Texans vs. Chiefs Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - C.J. Stroud, Patrick Mahomes, Nico Collins, Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Joe Mixon, Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt

January 17, 2025

Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for the Texans vs. Chiefs on Saturday, January 17 for the Divisional Round (2025). NFL matchups analysis and starts/sits.

We're onto Round 2 of the NFL playoffs, which means we're back to provide coverage for playoff leagues and DFS contests. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Texans vs. Chiefs game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for whatever contest, league, or tournament you are participating in.

The Chiefs have only lost one game with starters in the lineup this year and are heavy favorites against the Texans. However, anything can happen when the playoffs begin, so this AFC contest could be closer than expected.

Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Divisional Round. Below, you'll see the fantasy football outlooks for key players like C.J. Stroud, Patrick Mahomes, Nico Collins, Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Joe Mixon, Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and more.

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

Spread: Chiefs -7.5

Matchups We Love

WR Xavier Worthy 

Things are certainly trending in the right direction for Xavier Worthy. Worthy is averaging 21 PPR fantasy points per game over his last three contests while seeing 31 total targets during that span. So, the rookie will be a solid play this weekend against the Texans. Houston just allowed Ladd McConkey to total 197 receiving yards from the slot last week, and Worthy scored 20.5 PPR fantasy against this secondary back in Week 16.

Quick out route for Xavier Worthy. Touchdown @Chiefs!

📺: #HOUvsKC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/63NoVpM1Wg

— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2024

TE Dalton Schultz 

It has been tough to trust Dalton Schultz for most of the year. He has scored in double figures in PPR formats just twice this season and has caught three passes or fewer in three straight games.

However, Schultz scored 15.5 PPR fantasy points the last time he faced this Chiefs defense in Week 16. Given that Kansas City allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends in the regular season, he could be a nice value play.

Matchups We Hate

RB Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon ran the ball well last week against the Chargers, totaling 106 yards on the ground and one touchdown. But he'll be a risker option this weekend against the Chiefs.

Kansas City has given up the fewest fantasy points to the position, and opposing running backs are averaging only 3.8 yards per carry on the ground against this front seven this season. So, it might be best to stay away from him in the Divisional Round.

Joe Mixon finds the end zone to give Houston the lead

📺: #HOUvsJAX on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/vXJKgXxbsB

— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024

Update: Mixon is questionable for Saturday's game due to an ankle injury.

RB Isiah Pacheco 

Since coming back from injury, Isiah Pacheco has not done much. He has played under 38% of the team's offensive snaps in four of the five games and hasn't scored over 8.2 PPR fantasy points in any of those contests. Now, he'll go up against a Texans defense that is allowing only 3.93 yards per carry to opposing running backs this season. So, Pacheco is a riskier option this weekend.

RB Kareem Hunt 

Even with Pacheco back in the lineup, Kareem Hunt has out-snapped him in consecutive games. In both those contests, Hunt also scored a touchdown. Still, the veteran running back will be a riskier DFS play this weekend against the Texans. Houston allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in the regular season.

WR DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins has been somewhat disappointing since arriving in Kansas City. He has totaled under 40 receiving yards in six of the past seven games and has totaled under 10 PPR fantasy points in three straight contests. Unfortunately, things don't get easier for him in the Divisional Round. Hopkins will likely go up against Derek Stingley Jr. in this game. Stingley ranks third in catch rate allowed this season.

Other Matchups

QB C.J. Stroud 

C.J. Stroud played well last week, throwing for 282 yards and one touchdown. He also threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns against this Chiefs defense just a couple of weeks ago. However, Stroud will be a lower-end quarterback option in the Divisional Round. Kansas City had two weeks to prepare for the Texans quarterback, and he has scored under 19 fantasy points in 12 straight games.

QB Patrick Mahomes 

Patrick Mahomes will enter the Divisional Round with multiple weeks of rest. He did not play in Week 18 and had a bye during Wild Card Weekend. So, it'll be interesting to see if he comes out slow in Saturday's game. However, he'll be a solid quarterback play this weekend. He scored 23.7 fantasy points against the Texans back in Week 16, thanks to a rushing touchdown early in the game.

"How did he do that?!"

Appropriate reaction after this Mahomes 33-yard run 😱

📺: #KCvsSF on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/IVfqAtV5Qh

— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024

WR Marquise Brown 

Marquise Brown has looked solid in his two games back from injury. In Week 16, he totaled five catches for 45 yards on eight targets against the Texans. Then, he totaled four catches for 46 yards on seven targets in Week 17 against the Steelers. So, Brown does have some potential this weekend against a Texans defense that allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts in the regular season.

WR Nico Collins

Nico Collins struggled to put up big fantasy numbers toward the end of the regular season, but he showed up big-time in the team's Wild Card game against the Chargers. He caught seven passes for 122 yards and one touchdown.

Although Collins will likely be guarded by Trent McDuffie for most of this game, the Pro Bowl wideout can still be a solid option in fantasy. McDuffie ranks 93rd in receptions allowed this season.

WR John Metchie III

With Tank Dell (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) both out for the season, John Metchie has stepped into that WR2 role for the Texans. While he hasn't produced much in that role, he can be a dart throw in some DFS contests this weekend. He has seen eight targets in two of the past three games, including last week against the Chargers.

TE Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce's production wasn't as strong toward the end of the regular season. He only scored above 14 PPR fantasy points once from Week 11 to Week 17. However, the veteran tight end will continue to be a strong fantasy option in the Divisional Round against the Texans. Kelce always seems to show up in the playoffs.

Notable Fantasy-Relevant Injuries

• Joe Mixon (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE

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