Fantasy Football Player Notes

It's not often a receiver has 12 targets and eight catches in back-to-back games. That's currently what Rice has done, totalling 233 yards and two scores over his last two games. Since returning from his suspension for causing a multicar collision and fleeing the scene, he has been this team's undisputed top target. The Chiefs have their work cut out for them after dropping a game to Dallas and keeping them outside the playoff picture. This week, they face another horse in the wild-card race. The Texans have been rolling, bolstering arguably the best defense in the league. With Dereck Stingley Jr. likely covering Rice, it is one of the toughest matchups in the league. As a result, Rice remains a WR1, and we have to trust Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to scheme up a few big plays for Rice.

Kelce's resurgent season has been shockingly consistent. Even with the return of Rashee Rice, Kelce has finished in the top 10 at the position in six of his last eight games. Over his last five games, he has scored at least 10 points in all but one game. He has done this through a steady mix of yards and touchdowns, scoring only three times in his last seven games. It may not be the fantasy-breaking performances of old, but Kelce is back to a locked-in TE1 each week. This week, they face the Texans, who allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position. This game has massive playoff implications for both teams. With their backs against the wall, we know Mahomes looks to his trusty TE in these situations. As a result, Kelce remains a steady TE play behind only Trey Mcbride, Brock Bowers, and Tyler Warren this week.

Last week, even with Isaiah Pacheco back, Hunt retained his lead back role with a 63.6% snap rate, 15 touches, and 70 total yards. He played 75% of the team's red zone snaps. I expect Hunt to keep this role moving forward. Among 55 qualifying backs, Hunt ranks 42nd in missed tackle rate and 27th in yards after contact per attempt. Hunt is best viewed as a volume-fueled flex play this week. Since Week 9, Houston has allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, the lowest missed tackle rate, the sixth-lowest rushing success rate, and the tenth-fewest yards after contact per attempt.

Since Rashee Rice has been a full-time player in the Chiefs' offense (Week 8), Worthy has been the WR51 in fantasy points per game with two top-36 weekly finishes (WR33, WR28), which have come in his last two games. Houston's perimeter corners are really, really good, but the coverage matchup is working in Worthy's favor this week. Since Week 8, he has had a 16.6% target share with 44.2 receiving yards per game, 1.29 yards per route run, and a 21.8% first-read share. In those five games, he has had two red zone targets and seven deep targets. Since Week 9, Houston has utilized single-high at the seventh-highest rate (59.9%). Since Week 8, against single high, Worthy has had a 19.8% target share with 1.65 yards per route run and a 26.9% first-read share. The problem for Worthy is that, since Week 9, Houston has allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers. Worthy gets a bump with the positive single high numbers, but it still only makes him a dart throw flex this week.