Two surprising Chiefs make PFF’s NFL team of the week

On Sunday, the football analytics site Pro Football Focus published its Team of the Week for Week 1 of the NFL preseason.

Essentially, this is a list of the players who had the highest PFF grades at their position in the games played last week. Two Kansas City Chiefs made the team for their performances in the 38-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night — and their presence on this list is likely to surprise you:

TE Nick Keizer, Kansas City Chiefs

88.9 Overall Grade, 6 Targets

Officially, Keizer had three receptions for 24 yards, but he also had another reception called back by penalty. Adding some solid work as a run blocker, he stood out on 27 snaps this week.

And then...

LT Dino Boyd, Kansas City Chiefs

81.5 Overall Grade, 29 Offensive Snaps

Boyd saw 29 snaps for the Chiefs in their preseason opener, including 17 in pass protection. Allowing zero sacks, hits and hurries, he also impressed as a run blocker, producing a PFF run-blocking grade of 79.1.

Does this mean that Keizer is suddenly someone who might beat out Blake Bell, John Lovett and Deon Yelder to become the backup tight end on September’s roster? Or that Boyd is likely to displace Cameron Erving as the swing tackle?

Probably not.

It’s important to remember that PFF grades are calculated based on how many snaps a player beats the competition in front of him in a game. These two players — in this game — got those grades by winning matchups against Cincinnati players who have little chance to make the Bengals roster, either.

Still... being on this list of players is better than the alternative. If PFF analysts saw good performances from these players even against weaker competition, it means they might find employment on the Chiefs practice squad — or another NFL roster — after the final roster cutdown August 31.

Keizer, 24, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds. A product of Grand Valley State, he played three seasons for the Lakers, appearing in 36 games where he gained 734 yards (and scored 11 touchdowns) on 45 receptions — a nifty 16.3 yard per catch.

Keizer came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. Cut by the team after training camp, he was signed to their practice squad in late November and given a reserve/futures contract in January. The Ravens released him in mid-May, and he was signed by the Chiefs on May 31.

Boyd, 22, is a rookie listed at 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island — where he played three seasons after being redshirted as a sophomore — and then in 2018, entered graduate school at the University of Cincinnati to complete his final year of eligibility. For the Bearcats, he started 13 games at left tackle and earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

The Chiefs signed Boyd as an undrafted free agent on May 4. Old friend BJ Kissel had a nice interview with Boyd on the mothership.