Kansas City Chiefs DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. Kelce and the Chiefs should be fresh coming off their Week 6 bye. The Chiefs tight end put together a strong performance in the team's last contest against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Kelce caught nine passes for 70 yards against the Saints two weeks ago. With wide receiver Rashee Rice likely out for the remainder of the regular season, Kelce should continue to see a high-volume workload. However, the Chiefs are facing the Niners, who know them well. These two teams matched up in the 2020 Super Bowl, and Kansas City walked away with the victory in that game. The Niners know that Kelce is the biggest threat in the Kansas City passing attack, which means he could see some extra attention in this contest. The San Francisco defense is ranked 12th in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so this matchup will not be a walk in the park. Despite the tough matchup, Kelce is seeing elite opportunity as a tight end, and he should be started with confidence every week.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. Mahomes and the Chiefs emerge from their Week 6 bye as one of two undefeated teams in the National Football League. Despite Kansas City's success, Mahomes has yet to be a top-end fantasy option at the quarterback position this season. Mahomes is averaging just 13.7 fantasy points per game in a 4-point per passing touchdown league. The Kansas City quarterback currently ranks as a low-end QB2, a far cry from where he was selected during draft season. Mahomes will have to take on a well-rounded Niners defense ranked 14th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. The San Francisco defense is more formidable against the run than the pass, so Mahomes may have to do more in this matchup, but Andy Reid has shown his dedication toward leaning on the run game this season. Until he proves otherwise, Mahomes should no longer be viewed as a top-12 quarterback option in fantasy football.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was held out of Thursday's practice session but returned to practice on Friday. Head coach Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster will play during the Week 7 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. It sounds like the team is leaving him as questionable on the injury report just in case he suffers a setback. Smith-Schuster hauled in seven of his eight targets for 130 yards in Week 5. The Chiefs are limited in terms of viable passing options, so Smith-Schuster should continue being the primary slot receiver. The 27-year-old has some flex appeal heading into a tough matchup against the 49ers.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was added to the Week 7 injury report after putting in a limited practice on Thursday. Smith-Schuster's status for the Super Bowl rematch against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday is now firmly up in the air. It's bad news for a Chiefs offense that has already lost receivers Rashee Rice (knee) and Marquise Brown (shoulder) for the entire season. Running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) is also on Injured Reserve. The 27-year-old Smith-Schuster was a hot waiver-wire pickup after the Week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints in which he caught seven of eight targets for 130 yards. Depending on what he's able to do in practice on Friday, Smith-Schuster could be in danger of sitting out this weekend. KC would be forced to turn to Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore behind rookie Xavier Worthy if Smith-Schuster is unavailable.

New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker (coach's decision) and Tyquan Thornton (coach's decision) are inactive for Week 6 against the Houston Texans. Both players are healthy scratches. Baker has repeatedly been inactive, failing to log an offensive snap since Week 2. He's still searching for his first NFL target and will have to wait at least one more week. Thornton, meanwhile, has been the subject of trade rumors lately but lacks significant fantasy appeal; he hasn't registered a reception since catching two passes back in the season opener. Both players can be dropped in all redraft and most dynasty leagues.