Disclaimer

These contests are intended to be fun as you’re watching the game. It’s incredibly difficult to get a real edge as there are so few options, and in MME contests, there are often many duplicate lineups. One play or one penalty can change the entire outcome of the game.

Game Strategy

• Over/Under: 45.5
• Spread: Chiefs -8.5
• Chiefs Implied Team Total: 27
• Buccaneers Implied Team Total: 18.5

The Chiefs are at home in primetime against a bad pass defense and Tampa Bay's offense is banged-up. Chiefs-heavy lineups are the way to go in this one.

Injury Roundup

• Mike Evans OUT
• Chris Godwin OUT
• Rashee Rice OUT
• JuJu Smith-Schuster OUT
• Jared Wiley and Jody Fortson both OUT
• Bucky Irving Questionable
• Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard both Questionable

Captain Consideration

• Patrick Mahomes
• Travis Kelce
• Kareem Hunt
• Rachaad White
• Cade Otton

Kansas City Chiefs Showdown Players

Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes II - Captain/Flex

Patrick Mahomes II hasn't had the fantasy season we've come to expect from him but this projects as a boom week. He's at home against a bad Buccaneers pass defense that only ranks 24th in both EPA/Play Allowed and Dropback EPA Allowed. Kansas City's offense already ranks eighth in Pass Rate Over Expected (PROE). The offense revolves around Patrick Mahomes II arm and that will be the case in a big way in this one.

Running Back

Kareem Hunt - Captain/Flex

Kareem Hunt ranks third in the entire NFL in opportunities per game (22.8). The Chiefs are 8.5-point home favorites. Kansas City's offense has a better matchup against the pass but Hunt's matchup is still fine against a Buccaneers defense that ranks 18th in Rush EPA Allowed.

Samaje Perine - Flex

Samaje Perine is an option in large field tournaments. He's at home against a bad Buccaneers pass defense that only ranks 24th in both EPA/Play Allowed and Dropback EPA Allowed. Kansas City's offense already ranks eighth in Pass Rate Over Expected (PROE). The offense revolves around Patrick Mahomes II arm and that will be the case in a big way in this one. Perine could pop up here with a surprisingly productive receiving game.

Wide Receiver

Xavier Worthy - Flex

Xavier Worthy is a tournament flex. We know the deal with Worthy right now. If he pops the big play downfield you're likely to want him in your lineup. If he doesn't you're likely to want to have faded him. This is a favorable spot at home where it would be surprising to not see at least one big play connection with Patrick Mahomes II.

DeAndre Hopkins - Flex

DeAndre Hopkins played on 32% of the offensive snaps and saw three targets last week in his first game as a Chief after having been with the team for only a few days. Look for Hopkins' playing time to spike in this one in an awesome matchup. Hopkins will operate similarly to the role Rashee Rice had before his injury per Andy Reid. Play Hopkins and get out in front of your competition. He's going to be a valuable fantasy asset in this role and this offense.

Justin Watson - Flex

Justin Watson essentially has been radio silent this season, which is a big reason why he's a large-field tournament play. He's going to be extremely low-owned. Watson's offensive snap percentages over the Chiefs last three games: 70%, 73%, and 76%. Watson is playing the majority of the snaps with Patrick Mahomes II and that could lead to a big game at any moment, like we've seen in years past with Watson.

Tight End

Travis Kelce - Captain/Flex

Travis Kelce has had two big performances in three games since Rashee Rice was lost for the season: 9 for 70 on 10 targets in Week 5 and 10 for 90 on 12 targets in Week 8. Kelce is a must-play in this fantastic home spot.

Noah Gray - Flex

Noah Gray's offensive snap percentages have increased in all three games since Rashee Rice was lost for the season: 61%, 67%, and 72%. He's caught all nine of his targets over that span. Gray is a solid and fun tournament option in this spot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Showdown Players

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield - Fade

Baker Mayfield has been fantastic this year. He ranks second in passing yards per game (273.6) and first in pass touchdowns per game (2.6) and leads a Buccaneers offense that ranks tenth in EPA/Play, sixth in Early Down Pass Frequency (EDPF), and second in Pass Rate Over Expected (PROE). He'll be a popular play. He's a fade. He doesn't have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and is on the road against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Chiefs defense ranks fifth best in EPA/Play Allowed and seventh in Dropback EPA Allowed.

Running Back

Rachaad White - Captain/Flex

Rachaad White is an imperfect player. We all know this. But he has still led Tampa Bay's backfield in playing time in each of the past two games since returning from injury. He's also benefiting from the absence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as he's seen six targets in back-to-back contests. He's a strong play, especially on full PPR DraftKings, with the Buccaneers projected to be playing from behind and throwing a lot.

Bucky Irving - Flex

Bucky Irving is listed as questionable but expected to play. Irving was heavily utilized in the passing game in his own right catching all seven of his targets last week. Rachaad White is the preferred play but Irving is an option as well. If you want to get real weird, play both Buccaneers running backs and then run it back with all the other players being Kansas City Chiefs.

Wide Receiver

Trey Palmer - Flex

Trey Palmer is the number one wide receiver option in Tampa Bay right now. His offensive snap percentages the past two games: 72% and 70%. Palmer is a talented and athletic player yet he'll be low owned. He's the number one tournament option on the Buccaneers in this one. And yes, these sites do force us to play at least one Buccaneer, in case you were wondering.

Jalen McMillan (If Active) - Flex

Jalen McMillan is listed as questionable but as long as he's active he's a strong play. He played on 81% of the offensive snaps last week and has seen 15 targets over the past two games.

Tight End

Cade Otton - Captain/Flex

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were both injured in Week 7. With that in mind, Cade Otton's performances in his past two games: 8 for 100 on 10 targets and 9 for 81 and 2 touchdowns on 10 targets. It's tough to fade him right when he's basically the only reliable option for Baker Mayfield.