On a day when rising COVID cases and confusing/revised testing policies threatened to derail--or at least seriously alter--the NFL season, Thursday Night Football came to the rescue. What a game, in a all the best and worst ways, including a frightening injury to Donald Parham. As of writing this after the game, he's reportedly undergoing tests and in stable condition.
I had thought the Chargers would contain Patrick Mahomes, and for most of the game they did, turning him over twice while limiting him to zero scores and 213 passing yards with about 9:30 left in the fourth quarter. Think about that: Mahomes piled on about 23 fantasy points in about 10-and-a-half game minutes. It was an offensive blitz that reminds us how good Kansas City's offense can be, which seems strange to say.
But would we have been surprised if Mahomes finished the game with a whimper, limping to single-digit fantasy points? He'd had one or zero touchdowns in five of his previous seven games. It's been an incredibly tough run for one of the greatest young quarterbacks in decades. Yet last night, he overwhelmed the Chargers down the stretch, and this could be the confidence boost he and the Chiefs needed. Despite winning six straight entering the game, there were plenty of question marks surrounding Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Could this duo continue to dominate? Apparently, the answer is "of course." But Kelce in particular had enough doubters entering this contest to cause fantasy managers to ask, very publicly, "Should I start him?"
For the Chargers, I started Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams in my league's playoffs. In the opening minutes, it appeared Keenan and Williams were both going to be, at best, questionable to return. But Keenan came through, and Herbert overcame a shaky start to deliver his third straight three-TD performance. And Austin Ekeler proved to be startable despite his questionable tag, while Justin Jackson put distance between himself and Joshua Kelley as Ekeler's all-important handcuff.
And now, final score predictions. Who came closest? I guessed 34-26 Chargers, which might've taken home the prize if L.A. had won the overtime coin toss. A lot of deserving honorable mentions today. Because so many people came close, I had to cut it off at "three points away." So Yemi Onibokun and Mike Hoff (33-27) were two points away, as were Jerry Bevil and Sam Waddell (34-26) and Jimmy Overholt (34-30). Doug Pastor returns to this page once again, this time finishing three points away (31-28)
But the winner hit it on the nose: Derek Anzalone with a prediction for the ages: 34-28 Chiefs. How did he do it? I hear it's a lot of clean living and midnight bike rides. So congratulations Derek for hitting it on the nose.
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- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy
I had thought the Chargers would contain Patrick Mahomes, and for most of the game they did, turning him over twice while limiting him to zero scores and 213 passing yards with about 9:30 left in the fourth quarter. Think about that: Mahomes piled on about 23 fantasy points in about 10-and-a-half game minutes. It was an offensive blitz that reminds us how good Kansas City's offense can be, which seems strange to say.
But would we have been surprised if Mahomes finished the game with a whimper, limping to single-digit fantasy points? He'd had one or zero touchdowns in five of his previous seven games. It's been an incredibly tough run for one of the greatest young quarterbacks in decades. Yet last night, he overwhelmed the Chargers down the stretch, and this could be the confidence boost he and the Chiefs needed. Despite winning six straight entering the game, there were plenty of question marks surrounding Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Could this duo continue to dominate? Apparently, the answer is "of course." But Kelce in particular had enough doubters entering this contest to cause fantasy managers to ask, very publicly, "Should I start him?"
For the Chargers, I started Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams in my league's playoffs. In the opening minutes, it appeared Keenan and Williams were both going to be, at best, questionable to return. But Keenan came through, and Herbert overcame a shaky start to deliver his third straight three-TD performance. And Austin Ekeler proved to be startable despite his questionable tag, while Justin Jackson put distance between himself and Joshua Kelley as Ekeler's all-important handcuff.
And now, final score predictions. Who came closest? I guessed 34-26 Chargers, which might've taken home the prize if L.A. had won the overtime coin toss. A lot of deserving honorable mentions today. Because so many people came close, I had to cut it off at "three points away." So Yemi Onibokun and Mike Hoff (33-27) were two points away, as were Jerry Bevil and Sam Waddell (34-26) and Jimmy Overholt (34-30). Doug Pastor returns to this page once again, this time finishing three points away (31-28)
But the winner hit it on the nose: Derek Anzalone with a prediction for the ages: 34-28 Chiefs. How did he do it? I hear it's a lot of clean living and midnight bike rides. So congratulations Derek for hitting it on the nose.
---
- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy