Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 14th at 8:20 PM ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Betting Odds: KC -2.5, 51.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: NBC
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (Start, Low-end QB1)
It’s no secret that Patrick Mahomes has struggled lately. Mahomes has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions with a 75.2 passer rating in his past five games. He scored more than 20 fantasy points only once over that span. The problem for fantasy managers is that we all know Mahomes is a talented player and an indispensable fantasy asset when he’s at his best.
I’m not a fan of the match-up this week either. The Raiders are allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and the fifth-fewest passing yards per game. Still, the list of players one could confidently start over Mahomes is pretty short. It’s been a down year for Pat, but fantasy managers may need to bite the bullet and start him anyway.
Running Backs
Darrel Williams (Start, RB2), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Sit)
The Chiefs designated Clyde Edwards-Helaire to return, but don’t get too excited yet. Fantasy managers need to keep monitoring CEH’s practice status. Darrel Williams will likely be the lead back in Kansas City for another week if Edwards-Helaire doesn’t practice much. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kansas City wants to ease Clyde in a bit.
Assuming CEH is inactive again, Williams should be capable of an RB2 performance against the Raiders. The Las Vegas defense is allowing roughly 20 fantasy points per game to running backs and the fifth-most rushing yards per game.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Tyreek Hill (Start, WR1), Mecole Hardman (Sit), Byron Pringle (Sit), Travis Kelce (Start, TE1)
Tyreek Hill had his second-worst fantasy performance of the season last week. It was his third single-digit fantasy performance of the year, so Hill has been pretty “boom or bust,” but that could be because of Mahomes’ struggles. Either way, Tyreek is still the overall WR2 in PPR leagues, so you would be crazy to bench him. The Raiders’ secondary is playing well, but I still believe Hill is capable of WR1 numbers.
Neither Mecole Hardman nor Byron Pringle has shown enough fantasy consistency to trust regularly. They are both best left on the bench for now.
Although Travis Kelce hasn’t quite put up the record-breaking numbers we are used to seeing from him, he’s still having a great year and is the overall TE1 so far. His 144.8 fantasy points would make him the WR9 in PPR leagues. The Raiders’ defense has allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends, so Kelce should be in line for another solid TE1 performance this week.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr (Start-able High-end QB2)
I’m a bit torn on where exactly to rank Derek Carr this week. It feels a bit wrong ranking him as a QB2, but Carr’s recent streak of mediocrity should have fantasy managers a little apprehensive. Derek has only scored more than 20 fantasy points once in his last five games. Plus, he just threw two interceptions against an exploitable Giants secondary.
On the other hand, the Chiefs have been playing awful defense, allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. The match-up is enticing, but Carr will still be a risky play in Week 10. I’m putting Derek just outside QB1 territory. He’s start-able, but I still think he’s a dicey play.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Start, RB2), Kenyan Drake (Flex)
It looked like Josh Jacobs‘ knee may have given him some trouble last week, so fantasy managers will need to monitor his practice status over the next couple of days to see if he’s limited in any way. I believe Josh logged a full practice on Wednesday.
Jacobs should be in the RB2 discussion if he’s healthy and ready to go. Kansas City is conceding the twelfth-most rushing yards per game (121.8), which should be good enough for Josh to reach RB2 territory.
Averaging a little over 18 fantasy points per game over his last three, Kenyan Drake has done well with his recent increase in opportunities. His value mainly lies in his receiving upside, but luckily Drake just saw a season-high eight targets last week. Kenyan should have Flex value again this week. If Jacobs’ knee is worse than we initially thought, Drake’s value should immediately rise to RB2 territory if the latter needs to carry the load.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Hunter Renfrow (Start, Low-end WR2), Bryan Edwards (Sit), DeSean Jackson (Sit), Darren Waller (Start, TE1)
It’s no surprise that Hunter Renfrow is already looking like the most valuable wideout in Las Vegas. He tied his season-high with nine targets and put up his second-best fantasy total last week. Henry finished the game last week but was limping a bit, so fantasy managers should monitor his practice status to make sure Hunter is 100%. The Chiefs’ secondary has been struggling lately, so Henry should be capable of a WR2 performance if he continues to have a healthy target share.
Many thought Bryan Edwards would step up with Ruggs gone, but he failed a catch a single one of his four targets last week. I need to see much more from Edwards before I feel comfortable starting him.
DeSean Jackson could return to his old “boom or bust” ways now that’s he’s with the Raiders. I’m not expecting much from the veteran receiver, but it may be a good idea for fantasy managers to keep an eye on him over his first game or two with Las Vegas.
Darren Waller is performing pretty well this year. Waller would be the overall TE2 so far this year if you took Darren’s average fantasy score and applied it to his missed week and BYE week. Plus, he saw his second-highest target total of the season last week. The Chiefs are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends, so Waller should be in line for an impressive performance in Week 10.
-Ryan Kruse (@ryanpkruse)
You have a typo on Darrell Hendersons name. It says Darnell.
his momma calls him Darnell.
Darnell Anderson