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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

RB Strength of Schedule

Tue May 28 9:03am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Robinson setup for big season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the running back position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to running backs last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the running backs with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the running backs that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  RB SOS  
1. Green Bay Packers 356.01
2. Houston Texans 361.46
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 361.46
4. Las Vegas Raiders 361.48
5. Seattle Seahawks 362.28
6. Buffalo Bills 363.19
7. Arizona Cardinals 363.76
8. Dallas Cowboys 363.9
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 364.51
10. Washington Commanders 364.86
11. Chicago Bears 364.89
12. Indianapolis Colts 365.41
13. San Francisco 49ers 365.86
14. New Orleans Saints 366.49
15. New York Jets 368.23
16. Detroit Lions 368.49
17. Philadelphia Eagles 369.05
18. Minnesota Vikings 369.06
19. Carolina Panthers 369.88
20. Cleveland Browns 370.34
21. Kansas City Chiefs 371.71
22. New York Giants 372.21
23. Los Angeles Chargers 373.19
24. Denver Broncos 373.32
25. Cincinnati Bengals 373.66
26. Los Angeles Rams 374.09
27. Baltimore Ravens 374.16
28. New England Patriots 375.60
29. Atlanta Falcons 376.19
30. Miami Dolphins 377.49
31. Tennessee Titans 378.2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers 378.72


The two teams with the easiest fantasy schedules for running backs are the Steelers and Titans, which is interesting because both teams could platoon running backs. The Steelers split the work between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. And the Titans are likely to use both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. All four backs could be setup for solid seasons with favorable schedules. It is always scary to take a back that might split work but seeing these positive schedules could make pulling the trigger on them a little easier come draft day. All four could be top flex plays for fantasy teams.

The Dolphins had huge success running the ball last year and could have similar solid production this season with the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs. Devon Achane is really looking good in year two. He is expected to get more work and likely lead the backfield in touches. Raheem Mostert had a career season last year and a great schedule but he carries a little more risk. He is 32 years old and now has rookie Jaylen Wright pushing him for playing time. Just something to keep in mind come draft day.

The Falcons are another team with a top-five favorable running back schedule, making Bijan Robinson a very intriguing pick this year. Robinson had a bit of a disappointing rookie season, but a new coaching staff and really favorable schedule make Robinson a huge breakout candidate. He is moving up draft rankings in a hurry and is capable of finishing first overall in fantasy running back scoring because of his skill set.

Rhamondre Stevenson is a possible rebound candidate. He was slowed by injury last year but is back healthy and with the fifth easiest schedule for running backs. Stevenson has shown in the past he can be a big-time fantasy back. Things are looking up for him this year, making him a good buy-low candidate.

The Packers had the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks but get the toughest for running backs. This isn’t great news for new back Josh Jacobs. It is hard to bet against the productive back, though. You just might want to temper expectations for him this coming year. Jacobs could have a few down weeks, especially for his standards.

The Texans signed Joe Mixon to shore up their running back spot, but he carries some concerns. He wasn’t highly productive the last few seasons besides all his scores and now gets the second toughest schedule for running backs. Plus, the Texans are likely to be a pass heavy team, which could limit his workload a little. Mixon could end up being a boom or bust player.

Tampa also has a unfavorable fantasy schedule for running backs. Rachaad White had a big season last year but padded his numbers because of all his work in the passing game. That might be a similar scenario for him, having a tough time to run with this schedule. The positive for White is he is very good in the passing game. You have to worry about his rushing totals, though.

The Raiders haven’t really settled on a starting running back, but Zamir White is likely to get first shot at the job. That is great news for his fantasy value but the not so great news is his tough fantasy schedule. This could limit the ceiling of White a little. He has risk to begin with because it isn’t 100 percent certain he wins the job. This makes him a bit of a scary pick for fantasy teams.

