Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 29th, 2024, 4:25 ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Network: CBS
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: Start, QB1
Patrick Mahomes won’t often finish as the weekly QB1 due to his lower rushing ceiling, but he’s as reliable an option as we’ve ever seen at the position. If you have Mahomes, you’re starting him — some decisions don’t need much thought. While Mahomes has mostly been underwhelmed as a fantasy quarterback up to this point, the Chiefs will need to air the ball out more following the loss of Isiah Pacheco. This likely change in offensive game plan raises Mahomes’ floor and ceiling, and fantasy owners should expect better days ahead from the best QB of this generation.
Running Back
Carson Steele: FLEX Option
Samaje Perine: Sit
Kareem Hunt: Sit
Without Isiah Pacheco, owners of the Chief’s ancillary running backs should utilize a wait-and-see approach. Steele led the way in Week 3, and while he should hold on to that role again in Week 4, the signing of Kareem Hunt to the active roster only muddies the water even further. If I had to bet on one of these players to succeed this week, it would be Carson Steele once again. He has the best chance to find the end zone out of these three backs and should be the lead ball carrier.
Wide Receiver
Rashee Rice: Start, WR1
Xavier Worthy: FLEX Option
Rashee Rice is on the Amon-Ra St. Brown track as a fantasy producer. He is a safe player tied to an elite quarterback and offensive scheme. Rice should be a staple among the WR1 rankings from now on, especially as long as he is dominating the middle-of-the-field looks that used to go to Travis Kelce. Worthy, on the other hand, is a volatile player who could win your matchup with any opportunity he gets. Worthy is more of a FLEX2 play this week, especially if you are projected to lose by more than 15 fantasy points.
Tight End
Travis Kelce: Start, TE1
Travis Kelce has had an incredibly slow start to the season. That being said, he still has shown us glimpses of his greatness. Mahomes should be able to get back on track against the Chargers this week, and that should be in large part due to Kelce. The Chargers are in the bottom half of the league against opposing tight ends. The only real complication is that Kelce’s usual targets have been going to Rashee Rice more often than Kelce, and that has shifted the target volume this season more than many have expected.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: Sit
Justin Herbert is currently battling an ankle injury that may keep him off the field in Week 4. If he does suit up, though, he has a tough matchup this week, facing the Kansas City Chiefs. He has not needed to throw much this season and has yet to eclipse 150 passing yards in any single game. That could change some this week as the Chiefs defense has allowed a lot of passing yards thus far, but the ceiling is limited.
Running Back
JK Dobbins: Start, RB2
Gus Edwards: Sit
JK Dobbins had a tough matchup in Week 3, and it led to his least efficient and least productive game of the season. The silver lining is that he dominated the running back touches, and this is a trend that he will need to continue if he wants to land as an RB2 this week. Against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fourth fewest yards to running backs, Dobbins comes in as my RB19 on the week with the projection that he will continue to be involved in the passing attack.
Wide Receiver
Quentin Johnston: FLEX Option
Ladd McConkey: FLEX Option
Joshua Palmer: Sit
The Chargers pass catchers have been a storyline not just in the offseason but also in the first three weeks of the regular season. In Week 3, Quentin Johnston continued to play well on offense. He scored his third touchdown of the season, the only problem is the volume, as he only saw two targets. If Herbert misses time this week, QJ’s scoring streak may come to an end.
Tight End
Hayden Hurst: Sit
Will Dissly: Sit
It is safe to assume that if there are pass catchers on the Chargers roster who can help you get a win this week, they are at wide receiver, not tight end.
i feel like only the thursday game should be posted on thursday and the rest of the games on friday.. after this is posted there is so much more player news with practice sits etc that a lot of what youre writing is no longer valid and the opinion is void.
for example: damien pierce was limited just today. so akers should be a viable start if he doesnt play.
Hey, thanks for reading and commenting! We try to get all of our recommendations out on Thursday so that you have all that information in case you’re on the fence between a guy that plays on Thursday vs. Sunday. We don’t always have all of the information because of the timing with practice reports, but we try to update things as we get more info. As for the Texans backfield, I’m still a bit hesitant to recommend Akers, but he could have an easier time this week against the Jags than he did last week against the Vikings.
This list used to be a lot more nuanced in the past. Talking about #3 / #4 players and ranking them as such. Now it seems like every player if they’re not a #1 or #2 at their position they are simply a sit. I don’t need to know to start my top players it’s the flex ones in the middle I need a write up on. Wish this list was as thorough as years past.
Thanks for this feedback! We try and do our best to cover as many fantasy-relevant players as possible, and you can check out our list of weekly rankings to see how everyone stacks up. Is there a player or two I can help provide a more detailed breakdown of for you?
Having Anthony Richardson as a Start and Sam Darnold as a Sit is fantasy malpractice.
Hey, thanks for reading. I personally think Richardson has the higher ceiling this week with his rushing upside and Darnold has a hostile environment this week heading into Green Bay. If you personally want to see more out of Richardson before giving him the start again, I completely understand!