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Darrel Williams' Updated Fantasy Outlook After Massive Game for Chiefs vs. Raiders

Nov 15, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams (31) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams (31) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Kansas City Chiefs looked to be in vintage form during Sunday night's 41-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Patrick Mahomes had his best game of the season, throwing for 406 yards and five touchdowns. He spread the ball around and one of his favorite targets was running back Darrel Williams. So what does this mean for Williams' fantasy prospects?

Williams ran the ball 11 times for 43 yards, but it was in the passing game where he impressed the most. The fourth-year running back caught all nine of his targets for 101 yards and a sensational 38-yard touchdown reception.

Williams trailed only Kansas City stars Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, who were both targeted 10 times in Sunday's victory. Williams' sure-handedness makes him a viable option in the Chiefs' passing game. He's been targeted four or more times in six games this season.

Williams began the year as the backup to second-year running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but he was inserted into the starting role when Edwards-Helaire was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Edwards-Helaire is nearing a return, but Williams' play could lead to a shared backfield situation instead of reverting back to his backup role.

Despite Williams' stellar play on Sunday, the Kansas City offense is not kind to its running backs. The touchdown reception was Williams' first time reaching the end zone since Oct. 17 against the Washington Football Team. Edwards-Helaire has not had more than three targets in any of his five games this season, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

The boom-or-bust nature of the Chiefs backfield makes it hard to depend on Williams as a top fantasy option. He should be viewed as a high-end flex option with RB2 potential until Edwards-Helaire returns. Once that happens, Williams' fantasy outlook will take a major hit. Fantasy owners should continue to ride the Williams wave for as long as it lasts.

Patrick Mahomes Throws 5 TDs as Chiefs Blow Out Derek Carr, Raiders in AFC West Clash

Nov 15, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Don't look now, but the Kansas City Chiefs are rounding into form.

Kansas City extended its winning streak to three with a 41-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Sunday's AFC West showdown at Allegiant Stadium. Patrick Mahomes, Darrel Williams and Tyreek Hill led the way for the visitors, who improved to 6-4 and picked up a key divisional win as both sides battle with the 5-4 Los Angeles Chargers and 5-5 Denver Broncos for positioning.

Derek Carr threw two touchdowns in the losing effort for the Raiders, who dropped to 5-4 with a second consecutive defeat.

Notable Player Stats

  • Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC: 35-of-50 passing for 406 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs
  • Darrel Williams, RB, KC: 11 carries for 43 yards; 9 catches for 101 yards, 1 TD
  • Tyreek Hill, WR, KC: 7 catches for 83 yards, 2 TDs
  • Travis Kelce, TE, KC: 8 catches for 119 yards
  • Derek Carr, QB, LV: 25-of-35 passing for 261 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
  • Bryan Edwards, WR, LV: 3 catches for 88 yards, 1 TD

Kansas City's Offense Returns to Form

One of the biggest storylines of the entire NFL season has been Kansas City's inability to live up to its Super Bowl potential, especially on offense.

That meant Mahomes and Co. were once again under the spotlight after averaging 12 points per game in their last three contests, and they were up to the challenge out of the gates. Mahomes found Hill for two short touchdowns in the first half and established an immediate rapport with Travis Kelce as the tight end found openings in the middle of the field.

Kansas City scored on three straight first-half possessions after opening with a punt to take a 17-7 lead, but self-inflicted mistakes prevented it from putting the game away early.

Mike Hughes fumbled the ball back to Las Vegas on a punt return that would have set the visitors up with favorable field position, and Harrison Butker missed a field goal to end the half after Mahomes drove them into scoring position with an impressive two-minute drill.

There would be no missed opportunities in the second half.

Mahomes froze the defense with a play-action on a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line before finding Noah Gray over the middle for a touchdown. Even when he made a rare mistake by missing a wide-open Hill streaking down the sideline for a potential third touchdown, he got another chance after a successful fake punt and scrambled out of pressure before finding Williams for a jump-ball touchdown.

No. 15 was in full control by taking what the defense gave him with short and intermediate throws for long stretches until the deep ball opened up late. If the Williams touchdown didn't end the game, his fourth-quarter dime to Byron Pringle did as the offense resembled the unstoppable force so many expected to see this season.

