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Lineup Prep: Super Bowl

Wed Feb 7 8:43am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Pacheco is playing at high level


Not sure about you, but there is not a better weekend in sports than Super Bowl weekend. It is as good as it gets. Just everything involved with it is so much fun. I am so looking forward to it all this weekend. Let’s hope it is a good game and lives up to the hype. Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . .

I will give you my pick for the game right off the bat. I think it will be a close game, but look for the Chiefs to squeak it out. I think the experience factor plays a difference here in the end, especially when it comes to the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes has been outstanding during the playoffs and think he has a huge advantage over Brock Purdy. Plus, the Chiefs defense has been outstanding lately, completely shutting down the opponent. I don’t see them shutting down the 49ers high-powered offense, but think they will cause Purdy problems. I’m going with a Chiefs 31-27 victory.

If you still don’t have any fantasy teams alive in the playoffs, consider playing our fun pickem contests. We have tons of options available to play with for the Super Bowl. I wanted to give you a few of my favorite pickem plays for the big game. Give me Travis Kelce more than 70.5-receiving yards. Kelce has 71-plus yards all three of his playoff games and is coming off arguably his best game of the season. And the 49ers struggled to stop the tight end last week, seeing Sam LaPorta rack up the receptions and yards. I also like Brandon Aiyuk less than 61.5-receiving yards. Aiyuk has failed to hit that mark two of three games and has just three catches each of his last three games. Lastly, I like Deebo Samuel more than 79.5-rushing and receiving yards. Samuel had 11 touches his last game and was a huge part of the offense. I look for the 49ers to get him involved early and often, giving him good potential to rack up some total yards.

I’m not sure how I feel about the Commanders hiring of Kliff Kingsbury. His offenses were fine in Arizona, but not as explosive as many thought and he struggled some using Caleb Williams last year at USC. I think the Commanders would have been better served keeping Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator. I thought he did a great job with the offense last year in Washington all things considered. I’m not convinced Kingsbury is going to be an upgrade.

On a different subject, can we stop teasing and showing parts of the Super Bowl commercials before the game? I mean part of the fun of the game is the commercials. They are always entertaining and a part of the event. But now, you see parts of the commercials before the game, ruining the surprise. C’mon people. Let’s stop this tradition right now.

We had our first TFC draft of the 2024 season last night. And in a surprise move, the first pick of the draft was Breece Hall. And we also saw Sam LaPorta get picked before Travis Kelce. It is always interesting to see how these early drafts shake out. A lot is going to change between now and the start of next season, but trends are starting now. In this draft, four running backs were picked in the first round compared to eight receivers. And the quarterback position looks as deep as ever with guys like Jordan Love getting picked in Round 11. Brock Purdy and Kirk Cousins also went very late.

News and Notes: The Chargers hired Greg Roman as their new offensive coordinator. Roman tends to be more run heavy when it comes to play calling. . . . .Former Texans and Patriots running back Rex Burkhead announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday. 

HOT PLAYS

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has taken his game to new heights during the Chiefs playoff run. He has at least 15 fantasy points four straight games and found the end zone seven consecutive games. He even has 20-plus carries two of three games, getting a big workload in the Chiefs offense. Expect more of the same this week from Pacheco. The 49ers allowed 182-rushing yards to the Lions their last game and allowed 135-plus rushing yards each of their two playoff games.

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs. Kelce has looked like a different player during these playoffs than the regular season. He had 11 receptions his last game and at least five catches all three playoff games. He has 14-plus fantasy points all three games. He has really elevated his game after a ho-hum second half of the season. Look for him to be the focal point of the Chiefs passing game once again this week. And San Francisco couldn’t contain Sam LaPorta in the Championship game, allowing him to get nine receptions for 97 yards. The Packers tight ends had six receptions and a touchdown in the 49ers other playoff game.

COLD PLAYS 

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers. Aiyuk did score a touchdown his last game, which was a big positive, but he had just three receptions. He has just three cathodes three straight games. He has were than 40 yards two of three. And with the Chiefs secondary clamping down on receivers right not, it could be more of the same for Aiyuk this week. He could be held in check once again.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs. McKinnon is expected to make his long-awaited return this week, returning from a groin injury. He has not played since Week 15. Just remember he has not reached double-digit touches in a single game this year. Pacheco is the lead back in this offense and will get most of the work at running back. McKinnon played great during the Chiefs playoff run last season, but this is a new year. Plus, McKinnon has not played in several weeks, so you have to wonder how much he is even on the field. He will be a big risk to use for fantasy owners.

