Chiefs vs Steelers
Oh preseason, how I hate thee. It’s just such a tease when you know this would be a marquee matchup had it been a regular-season game. We got a chance to see many of the starters suited up for the night but very few of them did anything notable. Many of the best players were not out on the field for long and therefore couldn’t make much of an impact, however, that gave plenty of other guys the chance to prove they belong on the final roster.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
- Patrick Mahomes: 2/5, 11 yards, 1 rush, 8 yards
- Chad Henne: 3/8, 37 yards
Patrick Mahomes started the game but wasn’t explosive. He played two series but most of the offense just wasn’t clicking right away. It’s not like last year’s overall QB1 is in danger of losing his starting job. Chad Henne came out quickly after and was about as good as you might expect Chad Henne to be. I wouldn’t be too confident if he had to start for my team. Sometimes you think Henne is a boss when he slings the ball into tight coverage. Then when those same types of throws aren’t successful you’re wondering how he could be so stupid.
Running Back
- Carlos Hyde: 5 carries, 23 yards, 1 fumble
- Darrel Williams: 6 carries, 25 yards
Damien Williams may have been on the field for every play of the first drive but he saw very little work; so much so that his stat line is basically nonexistent. He was targeted for just one throw and that was it for his night. Carlos Hyde was used much more among the top two backs. He had a good run but then quickly gave up a fumble. The silly mistake doesn’t help his fight for more snaps.
Darrel Williams was essentially the workhorse back for the Chiefs in the second half but that unfortunately is not very relevant to any of us fantasy players unless you believe it’s telling that the Chiefs stuck with mostly one back during this stretch.
Wide Receiver/ Tight End
- Tyreek Hill: 1 reception, 6 yards
- Travis Kelce: 1 reception, 5 yards
- Cody Thompson: 7 receptions, 69 yards
All things considered, Tyreek Hill had a pretty good night. He only had one catch but was also overthrown twice by Mahomes. It is still telling seeing how often he was targeted on such little opportunity. Travis Kelce only got one target but looks as good as ever. He has nothing to prove. With a crowded stable of talented receivers on the roster, there isn’t much space for unproven guys to show they deserve a spot. The only one who looks like he may be able to carve out a role for himself is Cody Thompson. The rookie is working hard to make a name for himself and tonight was no exception.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
- Mason Rudolph: 10/15, 77 yards
- Joshua Dobbs: 6/11, 95 yards, 1 INT
Ben Roethlisberger didn’t suit up tonight, but he was plenty active with the quarterbacks from the sideline. Mason Rudolph was impressive for a backup. He led a 14-play touchdown drive in the second quarter that included some great downfield throws. Sometimes his passes look amazing and other times they just seem like poor decisions. Joshua Dobbs came in shortly before the half and was just as hot-and-cold as Rudolph. I think Dobbs showed better athleticism and ability to extend the play but still made some poor decisions of his own.
Running Back
- James Conner: 6 carries, 28 yards, 1 catch, 6 yards
- Jaylen Samuels: 4 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
- Benny Snell Jr.: 7 carries, 16 yards, 2 receptions, 5 yards
James Conner got the start and had a good amount of work for a starting running back in preseason week 2. He had a cool bobble catch through his legs that showed his impressive hands but he honestly should have had the catch to begin with. Conner also had a run right up the middle that looked to be one or two yards, but he turned it into six from his muscle and spinning ability. I would continue to feel good about drafting Conner early. Jaylen Samuels looks to be the undisputed RB2 for the Steelers with his solid 6.5 yard-per-carry average. His touchdown was the perfect example for why you draft a Steelers running back. The play was drawn up beautifully and he skipped into the endzone in wide-open space. Benny Snell Jr. had a good amount of work but he was mainly used as a short-yardage bruiser.
Wide Receiver/ Tight End
- Vance McDonald: 1 reception, 5 yards
- James Washington: 4 receptions, 78 yards
- Donte Moncrief: 1 reception, 1 yard, 1 fumble
It looks like Vance McDonald will continue to be the go-to tight end for the Steelers. He didn’t get many chances to impress tonight but maybe that’s a good thing. I’m selfishly hoping he stays low on draft boards. McDonald was lucky the ball flew out-of-bounds when a well-placed hit forced a bad drop. James Washington should be confident in his role right behind JuJu Smith-Schuster in the depth chart. He proved to be a reliable receiver for both quarterbacks tonight, and he had a few impressive deep receptions including one during the two-minute drill just before the half. Donte Moncrief didn’t inspire much hope with his limited work. He had a fumble on his very first touch and was otherwise quiet.
–Ryan Kruse
Haven’t played fantasy football in awhile just wondering…besides actual talent which positions should be drafted in the early rounds? Not sure I trust ANY bears fans to give advice but I’ll go with my gut for now.
Haha, thanks for reading Aaron. In the first 4 rounds I will only draft RB and WR and I base my choices on whoever is the best player available at the moment (even if the means I get 3 rb and only 1 wr or vice versa). Travis Kelce will likely go in the 2nd round and I personally would take him at the start of the third. Typically, I’ll draft a TE in the 7th or 8th round. I’ll then go for my QB somewhere in rounds 8-10. Hope this helps!