Photo: USA Today Sports

Game Strategy

• Over/Under: 47.5
• Spread: San Francisco -1.5
• San Francisco Implied Team Total: 24.5
• Kansas City Implied Team Total: 23.0

This is a week where there are lot of options on the Kansas City side that could emerge as value plays, while on the San Francisco side of the ball they're packed with stars, but have less options when it comes to value plays. Trying to find the obscure player who is inevitably going to score a touchdown will be the key to a successful week this week. Even taking a chance at the captain position with some of the cheap options in order to spend up with as many stars as possible is a viable strategy this week.

Key Injuries to Monitor

• Joe Thuney- Out with a pectoral injury. This is a massive blow to the Chiefs' rushing attack as Thuney is an All-Pro guard in 2023.
• Jerick McKinnon – Questionable with a groin injury, but seems unlikely to play. If he is active, he is minimum price and could be a cheap way to build out a star and scrubs roster this week.

Captain Consideration:

1. Jerick McKinnon (if Active)
2. Travis Kelce
3. Deebo Samuel
4. Christian McCaffrey
5. Isiah Pacheco
6. Brandon Aiyuk
7. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes II- Flex

For Mahomes, he’s going to be one of the most popular players on this slate as quarterbacks typically are, but playing him at captain this week could be a mistake. Since the team came back from their game in Germany, Patrick Mahomes II has thrown for just 300 yards once in the 11 games that the team has played, while averaging just 240 passing yards per game. Making this more difficult to play him at the captain is that 68% of his yards throughout this playoffs have gone to either Travis Kelce or Rashee Rice. For Mahomes to pay off as a captain, he almost certainly will need a rushing touchdown in a low-scoring game, which is possible, but for how highly rostered he is going to be and how expensive he is, it’s likely to just play him in the flex.

Isiah Pacheco- Captain/Flex

Isiah Pacheco has been a workhorse throughout the playoffs as he is averaging 21 carries per game and has scored a touchdown in every game thus far throughout the playoffs. The matchup is a difficult one taking on San Francisco, but the 49ers have been a different team in the playoffs against the run compared to the regular season. Throughout the playoffs, the 49ers are allowing 131 rushing yards and 28.6 DraftKings points per game, compared to just 65 rushing yards per game and 18.6 DraftKings points per game to opposing running backs. So the question is what version of the 49ers do we get this week, if they are unable to make adjustments to the recent playoff trend, then Pacheco is going to be a guy that you’re going to want to have some exposure to this week.

Travis Kelce- Captain/Flex

Based on recent production, Travis Kelce is going to be a target for a lot of people both as a captain and in the flex. Kelce has scored three touchdowns over the last two weeks and is averaging 7.7 receptions for 87.3 yards in the three playoff games as he has significantly improved his performance compared to a poor regular season. The price is a little bit higher than what you’d like to see especially when compared to guys like Deebo or Aiyuk who could save you some salary, but the touchdown upside for Kelce is likely higher and if you believe the Chiefs win this week, he’s a guy to target.

Rashee Rice- Fade