Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Chiefs LB Nick Bolton dislocated his right wrist in Sunday's win over the Chargers. They're reportedly still determining the severity of the injury, though it seems likely Bolton will miss some further time. If he does, expect LB Drue Tranquill to become a full-timer once again. Tranquill filled that role for the three previous games that Bolton missed with a sprained ankle. He tallied 8+ tackles in each.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco ran for just 32 yards on 13 carries (2.5 per rush) in Sunday's win over the Chargers. But he scored on a catch from 8 yards out late in the fourth quarter to save his fantasy line. Pacheco totaled 4 receptions for 28 yards on 4 targets, ranking third on the team in catches. His 13 carries marked his lowest point since Week 2, despite Kansas City leading throughout the second half. But Pacheco still got 76.5% of Chiefs RB carries for the game. K.C. just happened to lean pass more than in recent contests. Pacheco gets the league-best RB scoring matchup in the Broncos next and then another positive spot against the Dolphins before the Week 10 bye.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice delivered 5 receptions for 60 yards and a TD among 6 targets in Sunday's win over the Chargers. He ranked second on the team in targets in a game that saw QB Patrick Mahomes attempt 42 throws. It was Rice's third straight game with at least 4 receptions, as well as Mahomes' third straight game with at least 40 attempts. Rice's 75% catch rate doesn't seem likely to hold up the rest of the way, but his growing role with (arguably?) the league's best QB sets Rice up to continue his strong efficiency. Rice should at least be in your WR4-level consideration going forward and could easily climb into weekly WR3 territory -- especially if Kansas City's passing volume stays up. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling also scored against the Chargers and ranked second on the team with 84 receiving yards. But he also managed just 3 receptions -- which happens to be his high for the season. MVS remains only a prayer-level fantasy play if you're hard up.

Travis Kelce delivered a second straight big game with his 12-179-1 receiving line in Sunday's win over the Chargers. It tied his career high in receptions, set back in 2018 against the Raiders. The yardage marked Kelce's second-largest total ever, trailing only a 2021 meeting with the Chargers. He has now caught 21 of 22 targets in two games since spraining an ankle against the Vikings. Kelce has clearly been able to shake that off and go about dominating Kansas City targets. He more than doubled Sunday's No. 2 Chiefs target (Rashee Rice, 6) and claimed 42.2% of Patrick Mahomes' passing yards.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes racked up 424 yards and 4 TDs on 32-of-42 passing in Sunday's win over the Chargers. It was Mahomes' largest yardage total since Week 9 of last season and 118 more yards than his previous high for this season. It was also Mahomes' third straight game with 40+ pass attempts, despite Kansas City leading for the entire second half. Mahomes did most of his damage before the break, throwing for 321 yards and 3 TDs in the first half. Mahomes benefited from facing a Chargers D that has been the season's best scoring matchup for QBs. But he also gets three more strongly positive scoring matchups in his next three games.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt ran 10 times for 31 yards and 2 TDs, including the game-winner Sunday against the Colts. The latter came from 1 yard out after Jerome Ford had left the game. But Hunt's other score came from 2 yards out early in the second quarter. That marks the second straight game in which he has scored from inside the red zone with Jerome Ford available. If Ford can't go in Week 8, then Hunt would make for a solid RB2 against the Seahawks. Pierre Strong also came on for 25 yards on 8 carries against the Colts.

Colts QB Gardner Minshew racked up 305 yards and 2 TDs passing in Sunday's narrow loss to the Browns. Minshew added two rushing scores among his three attempts for 29 yards -- one of which came from 17 yards out. It was a particularly stellar performance for Indy's QB2 considering that it came against a league-best Cleveland defense and just a week after he played terribly in a loss to Jacksonville. What should you take away from this? Don't expect Minshew to deliver starter-level fantasy production every week. But this game reminds us that he can be a viable fantasy option. His production came unconventionally against the Browns, including the TD passes from 59 and 75 yards out. Minshew went just 15 of 23 passing overall, also taking 4 sacks and throwing an INT. His next five matchups also look negative by our adjusted fantasy points allowed, surrounding a Week 11 bye. Don't bet on Minshew landing inside the top 12 of our weekly QB rankings.

Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Bills. WR Demario Douglas (concussion) is active but shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (thigh) is active for today’s game vs. the Colts. He was reportedly a game-time decision, so it’s safe to assume that he’ll be playing at less than 100% today. Consider Hunt a risky RB3 or flex play.

Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is not expected to play vs. the Bills today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smith-Schuster suffered his fifth documented concussion back in Week 5 and still hasn't been cleared. WR Demario Douglas, who was also concussed in Week 5, is expected to play today, according to Rapoport. WR Kendrick Bourne is the only viable fantasy play in New England's WR corps.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (thigh) will go through a pre-game workout to determine whether he can play vs. the Colts today, "but Cleveland has concerns about his availability," ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets. The Browns elevated RB Deon Jackson from the practice squad on Saturday, an indication that they're worried about Hunt's status. We'll get Cleveland's inactives around 11:30 am ET. RB Jerome Ford gets a significant boost if Hunt doesn't play.

Patriots WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and Demario Douglas (concussion) are questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Bills. They both remained limited in practice all week and still have multiple stages of the protocol to clear. Neither should be in your Week 7 fantasy plans. Smith-Schuster and Douglas’ absences would be a boost to WR Kendrick Bourne’s fantasy stock.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (thigh) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Colts. He got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday. We’re expecting Hunt to play but will get Cleveland’s inactives around 11:30 am ET on Sunday. Hunt’s absence would be a big boost to RB Jerome Ford.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (thigh) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Colts, but we'll see how he's listed on Friday's final injury report.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (thigh) did not practice on Wednesday. It's the first we've heard of the issue. It's possible that this was more of a rest day for the veteran. Check back tomorrow for another update on Hunt.

The Athletic's Matt Barrows tweets that 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan "praised Jordan Mason's play on Sunday. But it sounded that Elijah Mitchell, not Mason, would be in the lead role should Christian McCaffrey miss Monday's game." It's certainly more tea-leaf-reading by Barrows than actual reporting -- but noteworthy nonetheless. Both Mitchell and Mason should be owned in most fantasy leagues as we wait to learn more about McCaffrey.

Colts QB Gardner Minshew threw for 329 yards in Sunday's loss to the Jaguars, but that's about the only nice thing you could say about his performance. The fill-in went 33 of 55 (60%), with 3 INTs and a lost fumble -- and Minshew was fortunate to not throw even another pick or two. He should be nowhere close to your fantasy lineup (if you can help it) for home dates with the Browns and Saints the next two weeks.

Cardinals WR Marquise Brown (illness) is active for today’s game vs. the Rams. He should be ready for his usual role in this potential high-scoring contest.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Browns. He figures to slide back in as the No. 2 RB but would be a desperation fantasy start.

Cardinals WR Marquise Brown (illness) is expected to play vs. the Rams this afternoon, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Brown got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday and should be ready for his usual role today.