Kansas City Chiefs vs Detroit Lions
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterbacks
- Patrick Mahomes: 24/42, 315 yards | 6 carries, 54 yards
After 14 consecutive regular-season games with at least two passing TDs, Patrick Mahomes finally missed that lofty threshold. Mahomes looked, for lack of a better word, “off” in this game. He never looked flustered or panicked, but Mahomes missed on deep throws that have become a staple of the Kansas City offense. LT Eric Fisher remained out following sports-hernia surgery, which certainly had some effect, but we have to give Detroit’s defense a lot of credit as well. Detroit frequently pressured Mahomes quickly, forcing him to throw the ball sooner than intended and frequently in an unnatural throwing position. Detroit’s secondary also played extremely well, leaving precious few open looks despite the absence of star CB Darius Slay.
Mahomes made the play of the game late in the fourth quarter facing fourth-and-eight from the Kansas City 34-yard line. Detroit utilized man-to-man coverage, Mahomes recognized it early and sprinted 15 yards up the middle to secure the first down and eventually the game. Mahomes’ fantasy owners have to be disappointed with the lack of TDs, but he’s still the #1 QB in fantasy despite this small bump in the road.
Running Backs
- LeSean McCoy: 11 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD | 4 targets, 2 receptions, 33 yards
- Darrel Williams: 8 carries, 13 yards, 2 TDs, 1 fumble lost | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 43 yards
LeSean McCoy was heavily involved in this game but save for a 39-yard carry, was held in check by Detroit. McCoy did get a one-yard TD plunge to increase his final fantasy numbers, but it was not a banner day for the veteran. McCoy was the beneficiary of a heads-up play by Travis Kelce as Kelce performed an impromptu hook-and-lateral as he pitched the ball to McCoy after a catch which gained an additional 23 yards. McCoy has mid-RB2 value because of the offense, but there could be some competition on the horizon.
Darrel Williams didn’t average five yards per carry like McCoy, but Williams looked better in his limited opportunities and converted on both of his goal-line chances. Additionally, Williams was the RB on the field during the team’s final drive and scored the winning TD. Williams was credited with a fumble lost, but the fumble was a result of indecision by Mahomes on an RPO. Williams appears to have surpassed Damien Williams and might be creeping up on McCoy, making him a nice bench stash if you’ve got the room for him.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
- Sammy Watkins: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 fumble lost
- Travis Kelce: 8 targets, 7 receptions, 85 yards
- Mecole Hardman: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards, 1 fumble lost
- Demarcus Robinson: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 35 yards
Sammy Watkins was merely pedestrian in this game as the Kansas City receivers just couldn’t get consistent separation from Detroit’s defensive backs. It looked like it was going to be a good game for Watkins as his first reception came on a nice crossing route in which he outran defenders for 30 yards. Watkins saw a couple of deep targets, but the connection just wasn’t there. On Watkins’ fumble, Watkins caught a short pass going to the ground, just short of the first-down line. Watkins, untouched, dove forward in an attempt to reach the marker but Detroit CB Justin Coleman was ready for the attempt and punched the ball out. It was a heady defensive play more than an error by Watkins. With the plethora of options in the Kansas City passing game, it’s hard to trust Watkins as more than a WR2 on a week-to-week basis, but we’ve seen his upside as a #1 overall WR on any given week.
Travis Kelce was once again the favorite target for Mahomes, and for good reason. Kelce used his size and incredible hands to convert nearly all his opportunities into receptions. Kelce and Mahomes did the majority of their damage within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage as Kelce creates mismatches with both linebackers and safeties. Kelce was also responsible for the play at the start of the fourth quarter that led to Darrel Williams’ first TD as he lateraled to McCoy as he was being tackled, netting an additional 23 yards. Kelce was dubbed as the #1 overall TE heading into the 2019 season and that’s a ranking I can’t argue with 25% of the way through the season.
Both Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson were targeted deep multiple times, but as mentioned above those splash plays just didn’t connect tonight. Again, Detroit’s coverage played a part, but each miss seemingly was thrown just slightly too deep for Robinson or Hardman. Hardman’s fumble came on the opening kickoff of the second half when Detroit CB Jamal Agnew came in unseen from Hardman’s right and threw a right cross right onto the football, punching it free.
