Chargers@Chiefs
Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 29th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Betting Odds: KC -9, 45.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Sleeper Spotlight: Hunter Henry
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback:
- Philip Rivers (Sit)
The last time Philip Rivers faced this Chiefs defense in Week 11, Rivers threw 52 times for 353 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Since that game, Rivers has thrown six touchdowns and four interceptions in four games, with turnovers remaining a problem. With no rushing ability, too many turnovers lowering his fantasy output, and a lack of explosive plays in the passing game, Rivers just doesn’t have the profile of a consistent fantasy starter. The Chiefs have allowed the 14th fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position, making this far from an ideal matchup for Rivers. He remains worthy of a start in two-quarterback leagues, but that lacks the upside for standard leagues. Rivers was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a thumb injury but returned Thursday for a full practice.
Running Backs:
- Melvin Gordon (Start)
- Austin Ekeler (Start)
- Justin Jackson (Sit)
Kansas City allows the sixth-most fantasy points to oppose running backs this year, so if the Chargers play their starters all game, Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are set up for high volume roles. While Gordon’s workload on the ground has fallen off lately, he’s made up for that through the air, catching five or more passes in each of his last three games. He maintains a solid red-zone role when the Chargers get in range and is a solid RB2 in fantasy leagues. Ekeler has more or less been a consistent player all season and should be involved even if the Chargers fall behind. Ekeler has 50 or more receiving yards in each of his last five games, and while he hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown since Week 4, he does have eight receiving touchdowns on the year. Ekeler is a rock-solid RB2 with RB1 upside in PPR leagues. If the Chargers decided to rest either running back in the final game of the season, Justin Jackson would likely receive a workload that would put him on the flex radar.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
- Keenan Allen (Start, WR2)
- Mike Williams (Start, WR3)
- Hunter Henry (Start)
The Chiefs have given up the second-fewest points to receivers this year, making this a tough on-paper matchup. In Week 11, Keenan Allen turned 12 targets into 8 receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, while Mike Williams scratched out 76 yards on two receptions. Allen’s yardage totals have been a bit down this year, but he remains a safe bet for five or more catches and 60 or more yards each an every week. This doesn’t look like a blowup spot for Allen, but he should slot in as a solid WR2 in your fantasy championship. Williams has a much less reliable role, but he has made up for it with big plays, putting him over 50 yards receiving in each of the last eight games. Regardless, Williams only has so much upside with his low target totals, making him a WR3.
With the Chiefs allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, Hunter Henry makes for a solid tight end play. He’s had a rough go of it over the last four weeks, but last week provided some encouragement as Henry caught five passes on seven targets for 45 yards, and seemed to be one of the few Chargers pass-catchers that was gaining separation. He’s no longer in that elite top tier of tight ends, but slots in comfortably near the top of the second group.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback:
- Patrick Mahomes (Start)
The Chiefs can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a New England loss, but with the Patriots playing Miami, that game could be over by the half. Expect the Chiefs to be scoreboard-watching, and a big Patriots lead could cause the Chiefs to pull some starters. The Chargers are a tough fantasy matchup, allowing the sixth-fewest points to quarterbacks this year, but you know the drill with Patrick Mahomes by now, he can come through in any matchup. He’s put up back to back 20-point weeks against the Broncos and the Bears over his last two games, so there’s no reason to think that he can’t come through this week. The primary concern will be if Mahomes will play the full game, but we’ve seen him throw four touchdowns in a quarter before, so I expect him to play long enough to do some fantasy damage. Start him unless you have a rock-solid option to replace him with.
Running Backs:
- Damien Williams (Sit, Deep Flex)
- LeSean McCoy (Sit)
- Darwin Thompson (Sit)
Spencer Ware goes to IR after LeSean McCoy was a healthy scratch last week, and the running back roulette wheel keeps on spinning in Kansas City. Damien Williams is the only running back that has shown any kind of upside and is the only one I would consider starting this week. Williams saw 53% of the snaps last week in his return from injury, with Ware logging 36% and Darwin Thompson only getting 9%. If the Chiefs get up big, or the Patriots pull away from the Dolphins, I would worry that Kansas City could rest Williams, so I’m not sure we can count on even Williams playing through the end of the game. We can’t predict this backfield week to week, and it hasn’t been very good anyway, so save yourself the headache and skip them all if possible.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
- Tyreek Hill (Start)
- Sammy Watkins (Sit)
- Travis Kelce (Start)
Tyreek Hill is a big-play waiting to happen and should remain in your fantasy lineups for Week 17. He hasn’t had the massive target volume we saw at times earlier in the year; since the Week 12 bye Hill is averaging seven targets a game and hasn’t reached 75 receiving yards. But he’s always a threat to get lose to score a touchdown, and remains a back-end WR1 this week, even against a tough Chargers’ secondary. Sammy Watkins and the rest of the Chiefs’ wide receivers have mostly disappeared down the stretch, taking a clear backseat to Hill and Travis Kelce, and shouldn’t be trusted in fantasy lineups. Kelce remains a locked-in TE1 and produced seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown last time out against the Chargers.
-Erik Smith (@ErikSmithQBL on Twitter, truebest on Reddit)