Week 9 is already here, and setting optimal lineups has never been more crucial as the fantasy football playoffs near. Read our Monday Night Football matchups analysis article for the Buccaneers vs. Chiefs game to help make any fantasy football lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.
This week's MNF contest sees the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs host a banged-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. The Chiefs are in prime position to win the AFC, while the Bucs need a win to keep things rolling in hopes of an NFC playoff spot. There is no shortage of fantasy-relevant options in this game, making it a fun one to end the week and potentially decide fantasy matchups.
Let's waste no more time and dive into the fantasy football matchups for Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, DeAndre Hopkins, Kareem Hunt, Rachaad White, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton, and more. Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 9 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs
Spread: Chiefs -9
Matchups We Love
Patrick Mahomes scored a season-high 19.2 fantasy points last week, which landed him as the QB15 on the week. The good news for fantasy managers is that Mahomes is a solid QB1 option against the Buccaneers in Week 9. Tampa Bay has given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season while allowing a top-12 fantasy quarterback in five of the past six weeks.
RB Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt will continue to be a solid RB2 option in Week 9 against the Buccaneers. Hunt has finished as a top-24 fantasy running back in three straight weeks, and Tampa Bay has allowed eight different running backs to finish top-24 at the position this year. Hunt is a strong start in most formats this weekend.
HE'S ON THE HUNT 💪 pic.twitter.com/SvuEMVVw0S
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 20, 2024
DeAndre Hopkins only played 24% of the Chiefs' offensive snaps in his first game with the team last week. But the expectation is that the number will increase in Week 9. With that being the case, Hopkins is a strong flex play in 12-plus team leagues against a Buccaneers secondary that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this year.
TE Cade Otton
Fantasy managers should be starting Otton in most leagues this week. He has caught 17 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns over the past two games while seeing a whopping 20 targets. Now, he goes up against a Chiefs secondary that has given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Otton is a top-5 fantasy tight end in Week 9.
Cade Otton's second TD on #NationalTightEndsDay!
Bucs are back in it.
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ZZDLInY3RP— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
TE Travis Kelce
Kelce is coming off his best game of the season, catching 10 passes for 90 yards and one touchdown. As a result, he'll remain a strong TE1 option in Week 9 against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has allowed a top-6 fantasy tight end in five of the last six weeks. Get Kelce in your lineups this week.
Matchups We Hate
Buccaneers RBs
Both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving have been solid plays in recent weeks, but both are risky options in Week 9 against the Chiefs. Kansas City has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, and not one running back has finished as a top-18 running back against this defense in 2024.
Given, though, that White caught five passes and Irving caught seven passes last week, they are both potential flex plays in 12-plus team leagues.
Buccaneers WRs
It's best to stay away from all Buccaneers wide receivers (Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, and Trey Palmer) in Week 9 against the Chiefs. None of those wideouts established themselves as Baker Mayfield's go-to target with Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) out last week. They are all risky plays this week against a tough Kansas City secondary.
Other Matchups
QB Baker Mayfield
Mayfield put together a solid fantasy day last week without his top two wide receiver options. However, he could have a tough time in Week 9 against the Chiefs. Kansas City has allowed only one top-12 fantasy quarterback over the past five games. As a result, the Buccaneers quarterback is more of a QB2 option on Monday.
Things appear to be trending up for Xavier Worthy in fantasy. He has seen eight targets in back-to-back games and just caught a season-high four passes in Week 8. Now, he'll face a Buccaneers secondary that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. While Worthy remains a risky boom-or-bust option, he could be a fine flex play in 12-plus team leagues in Week 9.
XAVIER WORTHY HAS ARRIVED.
📺: #Kickoff2024 on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0612BrVxlJ— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2024
Notable Injuries
Injuries:
- Mike Evans (hamstring) - OUT
- Chris Godwin (ankle) - OUT
- JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) - OUT
- Bucky Irving (toe) - QUESTIONABLE
- Jalen McMillan (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
- Sterling Shepard (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
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