suspension.

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected linebacker Willie Gay Jr. with the No. 63 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Fantasy Impact

Willie Gay Jr. is a hard hitting linebacker with a good motor. He has starter upside, but will have to work on his pass coverage skills to be a three down player. A high energy player who can rush the passer and defend the run, only failing to upgrade his coverage skills can keep him from becoming a fixture in the middle of the Chiefs defense. Kansas City has needed a long term answer middle linebacker for what seems like years, and may have found one in Willie Gay Jr. Gay is an LB3 in redraft IDP leagues, but could enter the dynasty league LB2 conversation once he wins the starting job.