Kenneth Walker didn’t have quite the breakout second season many hoped but was fairly productive with his work. And the good news is Zach Charbonnet didn’t really put a big dent in his workload. The Seahawks seem happy with Walker as the lead back. The unfortunate news for Walker is he has the fifth toughest fantasy running back schedule. Walker might fail to reach his lofty expectations once again in year three.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy running backs. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the running backs with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  RB PLAYOFF SOS  
1. San Francisco 49ers 291.43
2. Washington Commanders 325.2
3. Houston Texans 327.8
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 332.03
5. New York Jets 337.57
6. Cleveland Browns 340.8
7. Las Vegas Raiders 341.1
8. Miami Dolphins 348.27
9. Chicago Bears 350.37
10. Buffalo Bills 350.53
11. Arizona Cardinals 352.8
12. Dallas Cowboys 358.87
13. Detroit Lions 359.7
14. New York Giants 365.67
15. Kansas City Chiefs 366.53
16. Green Bay Packers 368.97
17. Seattle Seahawks 370.23
18. Carolina Panthers 377.15
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 378.37
20. Los Angeles Chargers 380.73
21. Jacksonville Jaguars 381
22. Baltimore Ravens 381.43
23. Cincinnati Bengals 383.50
24. Philadelphia Eagles 391.07
25. New England Patriots 397.95
26. Indianapolis Colts 398.40
27. Denver Broncos 399.53
28. Tennessee Titans 401.63
29. Los Angeles Rams 403.92
30. New Orleans Saints 406.33
31. Minnesota Vikings 407.87
32. Atlanta Falcons 422.4

 

There are two teams with a top-five favorable schedule for fantasy running backs for both the regular season and playoffs. Those teams are the Falcons and Titans. Atlanta actually has the easiest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. Robinson was looking good even before hearing this news but looks even better now. He is making a strong case to be the second running back off the board come draft day.

And Pollard and Spears are intriguing running back options with schedules that could produce big for both during the regular season and playoffs. You just have to worry about one back emerging to grab most of the work. If that happens, one of these backs could end up being a bust.

Minnesota has the second easiest playoff schedule for running backs. Aaron Jones has some injury concerns after the last few seasons, but he could be setup for a big workload with an unsettled quarterback situation in Minnesota. Jones has some good upside with his new team, especially during the playoffs.

One other team to mention for the playoff is New Orleans. Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger but remains the lead back and still productive. He still seems to have something left in the tank and could be a big fantasy factor for at least one more season, especially when it matters most in the playoffs. He could be a difference maker, having the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs.

Houston is the lone team in both the top five for the toughest regular season and playoff fantasy running back schedules. This is an obvious concern for Mixon. He is looking more and more like a player you might to avoid come draft day. He might have some big games along the way in this great offense, but you have to wonder about his consistency and playoff performance.

So the top rated fantasy back, Christian McCaffrey, also has the toughest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. You aren’t fading McCaffrey because of this. He is one of those rare backs that it doesn’t really matter who he plays. McCaffrey will produce. We still think he is the clear No. 1 fantasy back. He can still get it done in the playoffs.

Washington has Brian Robinson and Austin Ekekler likely splitting the work at running back, which hurts both their fantasy values. They also get the second most difficult playoff schedule for running backs. We wouldn’t reach too early for either back because of this.

The Steelers have the easiest fantasy running back schedule during the playoffs but fourth toughest for the playoffs. This is a tough one. Both backs have potential for good things, showing they can co-exist last year and produce well for fantasy teams. You just have to wonder if fading in the playoffs will make all that good work during the regular season all for nothing.

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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 10

Player Notes
Desmond Ridder Nov 5 12:30pm ET
Desmond Ridder

The Las Vegas Raiders hired former NFL head coach Norv Turner as an assistant to help guide their offense after the team parted ways with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy following a Week 9 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Turner, who previously served as the Raiders' head coach in 2004-05, will join his son Scott, who is the front-runner to take over for Getsy as the offensive coordinator. In addition to firing Getsy, the Raiders also cut loose quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello and offensive-line coach James Cregg. Norv Turner won two Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys and went 114-122-1 with Washington, Oakland and San Diego in a head-coaching role over 15 seasons. He is one of the most respected offensive minds in the league and will now have a big challenge on his hands in Vegas, where the Raiders could be moving to quarterback Desmond Ridder.