SLEEPERS

Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers. There are always surprise players in the Super Bowl, so why not Jennings. He could draw the most favorable matchups in coverage for the 49ers receiver options. And he has looked good in the playoffs, having six receptions for 69 yards in two games. He played 42 percent of the snaps last week - even with Deebo Samuel back in the lineup. Jennings might get a big play or two in this one, making him an intriguing fantasy play. 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Chiefs. Valdes-Scantling had the game-clinching reception in the Championship game, making a sliding catch on third down to clinch the game. He finished with two receptions for 38 yards. But he played a season-high 83 percent of the snaps in that game, which is encouraging. If he is on the field that much again this week, his reception and yardage totals could rise in what might be a high-scoring game.

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Chiefs/49ers.

Low Scoring Games: None.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3

Player Notes
Darius Slayton Sep 23 9:10am ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (thumb) was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns with a thumb injury but was able to return later on. He underwent some X-rays after the game and they came back negative for any fractures. He finished the game with one reception for seven yards on two targets. Through three games so far, Slayton has accrued 10 targets, seven receptions, and 66 yards with one fumble. He's tied for third on the team in terms of targets with running back Devin Singletary and has significantly fewer targets than both Wan'Dale Robinson and Malik Nabers. The Giants offense is one of the harder units to trust in fantasy, outside of Nabers, even in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Andy Dalton Sep 23 9:08am ET
Andy Dalton

Dynasty | Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton completed 26-of-37 passes for 319 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions in Carolina's win over the RaIders. Dynasty Analysis: Oh boy. In just one start, Dalton had more yards, three more touchdowns and three fewer interceptions than Bryce Young had in his first two starts of the year combined. While Carolina may be excited to win this game, it also could have solidified the worst - the problem clearly was Young at the helm. With Dalton making this team more than competitive for at least one week, it's clear we won't see Young next week and may not for a while. Young's dynasty arrow is going to go down even further after this.

Diontae Johnson Sep 23 9:08am ET
Diontae Johnson

Dynasty | Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson had eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in Carolina's win against the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: Andy Dalton ignited the Panthers offense and nobody benefited more than Johnson, who posted a whopping 14 targets on the day. It was a much-needed breakout for Johnson, who was nearly invisible the first two weeks of the season. While we need to see more from Dalton moving forward, Johnson will clearly be in the mix for lineups moving forward.

Jauan Jennings Sep 23 9:08am ET
Jauan Jennings

Dynasty | 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns in San Francisco's loss to the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: The 49ers can point a lot of fingers as to who to blame for this one, but Jennings clearly did his part. After a couple of solid outings to start the season (he had seven catches for 101 yards in the first two games), Jennings just went nuclear in this one. It's going to be tough to recommend him in lineups with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk still entrenched as the top two options. However, Jennings has real promise and has now solidified his spot on dynasty rosters permanently.

Kyren Williams Sep 23 9:08am ET
Kyren Williams

Dynasty | Rams running back Kyren Williams had 89 rushing yards, twol catches, 27 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a surprising win against the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: Williams looked like the 2023 version of himself in this one, consistently churning out tough yards and finding his way into the end zone every chance he had. It's clear the Rams are going to use him as their workhorse with the likes of Ronnie Rivers and Blake Corum simply serving as emergency options moving forward. It's a big development in dynasty leagues as Williams again looks like a solid RB1.

Adonai Mitchell Sep 23 9:07am ET
Adonai Mitchell

Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was held catchless in a win against the Bears. Dynasty Analysis: Mitchell has just two catches for 32 yards on the season as Anthony Richardson continues to struggle. This is a big-time buzzkill for a rookie many were hoping would break out early. While all hope is not lost (not even close), Mitchell is currently going to need to stay on dynasty benches for the foreseeable future. If you believe in Richardson, he could also be a decent buy-low at the moment.

Sam Darnold Sep 23 9:03am ET
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold (knee) will have an MRI after he suffered a knee injury during the game Sunday, Sept. 22. 'It's good, and that's as much as I'm gonna say about that,' Darnold said.

Fantasy Spin: Darnold took a low hit from former Vikings EDGE Danielle Hunter and only missed one play. He's the QB3 in fantasy right now so stay tuned. Nick Mullens is the Vikings' backup.

