Kansas City Chiefs DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

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.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) said he should be in a better place injury-wise with his ankle for the Christmas Day game in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers than he was in Saturday's win over the Houston Texans. The 29-year-old two-time MVP suffered a mild high-ankle sprain in the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns but didn't miss any practice time last week and played in the 27-19 win over Houston on Saturday. Mahomes wasn't 100%, but he was feeling good enough to run the ball five times for 33 yards and a touchdown. His ankle could be something he has to manage for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, but his performance on Saturday should make fantasy managers comfortable at least using him as a QB2 in superflex leagues. The Chiefs are still trying to lock up a bye in the first round of the playoffs, so Mahomes won't be rested on Wednesday.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught four passes for 37 yards in the 27-19 win over the Houston Texans. With the return of Marquise Brown, Hopkins appeared to take a backseat to other Kansas City pass catchers. The veteran receiver finished fourth on the team in targets and receiving yards in this contest. Hopkins provides a sure-handed receiving option, but his fellow wide receivers offer more explosiveness. Hopkins will look to be more involved next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who rank 13th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. With Hopkins falling in the target pecking order, it will be difficult for fantasy managers to trust him in their lineups for Week 17.