It's been a topsy-turvy backfield in Kansas City, but we may finally be getting some clarity. Or as much that's possible with Andy Reid.
If you're not an avid reader of the Weekly Cheat Sheet, you may have missed that I've added a new recurring segment to it, "Stick a Fork In 'Em" -- or as I have affectionately started to call it, "SAFIE.” Ahead of Week 9, I said you could stick a fork in Rams running back Darrell Henderson; in last week's article, I went with Bucs running back Leonard Fournette. I'd call that 2-for-2, but the season ain't over yet.
Sometimes, and likely too often, we wait until a player is absolutely cooked before moving on—a season-ending injury, for example. In a dynasty article published ahead of Week 3, I said I was done with Tom Brady in dynasty leagues. Not exactly the spiciest of takes if you ask me, and in hindsight, a good call. I was shellacked on Reddit for sharing this opinion. You'd think I sucker-punched someone's grandma. Heaven forbid you besmirch the GOAT. But hey, good luck trading him for much of anything in dynasties now.
I don't know what the reason for it is, but people love to simultaneously make hot takes yet criticize or hate on hot takes they don't like. Like we all know we're only making educated guesses here. There's no science. As the old proverb says, "live and let live.” I believe the famous JFK quote was, "Ask not what hot take can do for you, ask what you can do for hot take." You feel me? This is the job. I come up with ideas. Support me! Have fun with it. Nobody's keeping score. O.K., I guess every league is keeping score—we're all keeping score—but you know what I mean. Let's enjoy the conversation.
Kim Klement/USA Today network
1. Anointing Isiah Pacheco
The Chiefs' Week 11 opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers, are allowing an absurd 1.8 yards before contact against rushers, dead-last in the NFL by a wide margin. You want to use that to your advantage when making lineup decisions if you've got Isiah Pacheco or Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I'm going out on a small limb and calling for Pacheco to be the primary ball-carrier for the rest of the season. You may believe this team is opting for a hot hand approach, and to some extent, that will always be true. You may also have noticed that the last two times Pacheco saw 10 or more carries in a game, the next game he had one and two carries, respectively. Not exactly the most consistent or predictable backfield.
Pacheco is the best rusher in this group and I love the way he runs north-south. I feel we've reached a breaking point with CEH. The Chiefs were looking to add Eno Benjamin off waivers, but he ended up being claimed by the Texans. I believe we'll see both Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon taking a two-headed approach to the backfield. McKinnon provides some three-down ability and will be focused on passing downs with Pacheco shoring up the run-focused early downs. Which leads me to...
2. Week 11 Stick A Fork In 'Em
The "safe to drop Player X” advice bores me, and it's usually too obvious. I'm going after players and teams here and I'm targeting a player among the top 20 QBs, top 50 RBs, top 60 WRs or top 20 TEs.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
This is an easy one for most, but those who are still hanging on need a strong hand on the shoulder—an assured and trusted ally to talk them off this doomed vessel.
I'd rather you not recreate the final scene from Thelma and Louise, CEH in the driver's seat, you in the passenger. Hands-clenched. Friends forever. That doesn't really have anything to do with Edwards-Helaire; I'm just saying don't go down with the ship! The start of the season was promising for the most part. CEH had four top-15 finishes among running backs, highlighted by scoring 22.4 PPR points in both Weeks 1 and 4. Since then? He's tallied 6.5, 3.3, 9.2, 2.9 and 0.0 from Weeks 5-10 (Week 8 bye). His snap count was also on a decline over Weeks 5-10, totaling 43%, 42%, 27%, 17% and 6%. The aforementioned McKinnon and Pacheco have taken over, combining to play at least 74% of offensive snaps over the last three contests. We've all wanted the best for CEH. But the beginning of the end has already come and gone. I wish you would step back from that ledge, my CEH manager friends.
3. Week 11 Friggin' Bums
Every week, I'll highlight eight players (two at each position) that I like who are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. You can think of them as desperation plays or salary punts in DFS contests.
