Kansas City will release Valdes-Scantling on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling's only chance of remaining with the Chiefs would have been to restructure the final year of his three-year, $30 million contract, but Kansas City will instead cut him loose to save roughly $12 million in cap space. The savings are a necessity for the Chiefs, who are hoping to retain defensive stalwarts L'Jarius Sneed and Chris Jones this offseason on longer-term deals. Valdes-Scantling did little across 16 regular-season games in 2023, with just 21 catches for 315 yards and one touchdown on 42 targets. Back in 2022, he essentially doubled that production in one extra game played. The 29-year-old deep threat will now look to find a complementary role in a wide receiver corps elsewhere in the league.

The Chiefs may release Valdes-Scantling this offseason, a move that would clear up $12 million in cap space, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.

EDGE Analysis

It's a no-brainer move barring a renegotiated contract, despite Valdes-Scantling's contributions in the playoffs the past two seasons. He's won two rings since signing a three-year, $30 million contact with the Chiefs in March 2022, but he caught only 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 games during the 2023 regular season. Valdes-Scantling will turn 30 during the 2024 season and has never reached 700 yards despite taking nearly all of his NFL snaps with either Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers under center.

Valdes-Scantling caught both of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 17-10 AFC Championship win over the Ravens.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling began Kansas City's final offensive drive with just one reception for six yards before getting loose over the top for a 32-yard reception that allowed his team to run out the clock and advance to Super Bowl LVIII. That's now two consecutive weeks in which the 29-year-old wideout made clutch receptions to help his team ice playoff victories. Valdes-Scantling will attempt to work his postseason magic as one of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes' auxiliary options in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11.

Valdes-Scantling recorded two receptions on four targets for 62 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling got attention this season for the wrong reasons, as he often squandered opportunities with drops. However, he delivered key receptions of 32 and 30 yards in the Chiefs' win, both of which helped set up touchdowns later in the drive. It was Valdes-Scantling's highest yardage total since Week 7 and the first time he topped 30 receiving yards in that span. With Kadarius Toney (hip) struggling to get healthy and Mecole Hardman losing a key fumble Sunday, Valdes-Scantling may be called upon once again in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore.

Valdes-Scantling recorded one catch for eight yards on two targets Saturday in the Chiefs' 26-7 win over the Dolphins in the wild-card round.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling returned to action after he was active for the Chiefs' 13-12 win over the Chargers in the regular-season finale Jan. 7, though he didn't actually play any snaps in the contest while Kansas City held out several key players with its postseason positioning alreayd locked up. The 29-year-old turned in a disappointing season overall, with his 21-315-1 receiving line on 42 targets over 16 appearances marking a steep decline from his already modest outputs of 42 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns over his 17 appearances in 2022, his first campaign in Kansas City. Valdes-Scantling has one more season left on his three-year contract, but barring a dramatic turnaround in his performance over the duration of the postseason, the Chiefs will likely move on from the veteran wideout this offseason or rework his contract.

Valdes-Scantling gathered in one of three targets for three yards during Sunday's 25-17 win against Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling certainly hasn't produced at a level that satisfies the terms of his contract for the 2023 campaign, catching no more than three passes in a contest, which occurred only once in Week 7. He has only one touchdown this year and has clearly fallen behind in the target pecking order, so from a fantasy perspective, there's little reason to show much interest in the veteran. He still plays plenty, however, logging the second-most snaps among wideouts in Week 17. With the Chiefs locked into the No. 3 playoff seed, it's possible some players could get a rest in Week 18 to ensure they are healthy for the postseason.

Valdes-Scantling did not catch his only target in Monday's 20-14 loss versus the Raiders.

EDGE Analysis

Despite leading Kansas City's wide receivers in snaps Monday (58), Valdes-Scantling was only able to draw one target, which he couldn't haul in. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn't have much time in the pocket, so the longer routes that are Valdes-Scantling's calling card were simply not in play for much of the game. He'll look to bounce back in Week 17 versus the Bengals.

Valdes-Scantling secured his only target for 17 yards in Sunday's 27-17 win over the Patriots.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling saw just one target on a day that quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempted 37 passes. The veteran wideout continues to produce modestly in the Chiefs' offense. Through 14 games, Valdes-Scantling has recorded career-lows in receptions (20), yards (312) and touchdowns (1). The 29-year-old will have an opportunity to bounce back in a Week 16 matchup with the Raiders.

Valdes-Scantling secured two of four targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling continued his disappointing season Sunday, catching just two passes for the second straight week. The veteran wideout played 22 of the Chiefs' 66 offensive snaps, behind Rashee Rice (56), Justin Watson (36), Kadarius Toney (29) and Skyy Moore (23). Since Kansas City's Week 9 bye, Valdes-Scantling is roughly averaging a 45 percent snap share compared to the 61 percent average he saw in the first eight games. Seeing such limited opportunities, the 29-year-old is an untrustworthy fantasy option in most formats. he'll look to make the most of his opportunities in Week 15 when the Chiefs visit the Patriots.

Valdes-Scantling caught two of five targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Packers.

EDGE Analysis

Valdes-Scantling's five targets tied a season-high that he previously set back in Week 7. Even so, the veteran wideout didn't do much with his opportunities while facing off against his former team. Valdes-Scantling has averaged just 16.1 receiving yards per game while finding the end zone only once through 12 appearances, making him difficult to trust as a weekly lineup option even in deeper leagues.