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Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for the Chiefs vs. Raiders Black Friday game in Week 13 (2024). NFL matchups analysis and starts/sits.
For the second straight season, the NFL will have a game on Black Friday. This year's game will be between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs are big favorites in this game but are coming off a week in which they struggled against the Panthers. As for the Raiders, they have lost seven straight games and are looking for their first win since the end of September.
For fantasy purposes, this game will have plenty of solid starts. Fantasy managers will also get to see Isiah Pacheco play in his first game since Week 2. Pacheco has been out for over two months due to an ankle injury, but he will be healthy enough to suit up in Week 13.
So, here are the best starts and sits for Friday's game against the Chiefs and Raiders.
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Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs - 3:00 PM ET
Below are some notable injuries for this game. Be sure to also check out our updated NFL injuries report for constant updates:
- Isiah Pacheco (RB - KC) - Ankle - Expected To Play
- Alexander Mattison (RB - LV) - Ankle - Out
- Zamir White (RB - LV) - Quad - Out
Matchups We Love
QB Patrick Mahomes (KC)
Patrick Mahomes has been a much better fantasy option in recent weeks, scoring at least 17 fantasy points in four of the past five games. He now gets a great matchup against the Raiders in Week 13.
Las Vegas has given up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season while allowing a top-12 fantasy quarterback in three straight games. So, Mahomes is a strong QB1 play this week.
Len Dawson: 237 Pass TDs
Patrick Mahomes: 237 Pass TDsTony Gonzalez: 76 Rec TDs
Travis Kelce: 76 Rec TDsBoth Mahomes and Kelce could be breaking franchise records on #BlackFridayNFL 👀 pic.twitter.com/T86jGcZ022
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) November 27, 2024
TE Brock Bowers (LV)
Brock Bowers will continue to be a strong TE1 option in Week 13 against the Chiefs. Bowers has finished as a top-6 fantasy tight end in five of the past seven games, and his 26% target share ranks third amongst tight ends this season.
Given that Kansas City has also allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position, the rookie should be in all lineups on Friday.
TE Travis Kelce (KC)
Travis Kelce has been one of the best tight end options this season, and he'll remain a must-start at the position in Week 13 against the Raiders.
Las Vegas has given up the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season, and Kelce scored 25 PPR fantasy points against this secondary back in Week 8. Therefore, he is a top-3 play this week.
Matchups We Hate
QB Aidan O'Connell (LV)
With Gardner Minshew II out for the year due to a broken collarbone, Aidan O'Connell will make his third start of the year on Friday. However, he should only be an option in extremely deep Superflex leagues.
In his one full start this year, O'Connell scored only 12.1 fantasy points, and he now has to face a tough Chiefs secondary. Kansas City has allowed fewer than 17 fantasy points to the position in six of the past nine games.
Ameer Abdullah dominated the Raiders backfield last week, playing 90% of the team's offensive snaps and scoring 17.5 PPR fantasy points. However, Abdullah is a must-sit in Week 13 against the Chiefs. Kansas City has given up the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season.
Potential Starts For Fantasy Football Lineups
RB Isiah Pacheco (KC)
Pacheco will return in Week 13 after missing the last nine games due to an ankle injury. And fantasy football managers who drafted Pacheco will be thrilled to see this after a long wait.
While we don't know what type of workload he will see on Friday, it's safe to say he will likely split running back opportunities with Kareem Hunt in this game. As a result, he will be more of a flex play this week in his first game back.
RB Kareem Hunt (KC)
With Pacheco returning this week, Hunt will lose some fantasy value. Despite seeing at least 19 touches in six of the past seven games, that number is expected to drop starting in Week 13.
Still, Hunt could be a flex play this week against a Raiders defense that has allowed eight top-16 fantasy running backs finishes this season. The veteran back should still be involved in Kansas City's offense.
WR DeAndre Hopkins (KC)
DeAndre Hopkins' fantasy value has taken a hit in recent weeks. He has played under 50% of the team's offensive snaps in back-to-back games and has a 14% target share over the past three weeks.
As a result, Hopkins will come in as a flex play in 12-plus team leagues in Week 13. The veteran does have some touchdown upside in this Kansas City offense, but he has totaled less than 40 receiving yards in consecutive weeks.
DeAndre Hopkins had 5 catches for 35 yards.
Out of those 5 catches, 4 were 1st downs and 1 was a Touchdown.
Valuable.
— how bout those CHIEFS (@hbtCHIEFS) November 25, 2024
WR Xavier Worthy (KC)
Xavier Worthy will continue to be a risky flex play against the Raiders. Although Worthy has seen at least five targets in four of the past six games, he has finished inside the top 40 at the wide receiver position only twice during that span.
It appears the rookie will be a very touchdown-dependent option this week, and with no teams on bye, there are likely better flex options than the Chiefs wideout in Week 13.
WR Jakobi Meyers (LV)
In the two games that O'Connell started this year, Jakobi Meyers missed both games due to an ankle injury. But in the final nine weeks, he started during the 2023 season, Meyers had multiple games of 20-plus PPR fantasy points.
That was also with Davante Adams in town. With Adams now gone, expect the Raiders wideout to continue putting up solid fantasy numbers with the young quarterback under center.
He has scored above 17 PPR fantasy points in three of the past four games, and this Chiefs secondary has allowed big games to David Moore (20.1 PPR fantasy points) and Courtland Sutton (19 PPR fantasy points) in recent weeks. Meyers also scored 17.2 PPR fantasy points against Kansas City back in Week 8, so he'll be a low-end WR2 play in Week 13.
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