Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Hunt has been splitting opportunities with Isiah Pacheco since his return from the injured reserve, but the split has favored Hunt. The veteran running back handled 11 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 against the Texans. Hunt also caught two passes for 24 yards in last week's contest. Despite being the older back, the Chiefs have decided to lean on Hunt instead of Pacheco. Hunt will hope this usage against the Steelers, who rank 11th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Hunt is ranked RB33 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, placing him outside the RB2 range this week. Fantasy managers will have a tough time trusting Hunt in the fantasy playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17. Pacheco was expected to be the team's starting running back upon returning from the injured reserve, but that has not been the case over the last few games. The 25-year-old took a backseat to Kareem Hunt in Week 16 against the Texans. Hunt handled more carries and catches while finding the endzone in last week's contest. Pacheco will have to hope the split leans more in his direction this week against the Steelers, who rank 11th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Pacheco is ranked RB35 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a flex option this week. It will be difficult for fantasy managers to trust either running back in the Chiefs backfield if they continue to split opportunities.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is off the injury report and ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17. Mahomes was listed on the injury report with an ankle injury but practiced fully all week and has been removed ahead of the matchup. The 29-year-old had a good game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, passing for 260 yards with one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. Despite entering last week's contest with an alleged high-ankle sprain, Mahomes had his third-highest rushing total of the season. The Chiefs quarterback will look to continue his production this week against the Steelers, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season. Mahomes is ranked QB18 in our RotoBaller rankings, putting him outside of QB1 range in a difficult matchup. Fantasy managers may need to consider other options at the quarterback position.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17. Kelce had another disappointing performance last week, catching five passes for 30 yards on seven targets. The 35-year-old finished third on the team in targets but was fifth in receiving yards. Kelce will look to be more efficient against the Steelers, who rank 22nd in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season. Kelce is ranked TE8 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a mid-tier TE1 option this week. Fantasy managers who made it this far in the fantasy playoffs have done so despite Kelce, but hopefully, he can score for the first time since Week 10.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that wide receiver Marquise Brown's snap count will keep increasing. Brown needed surgery for a shoulder injury that he suffered in the preseason and didn't make his debut with the team until this past Saturday in the Week 16 win over the Houston Texans. In his first game of 2024, Hollywood played only 27 percent of the offensive snaps but came away with five catches on eight targets for 45 yards. The 27-year-old's line was certainly a pleasant surprise for any fantasy managers that have him stashed to close out the year, but Brown is still going to be a very risky flex play in fantasy championship matchups in Week 17 when the Chiefs take on a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense. With that said, it was a good sign for KC's offense moving forward that Mahomes looked Brown's way eight times in his first game of the year.