Navigating the Showdown Slate on DraftKings: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills

Flex Plays

James Cook ($8,200)

James Cook has taken over the backfield in Buffalo.  Cook saw 22 total touches last week (four of them through the air).  When the Bills defeated this Chiefs team in Week 14, Cook totaled 25.1 DraftKings points on 58 rushing yards and an impressive 83 receiving yards on five catches and a score.  

Isiah Pacheco ($10,400): 

The third-most expensive player on the slate saw a season-high in carries as the Chiefs took care of business against the Miami Dolphins.  The weather could have been a significant reason why the Chiefs let Pacheco carry the rock, but he has been a driving force in this offense with Rice over the past month, including a dominant game in Week 17 against the Bengals, scoring 32.5 DraftKings points.  Since Week 12, Pacheco has scored a touchdown in every single game.  While his price might be hefty, Pacheco should be considered a surefire to get in the endzone again.

Khalil Shakir ($5,400): 

Shakir will be a target of mine, especially if Gabe Davis were to miss this game.  With Gabe Davis injured, Shakir ran 29 routes (clear second on the team for WR), as per Adam Levitan on Twitter.  Shakir is a high-upside player who can find a path to being in the top 3 in targets on Buffalo if the game script can go his way.  Keep an eye on the injury report for Davis as the week goes on.

Dawson Knox ($3,400)

Knox is a dart throw that I would consider in your lineups.  Knox has been productive in the playoffs, especially in finding the endzone.  Knox caught two scores in the 2021 Playoffs (in two games) and one score in the 2022 Playoffs (in two games) and found the endzone again last week.  Knox is a favorite of Allen’s in the red zone if he chooses to throw it.

Marquez Valdez-Scantling ($2,700), Mecole Hardman ($1,800)

Every Kansas City pass-catcher not named Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce has not been fantasy-relevant this season.  Justin Watson, the number two option on paper, is priced way too high for me at $6,600 for someone who has not been consistent.

Watson might see one or two more targets, but that does not justify the difference in cost.  If I were to stack my lineup with three expensive options, I would have to select one of these two.

While both might only catch one pass each, Hardman does run routes downfield, which provides upside on a single-game slate.  However, even last week, he had multiple opportunities to make a big play and disappointed.  If you choose a more balanced approach, you will have the opportunity to avoid these two players.

Travis Kelce ($7,800)

Kelce has not been his usual self during the regular season's final month but saw an optimistic ten targets last week against Miami.  He also caught seven passes, which he has not done since Week 11.  If this game opens up, which history has shown us it very well might, Mahomes will lean on Kelce and Rice heavily.