- QB Davis Mills, HOU (vs. WAS)
- QB Marcus Mariota, ATL (vs. CHI)
- RB Jerick McKinnon, KC (at LAC)
- RB Tyler Allgeier, ATL (vs. CHI)
- WR Nico Collins, HOU (vs. WAS)
- WR Jahan Dotson, WAS (at HOU)
- TE Juwan Johnson, NO (vs. LAR)
- TE Trey McBride, ARI (vs. SF)
4. Weekly SI Fantasy Must-Reads
Before setting your lineups, make sure you check out some of the world-class fantasy lowdown from our SI Fantasy analysts:
• Week 11 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QB | RB | WR | TE | K/DST
• Week 11 Rankings
• Week 11 Projections
• Week 11 Defense vs. Position
• Waiver Wire Pickups Week 11
• Week 11 DFS Picks
• Fantasy Playoffs: Strength of Schedule
• Week 11 Dynasty Stock Watch
• Top 10 Week 10 Fantasy Takeaways
• Fantasy Fallout: Kupp Injury Torments Tinseltown
• Week 11 IDP Waiver Wire Report
• Early Look at Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
5. FanNation Updates
Welcome to a new addition to the Cheat Sheet... Our friends at FanNation, who are closely tied with teams around the league, will be joining us with some late fantasy-related updates:
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have lost Zach Ertz for the rest of the season. Enter Trey McBride, as the second-round pick who boasts everything savory about modern tight ends. Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury were drooling over him as a prospect, but will he replace Ertz’s production? Ertz paced the Cardinals in receptions (47), targets (69) and receiving touchdowns (4). Look for McBride to be worked in slowly, as I’m not expecting his impact to be felt right away. — Donnie Druin | All Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed Friday's practice with an illness but he should be ready to play against the Panthers in Week 11, according to coach John Harbaugh. Tight end Mark Andrews (knee/shoulder) and running back Gus Edwards will be game-time decisions. ... Running back Kenyan Drake has been a pleasant surprise for the Ravens after being cut by the Raiders. Drake has 344 yards rushing with three touchdowns on 73 carries. He will likely get the brunt of carries against the Panthers, regardless if Edwards plays. Drake had a game-high 24 carries for 93 yards and two scores in his last game against the Saints. — Todd Karpovich | Raven Country
Kansas City Chiefs
With JuJu Smith-Schuster in concussion protocol and Mecole Hardman (abdomen) placed on injured reserve, Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness) should be ready to go against the Chargers, and K.C. may need to rely on him in a larger role than usual. Once again, however, it's new addition Kadarius Toney who looks most ready to take advantage of his increasing opportunities, as he made some of the Chiefs' most memorable plays last week against the Jaguars. Valdes-Scantling and Toney could both become high-upside fantasy plays in a Chiefs offense suddenly looking for playmakers. — Joshua Brisco | Arrowhead Report
New York Giants
The Giants’ disappointing wide receiver corps could be without a couple of players this weekend when they host the Lions. Kenny Golladay and Wan’Dale Robinson, two players who were on the injury report earlier in the season with knee ailments, are back on this week’s report with hamstring tightness. For Robinson, the rookie, it’s been a frustrating year as the Giants have been trying to get him more involved in the passing offense. As for Golladay, the veteran receiver has as many drops as he does receptions this season. — Patricia Traina | Giants Country
Pittsburgh Steelers
Just a week after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, the All-Pro safety will be back in the starting lineup. This is the first time since Week 1 the Steelers have had Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt on the field together, which can only mean good things. If you’re a believer in Pittsburgh’s superstars, it might be time to invest in their defense or be cautious with the Bengals offensive weapons. — Noah Strackbein | AllSteelers.com
San Francisco 49ers
The reemergence of Elijah Mitchell has cut into Christian McCaffrey’s workload. Last week against the Chargers, McCaffrey started, but Mitchell carried the ball more than him because he was more powerful and more effective. The 49ers want to be a physical offense, and Mitchell provides them that identity – McCaffrey doesn’t. So those two most likely will split carries, and it’s unclear which player will get the bulk of the goal-line opportunities. But the 49ers should continue to throw McCaffrey at least five passes per game, which should boost his value. — Grant Cohn | All49ers