Slow Start, Turnovers Doom Raiders in Blowout Loss

Two steps forward and one step back has been the theme of the Raiders' season on the field with a three-game winning streak out of the gates that was followed by a two-game losing streak, a two-game winning streak and an ugly loss to the New York Giants.

Sunday's step back started early when the offense managed just seven points in the first half.

Those points came after a special teams turnover kept the Kansas City defense on the field, and Carr took advantage with a long connection to Bryan Edwards to help set up an eventual touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow.

Other than the one strike to Renfrow, Las Vegas was completely overmatched in the first half. Its rushing attack was nonexistent, and Carr failed to match Mahomes, as the three-time Pro Bowler picked the Raiders secondary apart with throws up the seam, dump-offs to Williams and touchdowns to Hill.

It looked as if Carr would turn things around in the second half when he hit Zay Jones for a long gain and found Edwards up the middle for a touchdown to get right back into the game.

He continued to roll with a deep ball to DeSean Jackson, but the new Raider lost a fumble while trying to extend the play, killing all the momentum the offense built. Carr then inexplicably threw a ball up for grabs like a Hail Mary near the end of the third quarter, which was intercepted by Daniel Sorensen.

Las Vegas can ill-afford mistakes like that against any team, let alone a daunting Chiefs offense that was finally dialed in throughout the game. Sunday turned into a blowout on just a couple of mistakes, and the Raiders find themselves looking up at their division rivals after a second straight loss.                

What's Next?

Both teams are home in Week 11. The Chiefs will play the Dallas Cowboys and the Raiders will face the Cincinnati Bengals.

Patrick Mahomes Won't Change Style Despite Chiefs' Struggles: 'I'm Gonna Take Shots'

Nov 11, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes doesn't plan to change his style of play despite his struggles this season.

"I mean, I’m gonna take shots," Mahomes said, per Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star. "The last few years I’ve take those shots, and they’ve worked. I’ve taken those shots, and they haven’t worked (as well this season), and we’ve still been able to find ways to score points.

"Whenever I've got a guy with a chance to make a play downfield, I'm going to give him a chance to make a play."

Mahomes made a habit of making miraculous downfield plays over the past three years, leading to three Pro Bowl selections, the 2018 league MVP award, a Super Bowl title and a Super Bowl MVP. He hasn't been as successful this season as the Chiefs sit 5-4 with an offense that ranks just 15th in the NFL in points per game.

Kansas City hadn't finished lower than sixth in points scored in any of Mahomes first three years as a starter.

The 26-year-old has also failed to hold on to the football, throwing 10 interceptions through nine games to sit just one short of NFL leaders Sam Darnold and Joe Burrow. Mahomes had just 11 interceptions in the last two seasons combined. 

There also hasn't been as much of a connection with Tyreek Hill when it comes to the deep plays that have been their bread and butter in the past few years.

Hill is averaging just 11.4 yards per reception this season after averaging 14.7 yards per catch last year and 15.6 over the past three years combined. The first-team All-Pro wideout has just seven catches of more than 20 yards all season, tied for 30th in the NFL. 

Mahomes still thinks the Chiefs have to keep attempting deep passes. 

Taking those shots during the game, even if they’re not connecting, it kind of puts a little bit of a fear into the defense to know they can’t start coming up; they can’t start jumping some of our routes.

So obviously it’s going to be nice when we complete one of these. We haven't completed one in a couple weeks here. But either way, taking those shots and having those opportunities at the right time and the right place will continue to open up the offense more and more.

It's clear the team will stick with its game plan even after being held to just 12 points per game over the last three weeks.    

Chiefs' Clyde Edwards-Helaire Designated to Return from IR After Knee Injury

Nov 10, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 03: Clyde Edwards-Helaire #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 03: Clyde Edwards-Helaire #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been designated to return from injured reserve.

The 2020 first-round pick has been out since suffering a sprained MCL in Week 5.

Edwards-Helaire practiced Wednesday, giving him three weeks to return to the active roster.

Head coach Andy Reid was noncommittal Monday about a timeline for the running back's return but said he was making progress.

"These next two weeks will be important for him," Reid said.

The Chiefs face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11 before going on bye in Week 12.

Edwards-Helaire had been playing at a high level, reaching 100 rushing yards in back-to-back games in Week 3 and 4. In five games, he has 304 rushing yards on 4.7 yards per carry, adding 61 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Darrel Williams has become the lead back with the starter unavailable, totaling 300 rushing yards with four touchdowns across nine games. Derrick Gore has also earned playing time in recent games.