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Marshon Lattimore Nov 5 12:30pm ET
Marshon Lattimore

According to sources, trade talks for New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) are "warming up" and "multiple people are involved." Lattimore aggravated a hamstring injury in the Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and was held out in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Carolina Panthers as a precaution. His injury obviously isn't serious enough to deter teams from trying to trade for him, and the 28-year-old veteran could be on the move before Tuesday's deadline. The four-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year would be a solid addition to a contending team's secondary the rest of the way. In seven games in his eighth year with the Saints in 2024, Lattimore has compiled 30 tackles (22 solo) and two pass breakups. He has 15 career interceptions (two returned for TDs) and 88 pass breakups in his seven-plus NFL seasons.

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K.J. Osborn Nov 5 12:20pm ET
K.J. Osborn

According to sources, New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn has been involved in trade talks over the last several weeks and is now a target for a few teams ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline. Osborn had some productive seasons with the Minnesota Vikings when quarterback Kirk Cousins was in town, but he's been an afterthought with the Pats and has only seven receptions on 17 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown in his first six games with the team in 2024. The 27-year-old was a healthy scratch in the Week 9 loss to the Tennessee Titans in favor of DeMario Douglas, Kayson Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. With Osborn so far down the receiving depth chart in New England, it would make sense for the Pats to deal him to a team that would give him more opportunities.

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Dak Prescott Nov 5 12:10pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that it's likely that quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) will be placed on Injured Reserve, which will require him to miss at least four games. If the Cowboys put Prescott on IR this week, the earliest he would be able to return would be on Dec. 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night to close out Week 14 action. The 31-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and the injury turned out to be worse than the team initially thought it was. Dallas has announced that Cooper Rush will take over under center with Prescott sidelined, which is obviously a downgrade for the Cowboys' entire offense, most notably for receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder), who could be in danger of missing the Week 10 divisional clash against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Sterling Shepard Nov 5 12:10pm ET
Sterling Shepard

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard caught four of five targets for 48 yards in Monday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs, adding two rushes for 21 yards. It was the second consecutive game that the 31-year-old earned five looks from Baker Mayfield and the fourth time this season he's caught at least three passes. Jalen McMillan (hamstring) was inactive for the game and should he miss another week, then Shepard could once again be one of the top receiving options for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have a tough matchup with the 49ers in Week 10 so even so, he's still probably only a WR4/5.

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Aidan Hutchinson Nov 5 12:10pm ET
Aidan Hutchinson

As expected, the Detroit Lions acquired standout edge rusher Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, according to sources. The Lions are adding a key pass-rusher to help make up for the loss of All-Pro defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who will miss the rest of the year with a broken leg. Along with Smith, the Lions are receiving a seventh-round pick in 2026 in exchange for a fifth-rounder next year and a sixth-round selection in the 2026 NFL draft. The 32-year-old Smith should help Detroit's defense immediately after recording five sacks, 23 tackles (15 solo), six tackles for loss and seven QB hits in nine games for the Browns this year. Smith's Lions debut will come this Sunday in a Week 10 showdown against the Houston Texans. The three-time Pro Bowler has 65 career sacks in 132 games played after debuting in 2015 with the Baltimore Ravens.

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Bucky Irving Nov 5 10:50am ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving led the backfield in touches in Monday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs, although it did not amount to much. The 22-year-old totaled 10 touches, seven rushes and six receptions, compared to Rachaad White's six touches and Sean Tucker's four, but the total gain on his opportunities was just 34 yards. With White nabbing the lone rushing touchdown, it was a fairly forgettable fantasy day for the youngster. Still, as long as the rookie out of Oregon remains involved in the passing game -- it was the third straight week he grabbed at least three catches -- then he should at least have a reliable floor in PPR leagues. There will surely be brighter fantasy days ahead, however, it may not come in Week 10 against a solid 49ers defense. Irving figures to be in the RB3/Flex conversation for that matchup.

