DFS Thursday Night Football Preview
- Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers
- Line: Chiefs -3 | Over/Under 52
Week 15 begins with an AFC West battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. These two high-flying offensive juggernauts are entering this week after dominating victories against their week 14 opponents and are looking to continue their playoff push Thursday Night. This game has excellent stories at every position. We have strong quarterbacks, great running backs, elite wide receivers, productive tight ends, and two defenses that can hold their own. So how should each team approach the game to walk away with the victory with all that documented? Let’s break that down below.
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How Do The Kansas City Chiefs Win This Game?
At first glance, most people would say the key to the Chiefs winning this game is Patrick Mahomes. However, the true key will be the running game led by Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH). The Chargers’ run defense has more holes than Swiss cheese, as they have allowed the second-most rushing yards this season (1554) and the second-most touchdowns to the position (15). The Chiefs will, of course, use their weapons in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce; expect a strong preference in this game to the running back.
How Do The Chargers Win This Game?
Heading into Thursday night, we are monitoring an ankle injury for Austin Ekeler. Even if he does play, the Chiefs defense has been good against the run allowing 81 yards per game to the position but just under seven receptions and 58 yards a game in the passing game. With Ekeler status up in the air, Justin Herbert will be called on to shoulder the load, and with Keenan Allen returning from the Covid protocols for this game, Herbert will have his full array of weapons at his disposal. The Chiefs have allowed the 12th most passing yards; therefore, they are susceptible through the passing game.
Now that we have broken down how each team should approach the game, let’s break down the best plays for your DFS Showdown slate for Thursday Night Football.
Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes ($12,000)
Patrick Mahomes enters Thursday night as the most expensive player on the slate while only breaking 20 fantasy points once since week 10. The Chargers are sixth-best against quarterbacks in fantasy points this season. So as much as Patrick Mahomes can give you a five-touchdown game and blow up a slate, you can use him as your expensive fade to allow more talent on your roster elsewhere.
Justin Herbert ($10,800)
Justin Herbert is having a fantastic season and has been on a tear lately. He has scored over 24 fantasy points in every game since week 10. The last time these two faced off, Herbert lit up the Chiefs’ defense for four touchdowns, and with Ekeler’s injury lingering in the background, the team may need him to do this again. Therefore, Herbert needs to be in your lineups.
Running Backs
Clyde Edward-Helaire ($7,000)/ Darrel Williams ($3,200)/ Derrick Gore ($1,000)
As we discussed earlier, Clyde Edwards-Helaire should be the offense’s focal point. The Chargers’ weak run defense would behoove the Chiefs to utilize their talented running back. You can take a shot that the other two members of this backfield fall into the endzone, but the buck starts and stops with Edwards-Helaire.
Austin Ekeler ($10,200)/ Justin Jackson ($2,000)/ Joshua Kelley ($800)
Everything in this backfield revolves around Austin Ekler’s injury. He was limited in practice Tuesday. If Ekeler plays, try to squeeze him in your lineup as the Chiefs have allowed the fifth-most receptions to running backs this season(tied with the Philadelphia Eagles) and the third-most yards to running backs in the passing game. If Ekeler does sit, the play is Justin Jackson as Kelley is the best candidate for in between the tackles and Justin Jackson more present in the passing game. Even if Ekeler play, you may see these other backs eating into his workload for this short week if this injury is nagging him.
Wide Receivers
Tyreek Hill ($11,400)/ Mecole Hardman ($5,000)/ Bryon Pringle ($2,600)
When it comes to the Chiefs wide receivers, we should only focus on Tyreek Hill as all the other options are dart throws at best. Tyreek Hill has struggled lately, scoring just 11.6 and 4.2 fantasy points in his last two games. The Chargers are the second-best defense against the wide receiver position when it relates to fantasy points allowing just 216 all season. I trust a passing option more in this offense, but it won’t come in this wide receiver core.
Keenan Allen ($9,400)/ Mike Williams ($7,400)/ Jalen Guyton ($4,800)/ Joshua Palmer ($2,200)
With Keenan Allen returning from Covid protocols, you should be stacking these Charger skill players with Herbert for Thursday night. Since week eight, Allen has seen more than ten targets in all his games except one. Mike Williams is also a great play as he has seen six or more targets in every game since week 10. Both players are high-volume plays, and having the chance to stack your quarterback with both of them could lead to a massive surge in points for your lineup.
Jalen Guyton and Joshua Palmer land in the dart throw/ salary cap relief section. They are boom/bust plays for this week.
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce ($8,600)
Travis Kelce has somehow scored 5.7 fantasy points in each of his last two games. However, the doctor ordered the Los Angeles Chargers, one of the worst teams against tight ends this season. They have allowed the tight end position the third-most fantasy points and the second-most touchdowns. When playing Chiefs player in a showdown lineup, you usually have to pick between Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, and this week is a Kelce week.
Jared Cook ($5,400)/ Donald Parham ($2,400)
Both tight ends landed on the injury list this week. The Chiefs have allowed the tenth-most fantasy points to the position, so you can use one of them and hope for the best. However, this is a little violate for my taste, and I will be looking elsewhere for my lineup.
Kickers and Defense
Chiefs DST ($4,400)/ Harrison Butker ($4,000)/ Dustin Hopkins ($3,800)/ Chargers DST ($3,000)
This game can become a shootout, so I will fade the defensive plays. I am fading the kickers in this game as well. The Chiefs are 19th in the NFL at field goal attempts. In comparison, the Chargers are even lower, 26th in the NFL this season with field goal attempts.
Prediction and Free DFS Showdown Cash Lineup
The Chiefs defeat the Chargers 37-34
Free DFS Showdown Cash Lineup
- Keenan Allen ($14,400) *Captain*
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($7,000)
- Justin Herbert ($10,800)
- Justin Jackson ($2,000)
- Travis Kelce ($8,600)
- Mike Williams ($7,400)
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