The Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention following their heartbreaking 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. Patrick Mahomes suffered a devastating knee injury late in the fourth quarter. What is the fantasy football fallout from the Mahomes injury?
Patrick Mahomes Injury Update
Mahomes has been dealing with a banged up knee for much of the season but was able to play through it. All of that came crashing down in Week 15. Mahomes’ left knee hyperextended on a scramble late in the fourth quarter. He just landed wrong as he was tackled from behind by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and his knee buckled inward.​
Mahomes immediately reached for his left knee after being rolled up from behind and remained down on the sideline as he received treatment from Kansas City’s medical staff.
Head coach Andy Reid said after the game that the injury did not look good. The Chiefs issued a statement Monday confirming an MRI determined that Mahomes sustained a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during Sunday’s game.
Mahomes took to Twitter to express his feelings. He thanked Chiefs Kingdom for supporting him and everyone who reached out and sent prayers, adding that he will be back.​
The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Chargers. This marks the first time since the 2014 season that Kansas City has been eliminated from playoff eligibility. Mahomes’ season is over and his status for next September is firmly in question.​
ACL recoveries vary significantly. Some players are ready to go in nine months, which would have Mahomes ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Other players miss the entire next season, as is the case with Brandon Aiyuk this year. The timeline for Mahomes’ return will depend on the type of surgery he undergoes and how his rehabilitation progresses.​
Chiefs’ Fantasy Outlook
The Chiefs have not seen meaningless games during the Mahomes era. They will now play three of them to close out the 2025 campaign. It is hard to know how motivated any of the players will be when the goal every year is the Super Bowl and they will not even make the playoffs.​
Travis Kelce may be playing out the last three games of his career. Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4 of last season and certainly does not want to get hurt in a game that does not matter.​
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What is known is Gardner Minshew will be motivated as he is playing for a job next season. The veteran signal-caller will close out the Chiefs’ final three games under center, with matchups looming on the road in Tennessee in Week 16, at home versus Denver in Week 17, and on the road in Las Vegas in Week 18.​
Minshew entered Sunday’s contest with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, completing three of five throws for 22 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception in what amounted to his first pass attempts of the season. Head coach Andy Reid remarked that Minshew has played before and understands the role.​
Hopefully, since these are all professionals with a job to do, they go out there and play their hardest. Fantasy managers are not benching Rice or Kelce, but everyone else on this roster is very much expendable. The uncertainty surrounding the team’s motivation level in meaningless games makes most Chiefs players risky fantasy options for the championship rounds.