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Dak Prescott Nov 5 10:23am ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) is going on the Reserve/Injured list, according to team owner Jerry Jones.

Fantasy Spin: That will cost him a minimum of four games, and Cooper Rush is thrust front and center. He was successful in his stint as a starter, but his fantasy prowess isn't very strong. He'll be a two-QB leaguer, and CeeDee Lamb loses some luster but remains a WR1.

From TheHuddle

Jonathan Mingo Nov 5 10:10am ET
Jonathan Mingo

The Carolina Panthers are trading wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and a seventh-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Mingo was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but has struggled to make an impact for the rebuilding Panthers. Through his first 24 games, he has hauled in 55 of his 111 targets for 539 yards and no touchdowns. Meanwhile, rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker passed him up on the depth chart this season. Dallas is lacking pass-catching depth behind All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb and is taking a flyer on the Ole Miss product. However, given Mingo's struggles to begin his career and Dak Prescott likely headed to Injured Reserve, it would be a surprise if the sophomore wideout makes a significant fantasy impact in 2024.

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Ryan Miller Nov 5 10:10am ET
Ryan Miller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ryan Miller caught just one of the three passes thrown his way on Monday night, but it was a big one. The 24-year-old caught the critical one-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield at the end of the fourth quarter that helped send the game into overtime, although the Bucs would go on to lose 30-24. The Furman product has received more playing time since the Bucs have been without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, hauling in three of five targets in Week 8's loss to the Falcons, now with a total of five catches on the year. The rookie receiver does not warrant a roster spot, however, could be a DFS dart throw again if Jalen McMillan misses another game or until red zone darling Mike Evans returns.

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Zack Moss Nov 5 10:00am ET
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to a neck injury. The 26-year-old popped up on Friday's injury report with a neck issue and was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Moss was "out indefinitely" on Monday. He will now miss the rest of the 2024 campaign. Moss finishes the season with 242 yards and two touchdowns on 74 rushing attempts while catching 23 passes for 187 yards and a score over eight games. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Moss doesn't need surgery but will be rested for the next two months and then be re-evaluated. The Bengals acquired running back Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday to add RB depth and help fill the void left by Moss. Herbert is only rostered in 7% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and should have a role once he becomes more familiar with the Bengals' offense. Chase Brown is expected to take over as Cincinatti's primary back after rushing for a season-high 120 rushing yards on 27 attempts while catching a season-high five passes for a season-high 37 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Raiders.

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Za'Darius Smith Nov 5 9:43am ET
Za'Darius Smith

Cleveland Browns DE Za'Darius Smith was acquired by the Detroit Lions Tuesday, Nov. 5, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, in exchange for 2025 fifth- and 2026 sixth-round picks.

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Khalil Herbert Nov 5 9:20am ET
Khalil Herbert

The Cincinnati Bengals are trading for Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 26-year-old has been phased out of the Chicago offense as D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson occupy the RB1 and RB2 roles, and the team permitted Herbert to seek a trade. The former sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has rushed 372 times for 1,791 yards and nine touchdowns through the first 48 games of his career. With Cincy running back Zack Moss (neck) out indefinitely, Herbert could see touches alongside Chase Brown when he gets comfortable with the new playbook. While Herbert is not a must-add in all fantasy leagues, he now has a path to fantasy relevance and should be considered on the waiver wire in at least 14+ team leagues. If nothing else, he is now a handcuff RB for Brown in one of the league's best offenses.