From TheHuddle

Miles Sanders Sep 23 9:00am ET
Miles Sanders

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders received very limited work in the team's first win of the season, but he did find the end zone. The veteran back received seven carries and two targets which he turned into 17 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and 13 yards through the air. This was Sanders' second touchdown since putting on a Panthers uniform. His only score last season came in Week 3 as well. The touchdown turned a dreadful fantasy week into an okay one. Still, he's not likely to see increased opportunities especially after Chuba Hubbard turned in a big performance with 169 total yards and a touchdown of his own. Sanders isn't much more than a depth option moving forward, especially when Jonathon Brooks returns to the field.

From RotoBaller

Colby Parkinson Sep 23 9:00am ET
Colby Parkinson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson saw five targets and caught three passes for 21 yards in Week 3 against San Francisco. The five targets tied for a team-high in this game with Tutu Atwell. Quarterback Matthew Stafford spread the ball around in this one with Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington all factoring into the game plan. With Copper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) out that is to be expected. On top of that, Kyren Williams had 24 carries and was a focal point of the offense, catching the only TD pass in the game from Stafford. All of that made it tough for Parkinson to get going in this one as he was only able to catch three short passes. Until he shows more involvement in the offense, he should be off the fantasy radar, even at the relatively shallow tight-end position.

From RotoBaller

Kyren Williams Sep 23 8:50am ET
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams turned in a huge fantasy performance in Week 3's win over the San Francisco 49ers. The versatile running back rushed 24 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 27 yards and a TD. He is fantasy's RB2 on the week behind only Saquon Barkley. Williams dominated the Rams' backfield with Ronnie Rivers getting just two carries as his backup. Against a good 49ers defense, Williams turned his best game of the season and looks like a sure-fire RB1 at the moment. He should continue to dominate touches and be a focal point of the Rams' offensive game plan with Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) sidelined. His touchdown potential and involvement in the passing game make him a good bet to score in each game.

From RotoBaller

Tutu Atwell Sep 23 8:50am ET
Tutu Atwell

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell led all Rams' pass-catchers with 90 receiving yards on four catches in Week 3 against San Francisco. Atwell caught a 50-yard pass to help pad his stats in this one. He saw five targets which tied tight end Colby Parkinson for the team-high as the Rams came back to stun the 49ers. Atwell thrived as the slot receiver with Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) out. There is a lot of uncertainty with the Rams' receiving corps week-to-week as far as who will command the most targets between Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington. Each of the foursome saw 3-plus targets in Week 3 but it was Atwell who was able to do the most damage. The unpredictability makes it tough to rely on any of the group as a fantasy option moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Sep 23 8:40am ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was 16-of-25 passing for 221 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in leading the team to a win over the 49ers on Sunday. The veteran quarterback turned in a pretty efficient outing in helping the team to a comeback win but for fantasy purposes, his 13.84 fantasy points put him at QB18 for the week. With Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) ruled out in Week 3, the Rams not surprisingly leaned on Kyren Williams, who had 24 rushing attempts and caught Stafford's TD pass. That limited Stafford's fantasy output as Tutu Atwell led the pass-catchers with four catches for 93 yards. Until Kupp and/or Nacua return, Stafford's fantasy prospects are hazy at best. He needs one or both of those players to boost his totals and touchdown potential and put him on the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

JuJu Smith-Schuster Sep 23 8:20am ET
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Smith-Schuster was not on the field for much of the game on Sunday night, but he made the most of his opportunities. Patrick Mahomes found Smith-Schuster on a crossing route toward the end of the third quarter to extend Kansas City's lead in the game. Smith-Schuster will look to be more involved against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but the Chiefs offense should still be able to move the ball through the air. Smith-Schuster was not involved enough in this contest to feel confident starting him moving forward. This Chiefs wide receiver is best left on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 23 8:10am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 17 yards in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Worthy also added 13 rushing yards on three carries. With four or fewer targets in each of the first three weeks, the Chiefs have continued to utilize Worthy as a gadget type of player in their offense. Worthy is seeing a few looks in the passing game each week and some rushing opportunities, but his workload is not nearly large enough to justify a weekly start in fantasy football. The Chiefs rookie wide receiver will look to change the narrative against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but Worthy's involvement as a rusher and a receiver increases his chances of breaking off a big play. Worthy is not reliable enough to be a fantasy starter, but his Week 1 performance shows he can break the game with his speed. Worthy is best viewed as a high-upside bench stash or desperation flex play for now.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Sep 23 8:00am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had four catches for 30 yards in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Kelce was targeted five times in this contest, second-most on the team behind Rashee Rice. Rice has undoubtedly passed Kelce as the top option in the Patrick Mahomes-led offense. The 34-year-old has not reached five receptions or 35 receiving yards in any game this season, which is highly concerning for the Chiefs tight end. Kelce has long been a top 3 option at the tight end position, but it looks as though those days are over. Kelce is averaging 5.0 PPR points per game this season, which is a far cry from his expected production based on his ADP. Kelce will try to right the ship against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but Mahomes should be able to get Kelce the ball if he is open. The Chiefs tight end remains a must-start tight end, given the high-powered offense, but I would rank Kelce as a low-end TE1 moving forward until he shows any improvement.

