Cover / Artwork » The Kansas City Chiefs went into their regular-season

KANSAS CITY David Montgomery Jersey , Mo. (AP) — finale with a lot riding on the outcome.Beat the Raiders and they would have their third consecutive AFC West championship and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, not to mention home-field advantage throughout. Lose to their longtime division rivals and risk falling to the No. 5 seed as a wild-card team with a much more difficult road to Atlanta.But the biggest takeaway from the Chiefs’ victory over Oakland last Sunday was this: That top seed in the AFC means a first-round bye, and a much-needed opportunity to get some big stars healthy.Star safety Eric Berry had a recurrence last week of the heel pain that kept him out most of the season, sidelining him against the Raiders. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins remained out with a foot injury, running back Spencer Ware was sidelined by a hamstring problem, right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif spent his first week on the practice field after a broken leg landed him on injured reserve.With a week off, there’s a chance all of them could be ready for the playoffs.“We will have to see throughout the next week here just exactly how that goes,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said this week. “Let’s just see how it plays out and how the guys do. I’m sure some of them will be through the following week, too, as far as the game week goes. We will just have to see how it all goes.”Berry missed all of last season after tearing his Achilles’ tendon, then had his heel act up early in training camp. He didn’t hit the practice field until midway through the season http://www.bearsfootballauthentics.com/riley-ridley-jersey-authentic , and didn’t make his debut until Week 15, when the Chiefs lost to the Chargers in a game he played about a half.He played more the following week against the Seahawks, slowly ramping up his activity level, and was starting to resemble the three-time All-Pro of old when he experienced a setback in practice.Now, Berry may be the biggest wild card for the Chiefs heading into the playoffs.On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs have continued to score at a record pace despite losing a series of crucial players. Watkins hasn’t played a full game since getting hurt in early November, Ware has been slowed the last few weeks and Duvernay-Tardif has been on IR since Week 5.The Chiefs are confident Ware will be able to go, an important piece ever since they swiftly cut ties with Kareem Hunt following a series of off-field issues midway through the season. Damien Williams played so well in relief that he earned a contract extension last week, but journeyman Darrel Williams and longtime backup Charcandrick West are the only other running backs on the roster.In other words, getting Ware back provides not only another playmaker but adds some needed depth.Watkins was starting to show why the Chiefs signed him to a $36 million, three-year contract this past offseason when his foot injury occurred. The Chiefs have used a rotation of players to cover for him Shareef Miller Jersey , and there was enough concern about his returning that they signed Kelvin Benjamin to help.Demarcus Robinson has been perhaps the biggest bright spot since Watkins has been out, but the Chiefs getting their No. 2 wide receiver back for the playoffs would only help the league’s highest-scoring offense.It would also take some of the pressure off wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce.As for Duvernay-Tardif, the Chiefs have shuffled offensive linemen throughout the season as injuries have piled up, even signing former starter Jeff Allen to provide some help. But they’re finally healthy across the board, and that means Duvernay-Tardif can take his time working back up to speed.He had a three-week window after coming off IR before the Chiefs must decide whether to active him, and adding one of the league’s best run blockers back to the mix would be a welcome addition.“He has another couple weeks of flexibility with that. He went through practice last week. We will keep him coming on that,” Reid said. “There are certain things he can do well and other things that he still is working through. We will see how that goes.”As the top-seeded Chiefs spend this week getting healthy, they also will begin preparations for their divisional opponent. They’ll face the lowest remaining seed among the Colts, Ravens or Chargers, and the only team they haven’t faced this season is Indianapolis.They beat the Ravens and split with the Chargers, each team winning on the road.