Notes:
- ITM for all games will be available on Friday.
- Green highllight indicates plus matchup (top eight)
- Red highlight indicates negative matchup (bottom eight)
Passing
Game Thoughts: A seemingly great matchup for Philip Rivers
in Week 14 fell as a dud for fantasy purposes as the quarterback
threw for just 220 yards and one touchdown in a relatively close
game. Rivers was, however, able to avoid turning the ball over
and is now on pace for nearly 4,500 passing yards and 36 touchdowns
on the season, so it’s easy to just write the one game dip
as more of an aberration than a trend.
This week he and the Chargers will need to get their passing
game going again as they head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs
in what could again turn out to be a shootout. The Chargers fell
by a final score of 28-38 against the Chiefs back in Week 1 and
that was on the shoulders of Rivers’ 424-yard, three touchdown
day. With the running game in flux due to injuries, he’ll
likely need to put up similar numbers to that in order for the
Chargers to have a real shot of winning this game.
That’s good news for wide receiver Keenan Allen who continues
to feast on defenses in the second half of the season. He’s
now caught a touchdown in five straight games and caught at least
five passes in seven straight contests, making him one of the
safest fantasy wide receivers in the league due to his high target
share.
The other options in the Los Angeles passing game are not nearly
as trustworthy, however, as players like Tyrell Williams, Travis
Benjamin, Antonio Gates and Virgil Green are all seeing far too
little work to warrant serious fantasy consideration, even in
a good matchup.
The one other receiver in this offense who could be useful is
second-year wideout Mike Williams who hasn’t done much over
the past two weeks and has been very streaky over the course of
his young career. Still, Williams had a season-high five receptions
for 81 yards against the Chiefs back in Week 1 and currently leads
the team with seven touchdown receptions on the season, so there’s
reason to believe that he could be a solid WR3 or Flex this week.
KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.22
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2 Running Game Thoughts: With Austin
Ekeler already ruled out with an injury, the Chargers will be
hoping they can get their star running back, Melvin Gordon, back
onto the field. He’d probably be able to suit up if the
game was on Sunday but reports don’t seem to be too confident
that he’ll be available for Thursday night’s contest
against the Chiefs. Gordon had a monster fantasy day against the
Chiefs back in Week 1, in large part due to his nine receptions
for 102 yards, but the Chargers aren’t likely to rush him
back onto the field if he’s not healthy enough to take a
pretty hefty workload.
If he’s on the field, Gordon should be in your lineup,
but fantasy owners need to be prepared with a backup plan which
might include Justin Jackson. Jackson was quite efficient with
his touches in Weeks 12 and 13 but did practically nothing with
his nine touches in Week 15 against the Bengals. Still, the rookie
could be in line for some serious touches as the Chargers really
don’t have any other running backs who are experienced in
the offense. If Gordon is not active, Jackson could slot in as
high as a high-end RB2 in this matchup against the Chiefs who
have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing running
backs so far this season.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Week 15 saw one of Patrick Mahomes’
least-productive fantasy days of the season, but that still meant
a 377-yard, two touchdown day that was marred by just one interception.
Mahomes did struggle a bit with Tyreek Hill nursing a foot injury
that kept him off the field more often than the Chiefs would have
liked, but he still put up gigantic numbers and Hill himself still
had another huge day with eight receptions for 139 yards. With
Hill expected to be active, this top-level quarterback-wide receiver
duo, alongside tight end Travis Kelce, will again be must-starts
as they face a Chargers defense that they crushed back in Week
1. Mahomes went for four touchdowns - two of which went to Hill
- in that contest, as he began what is now one of the most dominant
fantasy seasons in history.
Kelce was actually held in check that day as he caught just one
pass for six yards, but he’s been red hot down the stretch
including seven touchdown receptions over his past six games and
six or more catches in all six of those contests. Kelce is the
unquestioned top tight end in fantasy and needs to be in your
lineup.
With Sammy Watkins out again, the other player to look at in
this passing game is Chris Conley, who was held to just two catches
for 13 yards against the Ravens this past week but who had scored
three touchdowns on 10 catches over his previous two games before
that. Conley is more of a boom-or-bust option but there is a chance
he booms in this one, especially if Hill reaggravates his foot
injury.
The Chiefs did add Kelvin Benjamin prior to their Week 14 game
against the Ravens but opted to keep him inactive. He is expected
to be on the field this week, but will likely be used in a limited
capacity and should not be in your fantasy lineup until we see
how he’s utilized in Kansas City.
LAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
LAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
LAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
LAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.24
Running Game Thoughts: With Kareem Hunt off the
team and Spencer Ware listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury,
the Chiefs will now be looking deep down their bench to find running
back production here in Week 15. Running back Darrel Williams
might end up seeing a few touches, but the player to be paying
attention to for fantasy purposes is Damien WIlliams, who was
fairly unproductive in terms of yardage with his touches this
past week, but who scored twice in Kansas City’s narrow
victory over Baltimore. Williams had his moments at times as a
member of the Dolphins but he may now be getting the best opportunity
for fantasy production of his career as the lead dog in perhaps
the league’s best offense. Double-digit touches seem like
almost a guarantee for Williams this week so he’s worth
a speculative add and possibly a start as a Flex or even a low-level
RB2 this week, particularly in PPR formats. The Chargers have
given up at least 19 fantasy points (non-PPR) to an opposing running
back in three straight contests leading into this week, so Williams
actually has a higher floor than some might think, as well.
Passing
Game Thoughts: A seemingly great matchup for Philip Rivers
in Week 14 fell as a dud for fantasy purposes as the quarterback
threw for just 220 yards and one touchdown in a relatively close
game. Rivers was, however, able to avoid turning the ball over
and is now on pace for nearly 4,500 passing yards and 36 touchdowns
on the season, so it’s easy to just write the one game dip
as more of an aberration than a trend.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Week 15 saw one of Patrick Mahomes’
least-productive fantasy days of the season, but that still meant
a 377-yard, two touchdown day that was marred by just one interception.
Mahomes did struggle a bit with Tyreek Hill nursing a foot injury
that kept him off the field more often than the Chiefs would have
liked, but he still put up gigantic numbers and Hill himself still
had another huge day with eight receptions for 139 yards. With
Hill expected to be active, this top-level quarterback-wide receiver
duo, alongside tight end Travis Kelce, will again be must-starts
as they face a Chargers defense that they crushed back in Week
1. Mahomes went for four touchdowns - two of which went to Hill
- in that contest, as he began what is now one of the most dominant
fantasy seasons in history.
