Saints vs. Chiefs MNF Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Patrick Mahomes, Derek Carr, Kareem Hunt, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, more

October 6, 2024

Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for the Saints vs. Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 5 (2024). NFL matchups analysis and starts/sits.

We're already onto Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, and as always, you'll have to set the bulk of your fantasy lineup before Monday Night Football. Below, you can read our Monday Night Football matchups analysis article for the Saints vs. Chiefs game to help make any fantasy football lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.

The Saints are looking to get back into the win column after two straight losses following a 2-0 start, while the Chiefs are itching to advance to 5-0. All in all, it should be an interesting game for fantasy football and "real life."

Let's waste no more time and dive into the fantasy football matchups for Derek Carr, Kareem Hunt, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, and more. Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 5 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!

New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs

Spread: Chiefs -5.5
Implied Total: Saints (18.5) vs. Chiefs (24)

Matchups We Love

None

Matchups We Hate

QB Patrick Mahomes 

It's becoming hard to trust Patrick Mahomes in fantasy. He hasn't finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback since Week 12 of the 2023 season. As a result, he is no longer a must-start at the position. Additionally, the Saints are allowing just 10.3 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and they've held Prescott and Jalen Hurts to under 15 fantasy points this year. So, Mahomes might be better left on benches this week. 

Justin Simmons intercepts Mahomes in the end zone!

📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cSNbVDGTzt

— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024

Other Matchups

QB Derek Carr 

After scoring 20-plus fantasy points in each of the first two weeks, Derek Carr scored under 10 fantasy points in both Week 3 and Week 4. Unfortunately, things don't get easy for him this week. Kansas City is allowing only 13.5 fantasy points per game to the last three quarterbacks it has faced (Justin Herbert, Kirk Cousins, and Burrow). With Carr being a pocket passer, he is a risky QB2 on Monday.

RB Alvin Kamara 

This is no doubt a tough matchup for Alvin Kamara. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs through the first four weeks. Running backs are also averaging only 3.1 yards per carry against that tough Kansas City front seven. However, you're not sitting the RB1 this week because of the tough matchup. So, you just have to hope he can reel in a bunch of catches in the receiving game. 

THAT’S FOUR FOR ALVIN KAMARA 😤

📺: #NOvsDAL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/UouER56mcI

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

RB Kareem Hunt

After one week, Kareem Hunt appears to be the team's RB1 moving forward until Pacheco returns. In his first game, Hunt ran 14 times for 69 yards while catching two passes for 16 yards. So, he could be a solid flex play this week against a Saints defense that is allowing over 5.2 yards per carry to opposing running backs this season. The Chiefs also rank eighth in run-block win rate (73%) to start the season. 

WRs Chris Olave/Rashid Shaheed

Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed continue to see most of the targets in the passing game. That should continue in Week 5 against the Chiefs, making both wideouts strong plays on Monday night. Both Olave and Shaheed should avoid Trent McDuffie in this game -- considering McDuffie plays most of his snaps in the slot. 

As a result, Olave and Shaheed are solid WR2 plays in fantasy this week. Both wideouts have scored in double figures in PPR formats in three of four games this season. 

Chiefs WRs

The only Chiefs wide receiver that fantasy managers should be thinking about starting this week is Xavier Worthy. But Worthy is a risky option against the Saints in Week 5. Of course, the rookie has big play potential, as we saw last week with his 54-yard touchdown. The Saints, though, rank middle-of-the-pack in yards per completion against (6.4) this season, and Worthy's low floor makes him too hard to trust in fantasy this week.

TE Travis Kelce 

With Rashee Rice (knee) out for the foreseeable future, Travis Kelce should see more opportunities in the middle of the field. Last week, the veteran had his best game of the season, catching seven passes for 89 yards. So, make sure to keep Kelce in your lineups in Week 5 against a Saints defense that has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards (217) to tight ends this season. 

Notable Injuries

• Rashee Rice (knee)
• Taysom Hill (ribs)

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