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Patrick Mahomes Nov 5 4:50am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 34 of 44 pass attempts (77%) for 291 yards and three touchdowns in the 30-24 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs quarterback added nine rushing yards on two carries in the contest. Mahomes followed up his best fantasy performance of the season with an even better game. The former MVP passed for three touchdowns for the first time this season. Mahomes also finished a game without an interception for the first time this season. The addition of DeAndre Hopkins gave Mahomes another reliable outlet to turn to, and he did not disappoint. Mahomes picked up an ankle injury on a touchdown pass to Samaje Perine in the fourth quarter and required assistance on the sideline. It was officially reported as an ankle injury, but it was minor enough that he returned on the team's next drive. Given that he returned to the game, the injury will likely not cause Mahomes to miss any time, but the injury reports will be telling. That said, Mahomes will look to continue this strong run against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Broncos rank 10th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season, so it will be a tough matchup. Nevertheless, the Chiefs quarterback has shown signs of improvement lately, and that strong play could continue into next week. Mahomes will likely find himself in the low-end QB1 range again for Week 10.

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Travis Kelce Nov 5 4:50am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught 14 of 16 targets for 100 in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs star tight end was undoubtedly the focal point of the passing attack, earning seven more targets than the next closest pass catcher. Kelce improved on his season-best performance from last week with more catches, targets, and yards than any other game this season. The only negative was that the Chiefs tight end did not find the endzone, but he still reached 22 points in a full-PPR format. Kelce will look to keep the good times rolling against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Broncos rank 14th in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so it will be a challenging matchup for Kelce. That said, Kelce is the alpha in the Kansas City passing attack, and his volume of targets will likely negate most defensive matchups moving forward. Kelce will continue to be ranked as a top-tier TE1 for as long as he is healthy.

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Kareem Hunt Nov 5 4:50am ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt handled 27 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran running back scored his touchdown to win the game in overtime. Hunt also hauled in his only target for 11 receiving yards in the contest. Hunt once again handled nearly every carry out of the backfield as the undisputed lead back. Given the recent report that Isiah Pacheco is likely out until late November at the earliest, Hunt should remain a viable fantasy asset for at least a few more weeks. The Chiefs running back will look to extend his four-game scoring streak against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Broncos rank 14th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, so it will not be the best matchup at the position. That said, Hunt has at least 21 carries and a touchdown in four straight games, making his workload among the strongest at the position. Given his performances over the past month and strong utilization, Hunt should continue to be ranked as a strong RB2.

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DeAndre Hopkins Nov 5 4:50am ET
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught eight of nine targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopkins was significantly more involved in his second game with the team, as he was second in targets amongst Chiefs pass catchers. Only Hopkins and Travis Kelce received more than five targets for Kansas City in this contest. The veteran receiver proved a trustworthy target for Patrick Mahomes as the two connected for a 35-yard completion on a crucial third down. Hopkins will look to continue his success against the Denver Broncos next week. The Broncos rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season, so it will be a difficult matchup for Hopkins. The Chiefs receiver will likely face Patrick Surtain II often in next week's matchup, which could limit his fantasy success. That said, Hopkins looks like a top target for Mahomes in the passing game, which bodes well for him moving forward.

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Xavier Worthy Nov 5 4:50am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy has zero catches in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Worthy also had two carries for -10 yards in the contest. The rookie receiver nearly had a long touchdown on the game's first drive but failed to get two feet down in bounds. After that early incompletion, Worthy only saw one more target for the rest of the game. Despite also being involved in the run game, Worthy ended the game with negative yardage. Given his inconsistencies, starting Worthy against the Denver Broncos next week will be difficult. The Broncos rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers thanks to their stout secondary. Worthy is playing behind Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins in the passing game, and Kareem Hunt is seeing upwards of 20 opportunities in the last four games. There are not a lot of opportunities to go around, and the rookie has failed to capitalize on his. It will be challenging to rank Worthy as anything but a desperation flex play moving forward.

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Samaje Perine Nov 5 4:50am ET
Samaje Perine

Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine had one carry for 10 yards in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Perine's success came through the air as he connected with Patrick Mahomes on a seven-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The veteran running back finished the game with four catches for 25 yards and one touchdown. Perine was minimally involved on the ground but saw five targets in this contest. He is the clear passing downs back for Kansas City, but that role has yet to be particularly valuable this season. Perine should stay out of lineups for next week's matchup against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are tougher against the pass than the run, but Perine's role in the offense is not significant enough to start him confidently.

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