The Kansas City Chiefs will ask their fullbacks to do one thing and one thing only and that is to block in the running game.  That is the reason why they signed 6′3″, 252 pound fullback Oliver Hoyte away from the Cowboys.  Hoyte played in 10 games (8 starts) with the Cowboys and he caught 1 pass for 2 yards.  Hoyte did a good job blocking for the Cowboys in the running game last season and the thinking here is that he will do a good job for the Chiefs too as essentially an extra offensive lineman in the backfield.  Hoyte has now played in 25 games (13 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 3 passes for 12 yards (4.0 avg).

Chris Manderino is the #3 fullback on the depth chart heading into training camp but he doesn’t have any experience.  He is 6′0″, 239 pounds so he is big enough to handle the job.

John Paul Foschi is a huge fullback at 6′4″, 270 pounds but he’s #3 on the depth chart right now.  He played in 1 game (0 starts) for the Raiders last season and he didn’t touch the ball.  Because of his size Foschi is a good target out of the backfield in the passing game if the Chiefs want to get him the ball once in a while.  Foschi has now played in 11 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 6 passes for 37 yards (6.2 avg).

Steven Jackson is #4 on the depth chart but the guys above him can be beaten out so it will be up to him to win a job.  Jackson is 6′2″, 255 pounds so he does have the size to handle the job.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D