The Chiefs could use an offensive boost after averaging 12 points per game over the last three weeks. The 5-4 squad ranks 15th in points scored per game after finishing sixth in the category last season.   

Odell Beckham Jr. Rumors: Packers, Chiefs, Saints Finalists for Free-Agent WR

Nov 10, 2021
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 31: Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 31: Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

The Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints have reportedly emerged as the front-runners for free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Wednesday that Beckham, who cleared waivers Tuesday following his release by the Cleveland Browns, is "honing in" on those three teams and could make his decision by day's end.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection fell out of favor within the Browns offense in 2021. He recorded just 17 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns across six appearances. His final game with Cleveland resulted in a single catch for six yards in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His lack of involvement led him to request a trade, something Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported he'd done "multiple times" since the offseason, but no deal was found ahead of last week's trade deadline.

The Browns subsequently excused Beckham from practice and ultimately released him, a move general manager Andrew Berry said was in the "best interest of all parties involved."

As the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year closes in on finding a new home, the question is what type of player he'll be moving forward.

Beckham was a dominant force across his first three NFL seasons with the New York Giants. He caught 35 touchdowns in 43 games between 2014 and 2016 while averaging 1,374 yards per season.

The LSU product had his 2017 campaign cut short by a fractured ankle, and he's caught just 13 touchdowns in 41 appearances since the start of 2018.

At 29, it's possible Beckham is past his physical peak, but he's also less than two years removed from a solid 2019 season in which he tallied 74 catches for 1,035 yards.

The Saints make the most sense among the three apparent finalists if the wideout is looking for a high-volume role. New Orleans' top target, Michael Thomas, recently announced he'll miss the entire year with an ankle injury and nobody has stepped up to fully fill that void.

Beckham would face more competition for targets in Green Bay and Kansas City, where he'd be a No. 2 option at best behind Davante Adams or Tyreek Hill, respectively. Going to the Packers or Chiefs would increase his chances of winning a Super Bowl title, though.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Beat Jordan Love, Packers with Aaron Rodgers Out for GB

Nov 8, 2021
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, left, is pulled down by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, left, is pulled down by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Well, that wasn't the first start Jordan Love would have drawn up for himself.

The second-year quarterback struggled in relief of Aaron Rodgers as the Green Bay Packers lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, 13-7.

Rodgers, unavailable after testing positive for COVID-19 this week and forced to be away from the team for at least 10 days as an unvaccinated player, had led the Packers (7-2) to seven straight wins after an opening loss. But the team's offense struggled without him, managing a mere seven points.

Not encouraging numbers, especially against a Kansas City defense that came into the game 29th in yards allowed per game (391.5) and tied for 27th in points given up per contest (27.5). And just when it looked like Love and the Packers were putting together a solid drive in the second half, a poor decision from the young quarterback killed the momentum.

Love recovered on the next drive, throwing for a touchdown on a crucial 4th-and-5 conversion.

But it was too little, too late.

It wasn't exactly smooth sailing for Mahomes on the other side of the ball, as the Chiefs continued to look less like the team that reached the Super Bowl two seasons in a row and more like the disjointed unit that, at 5-4, currently isn't even a lock to make the postseason. 

Still, it was a vintage Mahomes throw that sealed the win:

The Chiefs will take the win, ugly or not. The Packers, meanwhile, will hope that Rodgers is only forced out of action for one game.

Key Stats

Patrick Mahomes, KC: 20-of-37 for 166 yards and a score

Travis Kelce, KC: Five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown

Tyreek Hill, KC: Four catches for 37 yards

Jordan Love, GB: 19-of-34 for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Davante Adams, GB: Six catches for 42 yards

Aaron Jones, GB: 12 rushes for 53 yards

Love Didn't Look Like the Heir Apparent

Love's teammates didn't do him many favors Sunday. Mason Crosby missed a field goal and had another blocked. Malik Taylor had a punt bounce on his foot, leading to a turnover. The defense didn't force any takeaways against a Kansas City offense that has been handing them out like candy on Halloween. Untimely penalties killed momentum.

It was rough all around.

But still...bad is bad. And Love was downright bad Sunday.

https://twitter.com/AndyGlockner/status/1457480822282358789

The only blessing for Love was that his mother and girlfriend, on hand to watch him make his debut, were probably too far away from the action to see any of his struggles:

Love had some positive moments, no doubt. But all in all, it wasn't good enough to get Green Bay the win. And now the question for the Packers is whether it will be good enough in a post-Rodgers future.

