What We Saw: Week 6 2018

Chiefs vs. Patriots

Chiefs

On Sunday Night Football the nation witnessed the best game of the season, a shootout in Foxborough, as the New England Patriots kicked a late field goal to hand the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season, a 43-40 thriller. The Chiefs were up and down in the first half, only managing three field goals and down 24-9 at the half before coming roaring back for four second-half touchdowns. All night the Chiefs defense was gashed by QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and in the end, the team just couldn’t hang on.

Showtime Mahomes showed what is brilliant and frustrating about the young star

Watching QB Patrick Mahomes work through the first half felt like a ballplayer who needed to “get the jitters out”. Clearly, the spotlight isn’t too bright for Mahomes but he may have been too amped up and made plenty of mistakes in the first half. Mahomes threw two bad first-half interceptions, one when he failed to read a combo coverage and threw an easy interception to LB Dont’a Hightower. The second interception came late in the half, the Chiefs down 24-6 but driving. Mahomes rolled to his right and tried to fire an ill-advised pass between three Patriots defenders. A tipped ball lead to his second interception of the half. It was an awful showing for the young play caller and it looked like we were headed towards a blowout.

However, to start the second half Mahomes did his best Dr.Jekyll and led a comeback that fell just short. Mahomes tossed four second-half touchdowns including three to the Cheetah, WR Tyreek Hill. Mahomes finished 23 for 36 and 352 yards plus the four touchdowns. He relied on his stars all night, peppering his big three playmakers with targets all over the field. His brilliant second-half play left the Patriots teetering on a knockout but QB Tom Brady was given too much time to win the game.

This looks to be a playoff preview as these teams will almost certainly meet again. Mahomes is a clear QB1 the rest of the way and our only reservation will be if he is going to be available to us come the fantasy playoffs. Owners should be happy with a real-life loss for this team as it means the Los Angeles Chargers keep pace and keep them competitive.

Kareem Hunt started slowly but now has his sea legs

Don’t look now but RB Kareem Hunt has rebounded from a slow start to the season Hunt has either scored or had 100 or more scrimmage yards for five straight weeks. Hunt finished with 185 scrimmage yards on Sunday night, including more than 100 receiving. He added a long receiving touchdown to get the second-half KC fireworks started. Hunt has six touchdowns on the season and more than 600 total yards through six games. Hunt is creeping up the boards as an RB1 and is a must-start in any matchup.

Tyreek Hill used his cheat codes Sunday night

Sometimes watching Tyreek Hill play is like watching highlights of a Pop Warner star running back against overmatched kids. Hill finished with seven receptions for 142 yards and an incredible three touchdowns. His biggest catch though was late in the game with the Chiefs down seven and at their own 25, Mahomes found Hill at the NE 35-yard line. Hill took the pass and turned on the burners, exploding to the goal line and no defender even had a chance. His unnatural acceleration is jaw-dropping every time you see it. Hill will always be a boom or bust player but I won’t be caught with him on my bench. He’s an every week starter even if it has to be in your FLEX.

Chiefs remaining weapons were productive but ultimately quiet on Sunday

Patrick Mahomes has a favorite receiver and his name is Travis Kelce but the Chiefs worked all night to make things difficult on him. NE made sure he didn’t get many free releases at the line and used Hightower to beat him up at the line of scrimmage. Kelce was still able to pull in five of his nine targets for 61 yards but didn’t have the impact on the game that Chiefs needed in the first half. Not everyone will be able to figure out this puzzle so don’t panic and enjoy your star tight end the rest of the season.

The remaining receivers were quiet Sunday night with WRs Sammy Watkins and Chris Conley combining for just three catches for 37 yards. I still believe in Watkins as a fantasy receiver but the matchup just wasn’t in his favor. Mahomes favors Kelce then Hill in the passing game but Watkins will certainly have his big games heading down the stretch.

-Marc Salazar

Patriots

Well, if you’re a betting man/woman/household pet, I’d bet you were more than happy to see a Sunday Night football game that was this much of a shootout. The Patriots came in to a chilly matchup facing the high flying undefeated Chiefs offense, spearheaded by Patrick Mahomes. After a 1-2 start, the Patriots have showcased what has made them dangerous in any matchup, with an efficient and enigmatic offense, as they eek out a close 43-40 win against KC (well over the projected over under of 59 combined points). Let’s dive in and see where our Patriots players stand after this battle of elite teams.

Tom Brady interested in showing Patrick Mahomes the true AFC QB of the year

This was a treat to watch, as two of the best helming the quarterback position suited up to play against one another in this one. Tom Brady always finds motivation amongst the normal weekly matchups, and I’m sure there was some internal discussion that Mahomes was already being anointed the imaginary title of “best AFC quarterback”. Finishing his game at 24 for 35, 340 yards accrued, with a touchdown and zero picks, Brady looked poised, even breaking off his longest run  in ages, with a whopping four yard scamper in to the teeth of the Chiefs defense, in a play that seemingly took an hour to watch. In fact, he may still be running. Brady is a top 3 quarterback in my eyes for the remainder of the year, and while he may not put up Mahomes week 1 numbers, he steadily compiles, and gives you a solid footing every week for your fantasy squad. React accordingly. Keep starting him. Rinse those hands. Lather. Repeat.

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Sony Michel running away with the job, even while he attempts to find footing

Bill Belichick was asked about Sony Michel after week 6’s matchup against KC. And in true Belichick fashion, he gave the laziest compliment ever, and yet, we can still probably glean a bit from it. Off local sports website NESN.com, we get this quote from Coach Belichick

“Sony runs hard,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s picked up a lot of tough yards for us, so that was a big run. … We were able to get it in from the 1-yard line on the goal line and that third-and-1. Those were key situations.”

Michel and James White split 30 carries, but it was Michel who ran 24 of those for over the hundred yard mark, with two touchdowns. As it stands, Sony is the de facto back for rushing, as the season continues, and for years going forward, the true danger will be covering this backfield when Michel can also be used as a swing back for receiving plays as well. White also added 6 carries for 39 yards, highlighting his consistent fantasy value with receptions. Michel, if retaining healthy status, should see himself in the top ten back discussion, and is one of the best dynasty backs around as it stands.

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Brady continues on showcasing a variety pack of receiving options

Eight separate players were targeted for the Patriots in the receiving game, as the continued litany of options helps to allow an opportunity for Michel to have space to run, and also flesh out a young and inexperienced receiving game to find their identity. Rob Gronkowski proved some doubters wrong (myself included) and rumbled for 97 yards on 3 receptions. Chris Hogan rose like a phoenix on 4 for 78 yards (however more  than half was on one pass), consistent provider Julian Edelman ended his game 4 for 54 with a touchdown pass, and Josh Gordon caught five of his own passes, most of them in the second half, to showcase an amazing turnaround on learning the Patriots playbook. As the announcers in primetime did, I myself was also shocked at how quickly Gordon is being looked at a reliable option for Brady, and also that he has picked up a playbook that has cost many longtime NFL veterans a grain of confusion. This offense in the air is starting to showcase just how dangerous it truly can be, but as last week left us, it still feels as if the reliable yearly players are your best bets, and hedge on players like Hogan and Patterson unless you’re in a debt of bye weeks. James White, Gordon, and Gronkowski are Brady’s #2, and Julian Edelman will always be his #1.

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-Matt Bevins