Raiders @ Chiefs
The Raiders matched the Chiefs’ high-powered offense in this one and dropped 40 points on the Chiefs’ defense Sunday. The Raiders’ offense held the ball for over 10 more minutes than the Chiefs had it and ran the ball 15 more times for 64 more yards. The game was won in the second half as the score was 24 all at half time, including 480+ yards of passing yards. The Raiders scored three times to the one Chiefs late touchdown. The Raiders held on 40-32 in this exciting offensive battle and hand the Chiefs their first loss since November 2019.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr: 22/31, 347 yards, 3 TDs, 1 Int, 1 Sack | 4 carries, 1 yard
Derek Carr did his best Patrick Mahomes in this one. He hit multiple deep shots to rookie stud Henry Ruggs including this 72-yard touchdown bomb.
Speed kills⚡️
Henry Ruggs gives the #Raiders the lead. #FantasyFootball | #NFL pic.twitter.com/HztCzMz4B7
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 11, 2020
Carr did have his first interception of the season but was his normal efficient self besides that throw. Carr will finish this week as a top-10 QB. However, he is still a low-end QB2 on the season. He has a tough matchup with the Buccaneers defense next and is just a middling QB2, despite this impressive performance.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs: 23 carries, 77 yards, 2 TDs | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards
Devontae Booker: 7 carries, 62 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Josh Jacobs had a typical game for him this week: a lot of carries, not a ton of efficiency, and his fantasy production dependant on touchdowns. He scored two in this one including a great finish on the Chiefs’ safety as seen below.
Josh Jacobs lowers the shoulder. #FantasyFootball | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/OQqkzfxMNo
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 11, 2020
Once again, Jacobs wasn’t very involved in the passing game and he was still rotated out often for Devontae Booker and Jalen Richard. Booker gave the Raiders offense a jolt when he entered for multiple plays in the 2nd quarter. He broke off multiple chunk runs for this offense. Jacobs is still a low/mid RB1 thanks to his volume going forward, despite the tough matchup with Tampa Bay next week.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Darren Waller: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD
Henry Ruggs: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
Nelson Agholar: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD
As seen on the GIF above, Henry Ruggs being back from injury was big news for this Raiders offense. He caught multiple long passes from Carr in this one and added a dimension to this offense that has been lacking with him out. Darren Waller was involved a lot in the first half including his nice catch in the back of the endzone on a strike from Carr. Waller wasn’t involved much after the touchdown in the 2nd quarter. He added a couple more catches after that point. Nelson Agholar caught a long 59-yard touchdown from Carr early in the second quarter but wasn’t asked to do much more. Ruggs will be a boom-or-bust WR3/flex option going forward with room to improve. Waller of course is a top-five tight end every week as the number one option in this offense.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 22/43, 340 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int, 3 Sacks | 6 carries, 21 yards, 1 TD
Patrick Mahomes lacked his usual efficiency in this one as he completed just over 50% of his passes. He did his thing from a yardage standpoint. He was constantly hitting chunk passes to his receivers. Mahomes quietly adds a bit in the running game. After this game, he ranks fifth among quarterbacks in rushing yards as he chips in just over 27 per game. Mahomes had a handful of plays where he had to scramble around in the backfield and then found a receiver on the broken play. He hit Tyreek Hill on a deep touchdown pass and Clyde-Edwards Helaire as well for a touchdown pass but both were called back due to penalties. Mahomes did have an ugly interception where he threw it into double/triple coverage in the fourth quarter as the Cheifs were trying to come back. Mahomes is a no doubt top-end QB1 every week. The Chiefs offense will face Buffalo on Monday night next week.
Running Backs
Clyde-Edwards Helaire: 10 carries, 40 yards | 8 targets, 3 receptions, 40 yards
Darrel Williams: 1 carry, 4 yards | 5 targets, 1 reception, 15 yards, 1 2PT
Clyde-Edwards Helaire had a pretty disappointing game in this one. He was constantly subbed out for Darrel Williams especially on third downs and in the two/four-minute drill. The Chiefs really did not try to run the ball much even though they were successful early on with it. He almost saved his day with a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter but a Travis Kelce ‘pick’ penalty had the touchdown called back. Williams was on the field a bunch in this one but didn’t do much of anything with his opportunities except a nice 2PT conversion catch in the fourth quarter. CEH’ will be an RB1 next week against the Bills and Williams is a quality handcuff to own in fantasy leagues.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Tyreek Hill: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 78 yards | 3 carries, 15 yards, 1 TD
Travis Kelce: 12 targets, 8 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD
Sammy Watkins: 2 targets, 2 reception, 24 yards, 1 TD
Mecole Hardman: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 50 yards
Tyreek Hill was so close to having a much bigger game. He had a deep touchdown reception called back for a holding penalty and another reception called back for a penalty as well. He did take a reverse for a touchdown in the first half to really salvage his day. Travis Kelce scored on a red zone touchdown thanks to blown coverage where he was wide open. He was the most targeted receiver by far and was constantly moving the chains with chunk gains. Sammy Watkins scored a short touchdown early in this one but injured this hamstring in the second quarter and didn’t return in this one. If he were to miss time, it would Mecole Hardman and DeMarcus Robinson likely getting a bump in snaps. Hill is a locked-in WR1 and Kelce is as well at the tight end position.
-Kevin Taylor (@ktbeast918 on Twitter)