The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, specifically regarding QB Patrick Mahomes.
Is Patrick Mahomes Playing in Week 1?
Mahomes is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he will play.
We’ll continue to monitor the Chiefs’ injury report leading up to kickoff for any changes. You can also visit and bookmark our Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Patrick Mahomes in Week 1?
I think it’s pretty clear at this point: Patrick Mahomes means far more to the Kansas City Chiefs than he does his loyal fantasy managers. The raw talent is intoxicating, but he doesn’t need to put up video game numbers for this team to be successful.
Volume is never an issue. Mahomes has thrown 35+ passes 21 times over the past two regular seasons, a figure in a different stratosphere than most (Joe Burrow, 18, is the only other player with more than 13 over that stretch). The number of opportunities wasn’t a problem in this matchup last season, but considering that his 66 attempts netted just 455 yards and two scores against the ascending divisional rival is undoubtedly a concern.
If you want to ride past trends, there is room for efficient upside. The narrative around Andy Reid and the Chiefs is that they thrive off a bye, and what is Week 1 other than a game after the longest bye they’ll get all season?
Mahomes has completed over 71% of his passes in five of his past six Week 1 contests and has tossed at least three touchdowns in five of his seven career Week 1s.
I picked the Chargers to win the AFC West this season, making this potentially the most impactful game of the week, which could fuel some additional Mahomes production. That said, I think Los Angeles wants to play a low-possession brand of football, thus relegating Mahomes to my third tier at the position this week and a fringe starter in most leagues.
In practice, you’re playing him. He’s better than anyone on your wire, and the odds are good that you didn’t draft a second viable option. This could be a nice statistical bounce-back season for maybe the greatest of all time. I’m just not sure we see that manifest itself this week (or, for that matter, next week against the Eagles).
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Patrick Mahomes’ Fantasy Points Projection in Week 1
Mahomes is projected to score 18.6 points in PPR formats. This includes 242.9 passing yards and 1.7 passing touchdowns. It also includes 19.2 rushing yards and 0.1 rushing touchdowns.
Check out the free PFSN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Week 1 Weather Impact: Chiefs at Chargers
The weather forecast for the Chiefs vs. Chargers matchup in São Paulo calls for cloudy conditions and a kickoff temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Winds are forecasted to blow southeast at 9 MPH with an 8% chance of rain. These are good conditions for fantasy football and will have minimal impact on the game.