What Is Going on with Mahomes and KC's Offense?

Another week, another surprisingly meh performance from Mahomes and the Chiefs offense.

Drops. Mahomes struggling with accuracy and missing open receivers. A failure to punish teams vertically. The Chiefs, once a big-play machine, have become almost plodding on offense. It's borderline confusing.

https://twitter.com/IanKenyonNFL/status/1457500109449596937

Yes, Green Bay has a solid defense. Yes, a win's a win. But this could have easily been a blowout for the Chiefs, given Love's struggles, and it wasn't. The Chiefs offense continues to be littered with red flags, and this performance didn't change that.

What's Next?

Kansas City travels to Las Vegas for a crucial AFC West showdown with the Raiders on Nov. 14 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. The Packers, meanwhile, host the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.

Melvin Ingram Traded from Steelers to Chiefs in Exchange for 6th-Round Pick

Nov 2, 2021
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Melvin Ingram #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 26, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Melvin Ingram #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 26, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced they've traded outside linebacker Melvin Ingram III to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round draft pick ahead of Tuesday's 2021 NFL trade deadline.

Ingram had confirmed his impending move to CBS Sports' Josina Anderson. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network provided further details about the deal:

The 32-year-old edge-rusher signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Pittsburgh in July. He ended up making just six appearances for the organization.

Ingram was previously one of the NFL's most consistent pass-rushers. He recorded 43 sacks in the five-year span from 2015 through 2019 with the Los Angeles Chargers, including at least seven sacks in each season. He earned three straight Pro Bowl selections during that stretch (2017-19).

The University of South Carolina product failed to record any sacks across seven games for the Bolts last season amid two stints on injured reserve because of a knee injury, though.

Although there were some sporadic promising signs during his short stay in Pittsburgh, he still didn't look like the game-changing player he was for L.A. He tallied 10 total tackles, one sack and one pass defended for the Steelers.

Ingram played just 26 percent of the team's defensive snaps in a Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks and, coming out of the team's Week 7 bye, missed Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns with a groin injury.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said the linebacker's absence from Friday's practice was because of the injury, not the rumored discontent with his diminishing role.

"I've had some conversations with Melvin, but I will leave those between he and I," Tomlin told reporters. "The reason he didn't work today is because of his groin."

Now Ingram will attempt to provide a boost to a Chiefs pass rush that's been one of the reasons for the team's sluggish start to the 2021 campaign. They've recorded just 11 sacks through eight games, which is the lowest rate in the league.

Kansas City, which reached the Super Bowl the past two seasons, owns a 4-4 record and is on the outside looking in at the AFC playoff picture, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the front office make another move or two before the deadline seeking a spark.

Next up for the Chiefs is a marquee clash with the Green Bay Packers (7-1) on Sunday. It's unclear whether Ingram will be ready to return from his groin injury for that contest.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Escape Giants, but Serious Flaws Impossible to Ignore

Nov 2, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is slow to get up after throwing under pressure from New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is slow to get up after throwing under pressure from New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Kansas City Chiefs and their fans will have to spend much of this abbreviated week reminding themselves that Monday night's matchup with the New York Giants indeed resulted in a win rather than a loss. 

That's how poorly the Chiefs performed against an inferior opponent in a critical prime-time home game. "A win's a win" hardly holds up for a team in disarray. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks uncomfortable and pedestrian, his pass protection continues to be a problem, standout tight end Travis Kelce hasn't been right at all, and one of the worst defenses in football isn't helping matters. 

That unit, which ranked 31st in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) at Football Outsiders entering Week 8, wasn't even the problem Monday night. Mahomes couldn't complete anything down the field as the offense committed multiple turnovers for a fourth consecutive game (tied for the longest streak in the league this season, according to ESPN).

Mahomes was intercepted for the seventh game in a row, he was lucky not to be picked off on a throw that hit a Giants defender in the hands, he had another interception negated by a Giants penalty, and he fumbled on a critical third-down play in the fourth quarter (the Chiefs recovered). 

He averaged just 5.2 yards per target on the ridiculous 18 throws he tossed Tyreek Hill's way, and he averaged fewer than 6.0 yards per attempt for the third time in his last four games. He was 0-for-6 on passes that traveled at least 15 yards down field, with his longest completion of the night coming on a toss to Mecole Hardman behind the line of scrimmage. 

