5 Fantasy Must-Starts In Oakland, Kansas City Game
The Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders will face off on Sunday for the first time this season and it could be a big fantasy day for some of the players on each team.
Oakland has a lot to play for as a win could mean sole possession of first place in the AFC West. For the Chiefs, they are trying to bounce back after getting stomped on 14-43 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in week four.
Here are the five must start players in this week six divisional match-up:
1. Jamaal Charles - Kansas City Chiefs Running Back
In the last four games which Charles has faced the Oakland Raiders, he has averaged 130 total yards and two touchdowns per game.
He had one of the biggest games of his career during a 2013 game in Oakland. He totaled 215 yards and five touchdowns. To say he puts up big numbers against the Raiders is an understatement.
Because of his ACL tear last season, he hasn't faced this newly revamped Oakland defense, but the Raiders' D hasn't done much to stop the run this year.
Fantasy owners may be hesitant to start Charles because it will be just his second game back after tearing his ACL, but this is an ideal match-up for a big time return to the offensive game plan.
He the best running back to play in this divisional match up.
2. Michael Crabtree - Oakland Raiders Wide Receiver
As much as people love to talk about the AC/DC connection, Crabtree has been Derek Carr's favorite target over the past season and a half.
Crabtree has averaged 13 fantasy points per game in standard scoring leagues and hasn't had a game which he scored less than nine points.
Kansas City has a better pass defense than any team Oakland has seen so far this season, but without a healthy Latavius Murray, the Raiders should continue to sling the ball around the field.
Marcus Peters, the Chiefs number one cornerback, will most likely shadow Amari Cooper to keep Oakland away from a big play, but that could lead to a lot of targets for Crabtree.
Cooper has more star-power out of the two receivers, but Crabtree is the outright WR1 out of the duo in this week's game.
3. Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs Tight End
Alex Smith depends on Kelce a lot throughout a game. He is the biggest receiver and the primary redzone target for the Chiefs' offense.
Kelce has scored a touchdown in each of the last two games and has at least seven targets in every game this season.
The Raiders' defense has given up at least 20 points to opposing tight ends in two games this season which makes this a good match-up for Kelce.
The tight end position in fantasy football isn't one which is expected to score a lot of points, but Kelce will make fantasy owners very happy this week.
4. Jeremy Maclin - Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver
Maclin sees a high volume of targets each week. Those targets don't always add up to a lot of yards, but that's primarily because Kansas City doesn't take shots down the field.
The Oakland defense, however, gives up a lot of yardage through the air. Wide receivers are averaging 219 yards per game against the Raiders' cornerbacks.
Maclin had 149 yards and three touchdowns in the two games he played against Oakland last season. His success against the team shouldn't be any different this year.
Maclin has often been a WR1 since joining the Chiefs last season, but he will be against a shaky Raiders' defense in week six.
5. Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders Wide Receiver
Carr has been playing on a whole other level than he was last season. His play has not only led the Raiders to a 4-1 start to the season, but it has also made fantasy owners very happy.
Before the season started, most fantasy football owners and analysts wouldn't have considered him a top fantasy quarterback, but he has forced himself into that category.
In the first five games of the season, Carr has averaged 24.8 fantasy points per game in standard leagues.
He will be going up against a team with a very good pass rush, but the ball should be thrown around a lot when the Raiders have the ball.
The lack of a run game for the Raiders may result in Carr throwing the ball 40-45 times.
