Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was again the leader of a 3-man backfield in the Week 2 win over the Chargers. He turned 8 carries into 74 yards, highlighted by a career-long 52-yarder in the 4th quarter. CEH added 4 catches on 4 targets for 44 yards. RBs Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco combined for just 6 carries and 2 targets. It's worth noting, though, that McKinnon out-snapped Edwards-Helaire 27 to 25 and matched him with 14 pass routes. (Pacheco played just 5 snaps and ran 2 routes.) CEH has looked good and been efficient through 2 games, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, 10.9 yards per catch and scoring 2 TDs. But he's totaled just 15 carries and 7 targets. He still looks like a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 going forward.

Giants WR Kadarius Toney was added to Thursday's injury report as limited with a hamstring. That usually means the player was hurt in practice. We'll get another update on Toney's status tomorrow, but he shouldn't be in your Week 2 fantasy plans after playing just 7 snaps in the opener.

The Chiefs have ruled K Harrison Butker (left ankle) out for Thursday night's game against the Chargers. Matt Amendola is expected to kick in his absence, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Chiefs K Harrison Butker (ankle) missed his 2nd straight practice on Tuesday. He was able to battle through this injury in the opener, but Butker shouldn't be considered a lock to play vs. the Chargers on Thursday night. We'll update his status again tomorrow.

Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire caught a pair of TD passes in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, scoring from 3 and 4 yards out in the 1st half. CEH handled just 7 carries for the game, but 6 of those came among just 10 RB rushing attempts for the team in the 1st half. Kansas City limited his playing time after the break in a one-sided affair. For the game, Jerick McKinnon matched Edwards-Helaire's snaps and pass routes, according to Pro Football Focus, while rookie Isiah Pacheco led the team in carries. But limiting CEH's 2nd-half exposure only supports his position as backfield leader. It was an undeniably positive start for CEH, who commonly went toward the middle of fantasy football drafts.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce edged WR JuJu Smith-Schuster for the Week 1 target lead, 9-8, with WR Mecole Hardman checking in 3rd (with 6). It was WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, though, playing more snaps than any offensive skill player besides Patrick Mahomes. MVS edged Smith-Schuster by 1 route and Kielce by 2, according to Pro Football Focus. Hardman checked in 4th in that category, with the rest of the team far behind. Valdes-Scantling might well remain behind Kelce and Smith-Schuster in target distribution. But his 5.5-yard Week 1 average depth of target suggests he won't merely be the downfield player he was in Green Bay. (MVS' ADOTs with the Packers went 13.8, 16.6, 18.2, 18.2.) Keep MVS in mind more than you would most WRs who open the year with 4 targets and 2 other significant receiving threats in the lineup.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes delivered 360 yards and 5 TDs on 30-of-39 passing in Sunday's laugher at Arizona. Mahomes largely spread targets around, dealing 9 to TE Travis Kielce, 8 to WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, 6 to WR Mecole Hardman -- with 3 other guys drawing at least 3. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire snagged 2 of the TD throws, with 1 apiece going to Kielce, Hardman and TE Joe Fortson. It was a soft Cardinals defense, but Mahomes let fantasy football players know we need not worry too much about life after Tyreek Hill.

Vikings TE Irv Smith played just 31% of the offensive snaps and ran a route on 45% of pass plays in Sunday's opener vs. the Packers. He finished catch-less on 2 targets. Smith wasn't listed on the Week 1 injury report, but we're assuming he was limited because he missed 3 weeks in August after thumb surgery. Smith's role figures to grow -- and he's worth keeping on fantasy rosters. But he can't be trusted in fantasy lineups until we see the route rate climb.

WR Kadarius Toney barely got onto the field in Sunday's win over the Titans. He played just 12% of the offensive snaps and ran a route on just 10% of dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. That's terrible usage for a guy who seemed to have a shot at serving as the Giants' #1 wideout. Little else went right for the passing game to push Toney aside. RB Saquon Barkley led the team in targets and catches. Richie James served as the top-producing wideout, with 5 catches for 59 yards among 6 targets. Sterling Shepard led the team with 71 receiving yards, thanks mostly to a 65-yard TD. Kenny Golladay garnered just 2 targets, and rookie WR Wan'Dale Robinson left with a knee injury.

Chiefs K Harrison Butker was injured on the opening kickoff of today's game vs. the Cardinals. He had to be carted to the locker room and figures to be done for the day. S Justin Reid is handling kicking duties now.

Update: Butker was able to return and nail a 54-yard FG.

Chargers LB Drue Tranquill (back) is active for today's game against the Raiders. He remains a low-end IDP option, though.

The Chargers list LB Drue Tranquill as questionable for Sunday's game against the Raiders. He turned up on the injury report after hurting his back Friday, which doesn't bode well for his outlook in the opener. Tranquill is listed as a ILB starter on the team's "unofficial" depth chart, next to Kyle Van Noy. His absence would leave room for either Kenneth Murray or Troy Reeder, but we wouldn't plan on using either in Week 1 IDP lineups.

Vikings TE Irv Smith is not listed on the Week 1 injury report. He missed about 3 weeks in August after undergoing thumb surgery but has been practicing for about 2-and-a-half weeks now. He'll be out there for Sunday's opener vs. the Packers.

Giants WR Kadarius Toney is not listed on the Week 1 injury report. The mercurial WR missed a bunch of time in August with lower-body injuries but is ready to go for Sunday's opener vs. the Titans.

Giants beat writer Dan Duggan tweeted Wednesday that WR Kadarius Toney “looks 100%” in practice. Of course, the challenge is for Toney to stay that way going forward. The 2nd-year man remains a highly volatile fantasy asset.

Giants HC Brian Daboll said Monday that he's "hopeful" WR Kadarius Toney will be available for the season opener. Toney has missed a bunch of time this month with knee/hamstring trouble. “I think he’s getting close," Daboll said. We'll keep a close eye on Toney's health over the next couple of weeks. He remains a risk/reward fantasy pick.

Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie sustained a concussion in Thursday night's preseason finale vs. Green Bay. The rookie still has 2 weeks to make it through the league protocol before the regular-season opener. He's expected to start if ready.

Giants WR Kadarius Toney is “still banged up” with a right leg injury, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Toney reportedly grabbed the back of his leg during portions Wednesday's workout. Nagging injuries are nothing new for Toney, who appeared in only 10 games as a rookie. The upside remains enormous here, but the Florida product will be tough to trust as an early-season WR3 or flex.

Discussing the Chiefs' backfield, ESPN's Adam Teicher writes, "one thing is clear: [Clyde] Edwards-Helaire is atop the depth chart." That's been the feeling out of Chiefs camp and in the preseason, with Edwards-Helaire starting both games. But Teicher adds that, "It certainly seems as if [Jerick] McKinnon and [Isaiah] Pacheco can carve out significant roles, McKinnon as a third-down back and Pacheco more generally." Based on preseason usage, it looks like McKinnon will open the season as the primary pass-catching back. That'd obviously hurt Edwards-Helaire's upside -- although he can still pay off his 6th- or 7th-round price tag.

Vikings TE Irv Smith practiced Monday for the 1st time since thumb surgery 3 weeks ago. That aligns with previous reports that he was on track to be ready for Week 1. Smith has remained high in TE2 territory in our fantasy football rankings.