“I always feel like there is a bulls-eye every week http://www.eaglesfootballauthentics.com/zach-brown-jersey-authentic ,” Reid said, “and that’s OK. That’s the way you want it. We’ve earned the right to be in this position and it’s important you handle it the right way. I know I have a good locker room and they’ll handle it right and the coaches will handle it the right way.” A look at some key fantasy football questions for Week 14:WHICH UNDER-THE-RADAR PLAYERS HAVE THE BEST CHANCES FOR BIG GAMES THIS WEEK?Week 14 typically marks the start of the fantasy football playoffs. If at all possible don’t take too many chances when constructing your lineup this week. Digging for players isn’t a great spot to be in this late in the season.Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had a tough time against a good Texans defense last week, however he faces a Panthers defense that’s allowed the third most passing TDs and sixth most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks.With 35 carries, 4.26 yards per carry (YPC) and two TDs in his last two games, LeGarrette Blount has filled in admirably for Lions RB Kerryon Johnson, who looks to be out again this week. He takes on the Cardinals, who give up an average of 141 rushing yards per game (YPG).Bills WR Zay Jones caught eight passes for 93 yards and scored a TD the first time he faced the Jets in Week 10. The Jets have allowed the fourth highest FPPG to wideouts.There’s not much out there as far as fantasy TEs are concerned, however Steelers TE Vance McDonald has a favorable matchup against the Raiders, who’ve allowed the most TDs to the position.IS LAMAR JACKSON A GOOD START IN A FAVORABLE MATCHUP AGAINST THE CHIEFS?Jackson has won all three of his games as the Ravens starting QB and has been a serviceable fantasy producer. A good portion of Jackson’s fantasy points have come as the result of his 88 rushing yards per game. The Chiefs give up the fifth most FPPG to the QB position, however they’ve given up the fewest rushing yards to fantasy QBs on the season (95). If you have a better option, consider using it.WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED FROM STEELERS BACKUP RB JAYLEN SAMUELS WITH JAMES CONNER OUT?Steelers RBs have an excellent matchup against the Raiders http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-isaiah-johnson-jersey , who give up the second-most rushing YPG (153). While Jaylen Samuels is expected to start, he was a TE in college and has never had more than 12 carries in a game. Will he have the stamina to carry the ball 20 times and how many carries will Stevan Ridley vulture away? It’s possible Samuels and Ridley could split carries. Coth could have fantasy value this week based on the matchup, but there might be a low ceiling on production.SPENCER WARE CARRIED THE BALL 14 TIMES IN WEEK 13. WILL WE SEE AN UPTICK IN HIS ACTIVITY?Ware’s 14 carries came as a result of a 69 percent snap rate. Ware has been hurt and didn’t have that many carries since Dec. 25, 2016. It may take at least another game or two before he is able to handle a full workload. Chiefs coach Andy Reid has suggested he might use a committee approach including Damien Williams (27 percent Week 13 snap rate) and Darrel Williams (4 percent snap rate). Ware should continue to get the majority of work out of the Chiefs backfield but Damien Williams will have a role this week as well. Sharing carries and facing a tough Ravens run defense (third fewest FPPG to RBs), could make Ware another RB with a low fantasy ceiling. Williams doesn’t have enough upside to have stand-alone fantasy value but as Ware’s primary backup he deserves to be rostered as his handcuff.WHICH RUNNING BACK IS THE SAFER START THIS WEEK, JUSTIN JACKSON OR JEFFREY WILSON?Jackson made the most of his limited snaps and carries (22 percent, eight) in Week 13. With Chargers RB Austin Ekeler’s 2.52 YPC in the two games he’s replaced Melvin Gordon, Jackson could see more playing time against the Bengals, who give up the most FPPG to RBs.Although he had a productive final two seasons at North Texas (30 TDs and a 6.02 YPC), Wilson came out of nowhere in Week 13 and had a big game as oft-injured 49ers RB Matt Breida was forced to the sidelines yet again. He rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries (4.07 YPC) and also added eight catches for 73 yards.Both have the opportunity to produce in Week 14 but Wilson is likely to have more guaranteed volume. Jackson has more upside potential this week, but in terms of playing time Devin Bush Jersey , Wilson is the safer start.WHO CAN REPLACE INJURED EMMANUEL SANDERS IN FANTASY LINEUPS?Courtland Sutton had four catches for 85 yards and added a TD in Week 13 for the Broncos.With Marquise Goodwin missing the past two games and Pierre Garcon missing the past three, Dante Pettis has had 13 catches and three TDs in the past three weeks for the 49ers.Panthers WR Curtis Samuel has three TDs in his last five games. Devin Funchess was limited in Week 13 due to a back injury. If he continues to be limited, Samuel will again be heavily utilized in Week 14.There’s not much to love in the Cardinals passing game, but with rookie WR Christian Kirk placed on injured reserve, Larry Fitzgerald’s targets should see an uptick.