From RotoBaller

Carson Steele Sep 23 7:40am ET
Carson Steele

Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Steele was also targeted twice out of the backfield and brought in one catch for two yards. As expected, Steele was the lead back for the Chiefs and was heavily involved in this contest. Steele averaged 4.2 yards per carry, and his longest run was nine yards. He was not particularly explosive, but he is a hard-nosed running back who runs downhill. Steele looks to be a serviceable replacement in the absence of Isiah Pacheco, but the Falcons were among the easier matchups for the running back position. Steele will have to do more to prove himself against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the ninth-fewest rushing yards this season, so it will be a tougher matchup for the Chiefs running back. It remains to be seen when the Chiefs will get Kareem Hunt involved in the offense and how that split will affect Steele's value, but if he gets this workload every week, he will be a viable option for fantasy in a good offense that wants to run the ball. Steele should be a solid start with touchdown upside in the Chiefs offense.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Sep 23 7:20am ET
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice caught 12 of his 14 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Rice was a force on Sunday Night, accounting for nearly a third of the Chiefs' total yards in the contest. The second-year receiver led all Chiefs pass-catchers in receptions, targets, and receiving yards again in Week 3. With each passing week, Rice proves he is the undisputed top option for Patrick Mahomes. With the loss of Isiah Pacheco, Mahomes attempted 11 more passes than his previous season-high, which benefitted Rice more than anyone. Rice has two touchdowns and has reached 100 receiving yards in a game twice this season. The Chiefs receiver will look to continue his dominance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have allowed the 13th-fewest passing yards this season, but Rice should be able to produce at his typical level against them. Rice should be started as a locked-in WR1 moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Sep 23 7:10am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 39 pass attempts (66.7%) for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the 22-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. This marks the third straight game that Mahomes has passed for fewer than 300 yards to begin the season and the second straight game that he passed for fewer than 225 yards. The Chiefs quarterback has also thrown at least one interception in every game this season, as Justin Simmons picked him off in this contest. Mahomes connected with Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster for his two passing touchdowns of the evening, bringing his total to five this season. His 39 pass attempts were his most this season, eclipsing his previous high of 28 in Week 1, but Mahomes was far less efficient as this was his lowest completion percentage of the year. The loss of Isiah Pacheco out of the backfield will take time to adjust to, but Mahomes will get a chance to turn it around against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The divisional rival Chargers have been above average against the pass, with the 13th-fewest passing yards allowed, but they have been more stingy against the run. Mahomes must improve his passing efficiency to extend the Kansas City winning streak to four games. The Chiefs quarterback has been lackluster so far, so he may be a mid-to-backend QB1 instead of the top-end option he was drafted to be.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Sep 23 4:20am ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave led the team in production in Week 3, catching all six of his targets for 80 yards and snagging the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes left in what ended up being a 15-12 loss to the Eagles. Olave was also on the receiving end of New Orleans' longest play of the day, a 29-yard pass that helped to set up his eventual score. Olave's production was one of the few bright spots in the game as Derek Carr fought against heavy pressure and had a difficult time delivering the ball to other receivers. Fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed came up empty on his five targets and Alvin Kamara ended up as the second-leading receiver with three catches for 40 yards. In Week 4, the Saints face the Atlanta Falcons, who just gave up 110 yards and a touchdown to Rashee Rice.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Sep 23 4:20am ET
Rashid Shaheed

Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed had five targets in the New Orleans Saints' 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. Unfortunately, he finished the game without a single reception to the dismay of fantasy managers (not to mention Saints fans) who were expecting another big game against a secondary that has looked vulnerable in the young season. The explosive receiver, who caught a touchdown in each of the first two games in 2024, was in line for another score on two occasions in the game. On the first attempt, Derek Carr underthrew Shaheed, forcing him to turn back into his defender just to get a hand on the ball. Then in the fourth quarter, Darius Slay was in the right place at the right time to disrupt what would have been a 25-yard score. Shaheed and the Saints will try to get back to their high-scoring ways against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

From RotoBaller