Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, January 8th, at 4:30 PM EST
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Betting Odds: KC -10, 44,5 total via Oddsshark
Network: ESPN/ABC
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (Start, QB1)
The AFC West has already been clinched, but Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs do have something to play for in Week 18. With a win + Tennessee loss/tie or KC tie + Tennessee loss, Kansas City will clinch the number one seed in the AFC, the only first-round BYE and homefield advantage throughout. Safe to say, Mahomes should be a top option this week against a down-bad Broncos team. Last week in a thriller against the Bengals, albeit a loss, Mahomes completed 26 of 35 attempts for 259 yards and two touchdowns.
Running Back
Darrel Williams (Start, RB2)
With Clyde Edwards-Helaire sidelined last week due to a shoulder injury, Darrel Williams took the lead and produced greatly. He turned 14 carries into 88 yards and two touchdowns, adding three receptions on three targets for 19 yards. CEH was ruled out on Thursday, and so once again Williams will assume the green light again this week, and consider him a strong RB2 for your Week 18 championship.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Tyreek Hill (Start, WR1), Travis Kelce (Start, TE1)
It was a fairly down [fantasy] December for Tyreek Hill, as he had only one touchdown on the month, and two double-digit point performances out of four games in full-PPR formats. Last week against the Bengals (technically January), he caught six of 10 targets for just 40 yards. One would hope in a pivotal game this week against the Broncos, Hill will finish the regular season on a higher note. Against Cincy, Travis Kelce – who missed Week 16 with COVID – turned seven targets into five receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. While Denver has given up the fourth fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season, still consider Kelce a top option this week.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Drew Lock (Sit)
Teddy Bridgewater is still sidelined from a scary concussion suffered back in Week 15, and was placed on IR on Wednesday. Drew Lock, dealing with a shoulder injury, is fully expected to start against Kansas City, but holds no fantasy relevancy. Chances are Lock will use this game as tape for a backup role for 2022; whether that be in Denver still or elsewhere.
Running Backs
Javonte Williams (Start, FLEX if you must), Melvin Gordon III (Start, FLEX if you must)
Primed for a potential big performance on the ground against the Chargers, Javonte Williams fell flat against LA, turning 14 carries into just 30 yards, as well as one reception for two yards. He still out-carried Melvin Gordon III 14 to 10, but Gordon himself had the better fantasy output. His ten carries went for 30 yards, but he caught three of four targets for 29 yards. It’s been a very split-heavy backfield in Denver this season, one of which fantasy players were anxiously awaiting for Williams to take a stronghold over. Perhaps that will happen in 2022, but it’s dependent on Gordon’s status as a Bronco. For Week 18, consider either back FLEX worthy if you must. The Chiefs have given up the 11th most fantasy points to running backs on the season.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Courtland Sutton (Sit), Jerry Jeudy (Sit), Tim Patrick (Sit), Noah Fant (Start, TE2)
Threes a crowd, and they’re all sitting. Courtland Sutton was the lone wide receiver last week to not miss the game due to COVID, and he posted his ‘best game’ since Week 7. And by ‘best game’, I mean he caught three of five targets for 60 yards. With up and down QB play for Denver this season, it’s been a brutal year for Sutton, Tim Patrick (both of whom got handsome contract extensions), and Jerry Jeudy, who in fairness missed time due to an ankle injury. With Lock under center, you can leave all three receivers on your bench. That leaves the only Broncos pass-catcher worth starting as tight end Noah Fant. Fant had his best game of the season last week since Week 6, catching six of seven targets for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers. The Chiefs have been middle of the pack defending tight ends this season, allowing the 13th most fantasy points to the position.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)