"You just want to be executing at a higher level," Mahomes told ESPN after the game. "If we want to be who we want to be, we have to execute better for a full game." 

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 01: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a penalty is called during the second half against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium on November 01, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squi
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 01: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a penalty is called during the second half against the New York Giants at Arrowhead Stadium on November 01, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squi

But at some point, you have to wonder if that'll happen again this season. Or if it'll be too late when it finally does. The Chiefs remain alive thanks to this 20-17 win, but it was a borderline pyrrhic victory because the mistake-prone Giants let Kansas City off the hook with three killer fourth-quarter penalties. 

Few NFL teams would be as forgiving, and literally none except possibly the Denver Broncos exist on Kansas City's remaining schedule. They're in contention at 4-4, but their sked is the most challenging in the league from here on out, according to ESPN. The 7-1 Green Bay Packers are coming to town next, and then the Chiefs are in Las Vegas to face an AFC West-leading Raiders team that beat Kansas City at Arrowhead last season. 

They could easily find themselves three or four games out of first place when they play the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys ahead of their Week 12 bye. 

Yes, 4-4 starts happen. Even to great teams. On paper, the Chiefs are a great team. And they have the talent and experience to go on an absolute tear in November, December, January, maybe even February. I'm not counting them out and neither should you. Not yet.

But what's wild is the Chiefs are lucky to be 4-4. The Giants outplayed them, but they were bailed out Monday by a phantom facemask penalty, an offside penalty that wiped out a Giants pick and a brutal taunting penalty in the fourth quarter. 

They also easily could have lost to the Cleveland Browns at Arrowhead in Week 1, and they still have a negative scoring margin (minus-12) despite Monday's victory. 

The Chiefs hit a rut around this time in 2019, but Mahomes wasn't healthy and we figured they'd bounce back as soon as that changed (they did). They ran into a wall late in 2020, mainly because the offensive line was in shambles. Those were easy diagnoses. 

But this? The root causes are plentiful, which is why it's fair to panic entering the second half of the season. The quarterback isn't himself. His new-look line hasn't put it together yet. His weapons aren't coming through. His defense is a liability. The upcoming schedule is terrifying and the division is stronger than it's been in years with the Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers both emerging this season. 

At the very least, it's now or never for the 2021 Chiefs. 

     

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.

Derrick Gore, Darrel Williams' Updated Fantasy Outlook After Chiefs' Win Over Giants

Nov 2, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs running back Derrick Gore scores on a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Derrick Gore scores on a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs running backs Derrick Gore and Darrel Williams both played key roles in Monday's 20-17 win over the New York Giants. So how should fantasy football managers approach the Chiefs' ever-evolving backfield?

Gore's play was particularly eye-opening as he wasn't in a backup role and instead shared lead-back duties with the veteran Williams. Gore had 11 carries for 48 yards, while Williams had 13 for 49 yards. Gore scored Kansas City's lone rushing touchdown Monday night.

The Chiefs (4-4) may have uncovered a hidden gem in Gore. He did a great job bouncing runs to the outside and getting around the edge. Kansas City likely would've had an easier time against the Giants if they didn't get away from the run game in the second half and fed Gore more.

Gore's play came as a shock and likely frustrated fantasy managers who expected Williams to continue to be Kansas City's lead back in the absence of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Gore entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and bounced around practice squads before landing in Kansas City. He made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, recording one catch for seven yards.

Williams still managed to contribute in Kansas City's passing attack Monday, recording six catches for 61 yards. But after his breakout two-touchdown performance in Week 6 against the Washington Football Team, he has come crashing down to earth. He ran the ball just five times for 20 yards against the Titans and added three catches for 30 yards.

Gore's play Monday should be viewed more as an anomaly than a trend. Kansas City just does not do a good job of featuring its running backs in its offense.

Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes remains the team's focal point, and that is unlikely to change as the Chiefs try to claw their way back from a 3-4 start to the season. Mahomes threw the ball 48 times Monday compared to 27 rushing attempts for Kansas City.

Williams has already shown that he's a boom-or-bust fantasy option. Fantasy managers in desperate need of help at running back can take a flier on Gore, but he will be a risky play each week in Kansas City's pass-heavy offense.

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