6) Jake Ferguson vs. Cardinals
Fergy had a tough week on N.T.E.D., ending with a goose egg for his owners. It’s never fun when you realize you could have started yourself on your fantasy team and scored the same as the guy leading in targets and receptions going into the week. We knew that CeeDee Lamb’s return would affect Ferguson’s numbers, and Denver‘s seventh-ranked defense against tight ends did pose a challenge. Still, ending the day with zero catches on just one target left most of us scratching our heads. His snap percentage did decrease from the previous two weeks, but he has played fewer than 59% of snaps in prior weeks against Denver with solid results. Interestingly, his 30 routes run were his highest since Week 4, so we know he was healthy enough to be active. The point is, he’s healthy and on the field, so we should view last week as a one-week anomaly for now. Expect Dak to make it up to him this week in a game likely to have a high score. Arizona has historically struggled against tight ends, ranking 24th in DVOA at the position and 25th overall against the pass this season. Look for Fergy to bounce back with a big game on Monday night.
7) Travis Kelce vs. Bills
Kelce had a great game last week, and while I dislike the idea of chasing points, it seems like this is the offense the Chiefs want to run. Mahomes will distribute the ball, with Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce as his top two targets for short and intermediate routes, while Xavier Worthy, Tyquon Thornton, and Hollywood Brown will serve as deep threats downfield. This game against Buffalo will be competitive, and Mahomes will need all his weapons to keep Kansas City in the game. Expect a playoff-like atmosphere, with Kelce heavily involved in the Chiefs’ passing attack. He will be fluctuating throughout the season as the Chiefs aim to keep him fresh for the playoffs, but this is a game they must win, as it could very well determine where these two teams might meet in the postseason.
8) Oronde Gadsden vs. Titans
We had this kid ranked at #4 overall last week, and he rewarded us with a big night last Thursday. The matchup was ideal, and Gadsden capitalized on his rare blend of size and speed, catching all 5 of his targets for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. He will remain a key part of the Chargers passing attack for the rest of the season and should be a weekly starter for your fantasy team. This week, the Chargers might not need to rely heavily on their pass game to handle a Titans team that struggles to get out of its own way. Kimani Vidal is expected to be busy carrying the ball, while Justin Herbert will throw as much as necessary to keep drives alive. Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey are likely to stay the top two targets, but Gadsden will also see involvement. His breakout probably pushes Quenten Johnston to a bye-week emergency option for most fantasy teams. Fire up Gadsden if you have him, but keep expectations in check—he probably won’t see more than the five targets he had last week.
