Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 11th, at 4:05 PM EST
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Betting Odds: KC -9.5, 43 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (Start, QB1)
Despite heading into this game with a bruised foot, Patrick Mahomes remains on the QB1 radar without hesitation this week against the Broncos. Yes, Denver has only given up the second-fewest fantasy points to QBs this season, but Mahomes is more than capable of defying a stout opposition. It’s worth mentioning Mahomes only has two passing touchdowns in his last two games, but remains a top option this week, with FantasyData projecting him to finish as the QB3.
Running Backs
Isiah Pacheco (Start, RB2), Jerick McKinnon (Start if you must, FLEX)
The Broncos are strong against the run this season, allowing the eighth fewest fantasy points to running backs. Isiah Pacheco has been a reliable RB2 for the last three games, averaging 15.1 points per week in full-PPR leagues. He hasn’t surpassed 70 yards on the ground in the last two games but has scored in both. Jerick McKinnon saved his fantasy day last week in the loss to the Bengals, as he added a touchdown reception to his box score on just two receptions. He turned his eight carries into 51 yards, and in the last mega-BYE week of the season, McKinnon has FLEX appeal if you are in a bind.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
JuJu Smith-Schuster (Start, WR3), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Sit), Skyy Moore (Sit), Travis Kelce (Start, TE1)
JuJu Smith-Schuster was on fire prior to his concussion back in Week 10, though it’s been a quiet last two games since. Pre-injury, he was averaging 22.16 full-PPR points in three games, but in the last two, he has just six total receptions and 73 total yards. Consider him a shaky WR3 this week, and I wouldn’t be comfortable starting Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Skyy Moore, even with the likes of Christian Watson, Michael Pittman Jr., Chris Olave, and Terry McLaurin all on BYE. That’s considering the Broncos have allowed just the second-fewest points to wide receivers this fantasy season. Travis Kelce is coming off his worst game of the season last week, where he caught just four of six targets for 56 scoreless yards. Have no fear though – Kelce remains as the consensus TE1 as a weekly cheat code.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Russell Wilson (Sit)
Even in a heavy BYE week, it’s hard to justify starting Russell Wilson this week. He has played worse than the previous week in each of his last three games; last week against the Ravens, he completed 17 of 22 attempts, but 189 scoreless yards. The almost $300M man holds an 8:5 passing touchdown to interception ratio…. and it’s Week 14. Avoid Wilson this week and look elsewhere if you are streaming a QB.
Running Backs
Latavius Murray (Start, RB3)
Volume is king, and for Latavius Murray, he’s seeing the bulk of touches out of the Broncos backfield. Mike Boone and Marlon Mack aren’t a threat to the 32-year-old’s carry count. Last week against the Ravens, Murray turned 17 carries into just 47 yards, but his four receptions for 14 yards helped elevated his fantasy output to double-digit points (10.1) in full-PPR leagues. As long as he is leading the way in carries, Murray has a chance to find the end zone, and the Chiefs’ defense has given up the 10th most fantasy points to running backs this season.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Jerry Jeudy (Start, WR3), Greg Dulcich (Start, TE2)
With Courtland Sutton ruled a doubt on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, Jerry Jeudy is sure to see an uptick in targets; to whatever Wilson is capable of attempting. Jeudy returned last week after missing two games and caught all four of his targets for 65 yards. He is the de facto WR1 this week against a suspect Chiefs secondary that is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to WRs this year and is a strong WR3 this week. Tight end Greg Dulcich will also see his target share increase, and head coach Nathaniel Hackett alluded to the fact that he is playing more of a WR role:
Nathaniel Hackett on the Broncos going with multiple TEs on Sunday: "We've been efficient in some of our bigger packages, whether it be 12, 21 — when Beck was there — and our 13 package has been very efficient also with Dulcich playing a little more of a wide receiver role."
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) December 5, 2022
Dulcich enters Week 14 off of his best fantasy week against Baltimore, where he caught six of eight targets for 85 scoreless yards.