Rumors started circulating before kickoff today that Tyreek Hill might be able to return in time for Kansas City’s week six game. Hill is scheduled to undergo more imaging tests this week to determine a more exact timetable. Monitor the news from Hill’s tests to determine how much longer Hardman and Robinson will have any significant fantasy value. Both players have WR1 potential any week, but if you can trust them as your low-end WR2 until Hill returns, a game like today’s won’t hurt quite as bad.
Detroit Lions
Quarterbacks
- Matthew Stafford: 21/34, 291 yards, 3 TDs | 2 carries, 18 yards, 1 fumble lost
Matthew Stafford was a surprise addition to the injury report late in the week, but he didn’t seem bothered by it in a very efficient game. Stafford utilized his arm strength to fit passes into tight windows all game long. Stafford’s first two TD passes were ropes into the back half of the end zone to find T.J. Hockenson (5 yards) and then Kenny Golladay (9 yards). Stafford’s third TD was a perfectly placed throw to the sideline and Golladay made a fantastic play by barely getting both feet in bounds.
Stafford had what appeared to be another TD early in the second half to Golladay as the receiver made a nice catch in the back of the end zone and got both feet in as he went to the ground. Upon further review, however, the referee determined Golladay didn’t maintain possession through the play and Stafford fumbled on the following play. It was an unfortunate, arguably questionable, overturn for owners of the players involved and Lions’ fans alike. Stafford remains outside the QB1 ranks but is a viable BYE week replacement.
Running Backs
- Kerryon Johnson: 26 carries, 125 yards, 1 fumble lost | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 32 yards
- Ty Johnson: 3 carries, 13 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard
- J.D. McKissic: 4 carries, 30 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards
Kerryon Johnson looked the part of a three-down RB in this contest, running decisively, powerfully and with excellent vision. Johnson was unable to find the end zone, but frequently gashed the Kansas City defense with good gains (8 carries of 8 yards or more) and was the most targeted RB on the team. Johnson’s fumble occurred as he tried to extend the ball over the goal line as he was being tackled. Kansas City’s Brashaud Breeland scooped up the ball on the goal line and returned it for a TD after most players assumed the play had ended. It was a good defensive play as opposed to a mistake by Johnson as he was on top of another player, thus not down when the ball came loose. Johnson can be counted on as a low-end RB1 given the volume he’s seeing now.
It was assumed Ty Johnson was the primary backup to Johnson when C.J. Anderson was released, but J.D. McKissic was more involved in the game plan this week. I don’t think either player carries any value at this point, but McKissic seems to be the target if Johnson were to miss time.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
- Kenny Golladay: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 67 yards, 2 TDs
- Marvin Jones Jr: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 77 yards
- T.J. Hockenson: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 27 yards, 1 TD
- Logan Thomas: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 25 yards
- Marvin Hall: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 47 yards
Kenny Golladay put to rest any rumors of his status as the team’s #1 WR with a fantastic performance against the Chiefs. Golladay commanded nearly double the targets of any other player and parlayed those targets into two scores and nearly a third (as detailed above). Golladay found openings in the zone, came down with contested catches when in man-to-man and showed incredible agility with two toe taps in the end zone. Golladay is a low-end WR1 going forward.
Marvin Jones had another solid outing this week, clearly reestablishing his status as Stafford’s second-favorite target. Jones seems to have become the deep threat as he was targeted deep on 3 of his 5 targets, hauling in all three. Jones is a bit of a boom or bust option, but slots in nicely as a WR3 or matchup-dependent FLEX option in standard leagues.
T.J. Hockenson showed his ability as an end zone threat on Detroit’s second drive as he posted up in the back of the end zone and created a big target for Stafford. In the third quarter, Hockenson tried to hurdle a defender, a practice that should give players pause given the result of this attempt, and took a hard fall sending into concussion protocol. Hockenson was able to leave under his own power, which was questionable immediately following the play, but monitor his status heading into week five. Hockenson has been used sparingly since week one, so he barely registers as a TE1 given his usage. If Hockenson is forced to miss time, Logan Thomas appears to be his replacement. Thomas doesn’t provide any more value than Hockenson, however.
Danny Amendola missed the game with an injury, giving more work to Marvin Hall. Amendola seemed likely to play, so an extended absence doesn’t seem likely. Amendola is an emergency BYE week option given his relatively small role in the offense. In the event Amendola was to miss week five as well, Hall would slot into the same value range.
–Bryan Sweet