Fantasy News

Damien Williams scores three times in the AFC Championship.

Williams carried ten times for 30 yards and a touchdown along with five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ playoff loss to the Patriots. The rushing score came deep in New England territory, while the first receiving score was a nice catch in the flat and the second was on a screen pass where he walked in untouched. Spencer Ware (hamstring) was back in the lineup for the first time in four games, but Williams remained the clear leader in Kansas City’s backfield (Ware received zero carries and caught one pass). Given a contract extension a few weeks ago—along with playing exceptionally-well when assuming the starting role—Williams looks locked in as the Chiefs’ No. 1 running back entering 2019, which gives him obvious RB1 upside in fantasy drafts this summer. He’ll probably go in the second or potentially the third round of most fantasy drafts.

1/20/19 - 10:25 PM ET

Josh Reynolds caught three passes for 28 yards in Super Bowl LIII loss.

Reynolds saw a healthy seven targets as the team’s No. 3 receiver, but the Rams struggled to get the passing attack going due to heavy pressure by the Patriots. Under contract for two more years, Reynolds should be back in 2019 as the team’s fourth wideout behind Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp.

2/3/19 - 10:58 PM ET

Rex Burkhead scores twice in AFC Championship win.

Burkhead rushed 12 times for 41 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime from two yards away. He also caught four passes for 23 yards and scored a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of an eventual 37-31 OT victory. Sony Michel (29 touches for 113 yards and two touchdowns) continued operated as the lead back, but New England seemed to trust Burkhead late in the game. All three of he, Michel, and James White will be involved against the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

1/20/19 - 10:24 PM ET

Brandin Cooks goes over 100 yards in Super Bowl LIII loss.

Cooks caught eight passes for 120 yards, mostly seeing coverage from New England’s top corner (and former teammate) Stephon Gilmore. Unfortunately, the biggest play of the night was likely a drop by the dynamic deep threat that would have tied the game at 10-10 (if the Rams made the PAT), and Jared Goff threw an interception in Cooks’ direction on the next play with less than five minutes to play. Los Angeles will look for redemption in 2019, and Cooks will remain a high-upside WR1/WR2 fantasy option.

2/3/19 - 10:55 PM ET

Sony Michel scores twice in AFC Championship win.

Michel rushed 29 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, which brings his playoff total to five in just a couple games. New England’s first-round pick was actually on the sidelines in favor of Rex Burkhead—who scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime—late in the contest, but Michel will undoubtedly be a huge factor and a threat for 30-plus touches in the Super Bowl against Los Angeles.

1/20/19 - 10:22 PM ET

Robert Woods caught five passes for 70 yards in Super Bowl LIII loss.

He also rushed once for a five-yard gain. Woods saw ten targets in the 13-3 defeat, but the Rams struggled to get going as the Patriots generated a consistent pass rush and played stout coverage. Still, the USC product had another 80-yard game, and he was basically a machine in 2018. Woods will boast an excellent floor in fantasy drafts next summer as an early-mid round selection.

2/3/19 - 10:52 PM ET

Patrick Mahomes throws three touchdowns in Chiefs’ AFC title game lead.

Mahomes was 16/31 for 295 yards and three touchdowns along with two carries for 11 yards in the tough 37-31 overtime loss to the Patriots. New England put constant pressure on the likely league MVP throughout the game, shutting Kansas City out in the first half. But Mahomes and the offense battled back, putting up 31 second-half points and 24 fourth-quarter points to force overtime; however, they didn’t touch the ball after Tom Brady and the Patriots drove down the field on the extra period’s opening drive. Mahomes’ touchdowns were to Damien Williams (on a nice throw in the flat on a rollout, and then on a screen pass where Williams walked in) and Travis Kelce (on a post route). In under a couple of weeks, Mahomes will likely be crowned NFL MVP after a stellar second season in which he joined Peyton Manning and Brady as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 50 touchdowns in a season. Mahomes will be the top quarterback in 2019 fantasy drafts, and it’s possible he ends up going in the first two rounds because of his scoring upside with so many weapons around him in an Andy Reid offense.

1/20/19 - 10:20 PM ET