Predictions from Week Twelve can be found here. The predicted numbers and the actual numbers for last week can be found at the end of this article.
If football is going to light speed, then fantasy football is going straight to plaid. The Chiefs were destroyed last week. It was one of the darkest days I've seen in 20 years of being a Chiefs fan. How many of you remember when the only thing better than having the Seahawks in the division was having the hapless Chargers too. Those days are gone my friends.
As dark as the day was for the Chiefs on the field, a couple of Chiefs actually shone as fantasy diamonds.
I have been down on Chris Chambers as a fantasy player since he was signed. In true Missouri style Chambers "Showed Me" and now he's become a must add on any fantasy roster.
Jamaal Charles may have fumbled (SON OF A $%#@#, GOAT LICKIN $%^*$#,!!!!) but he also racked up 147 total yards and a TD. That's a good day for any RB to have, fumble or no.
Now the Denver "Bananas" come to town. (I hope the people of Denver tarred and feathered whoever came up with that color scheme back in the day) They started off strong with 6 straight wins, then turned into the team we all thought they would be dropping 4 straight.
Don't let last week's win against the Giants fool you. The Bronco win was a lot like the KC win against the Raiders. The Giants were a mess. KC has a chance, right?
At this point I should probably mention that the Denver defense looks like it was built to wail on the Chiefs.
The Broncos have an undersized defense that played out of its mind early in the season. They have been pushed around recently. Physical teams have shown that the Broncos are susceptable to having the living bejesus pounded out of them. But there is no one on the KC roster that has shown they can provide the pounding.
KC has become a perimeter running team. This plays into Denver's strength. The small Bronco LB's excel at moving sideline to sideline, and their sole purpose in life will be tracking Charles comes Sunday. The Denver secondary does not appear to be any better of a match up for KC.
The Denver secondary is an all world team from 5 years ago. You may know the names Bailey, Dawkins and Law, but so does the local AARP rep. Its getting late in the season and KC has to hope that all that age is starting to catch up with them.
Denver has not allowed a WR to eclipse 100 yards all season. They only gave up 3 receiving TD's in the fist six games.
A glimmer of hope can be found in the fact that they have given up 6 receiving TD's in the last 5 games. Could be signs of the wheel rusting off. We can hope.
Denver at KC has traditionally been a great game for the Chiefs. Hell, last year's team got half of their wins for the season when Denver came to town.
Here's to watching that trend continue.
Three Chiefs and a sleeper after the break
Chris Chambers
When I eat crow, I like to have it served over a nice marinara sauce please. Chris Chambers is quickly moving to secure the waiver wire wonder title. His numbers have improved every week. His role when Bowe comes back is still up in the air, but you have two more weeks to ride the Chambers comet. Even with the Denver secondary limiting WR's. Chambers is a decent #2 WR and a spectacular #3.
Chris Chambers prediction: 6 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD
Jamaal Charles
The speed merchant struck again last week. Charles is another Chief that has become a must start unless you have a much better option. For better or worse, what little offense the Chiefs have runs through Chambers and Charles. His touches seems to hover at around 17 to 20 each week. He only needs to break one to make starting him worthwhile. Charles as a fantasy play is as close to a no-brainer as you're going get out of any Chief this season week in and week out.
Jamaal Charles Prediction: 94 yards rushing, 5 receptions, 48 yards receiving, 1 TD
I've got to be honest here. There isn't really another Chief outside of the big two that I like this week. Cassel gets the nod simply because he touches the ball more often than anyone else. Matt has still shown the potential to put up solid fantasy numbers. His propensity for fourth quarter TD's has been documented. In five games at Arrowhead this year he has put up respectable numbers in every game except the San Diego debacle. You're reaching into the well if you go here, but if you have nowhere else to go, you have nowhere else to go.
Matt Cassel Prediction: 243 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int
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KC Fantasy Sleeper
Kolby Smith
This is an educated guess/hopeful grasping at straws. Smith has now been off the PUP list for almost a month. If Smith is going to show up this season, this week needs to be the week. KC needs a between the tackle RB to take advantage of the weakest point in the Denver D, the undersized line. This looks like a perfect spot for Smith to show that he is ready to be a part of the KC plans moving forward. Now if Haley will only cooperate..l.
Kolby Smith Prediction: 10 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
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Mushin's Week 12 Predictions:
-Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles prediction: 68 yards rushing, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 32 yards
actual numbers: 93 yards rushing, , 1 TD, 3 receptions, 54 yards receiving
-Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel Prediction: 278 yards, 2 TD
actual numbers: : 178 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int, 2 fumbles
-Chris Chambers
Chris Chambers Prediction: 5 catches, 80 yards, 0 TD
actual numbers: 7catches, 70 yards, 1 TD
-Leonard Pope
Leonard Pope Prediction: 4 catches, 15 yards, 1 TD
actual numbers: 1 receptions, -3 yards, 0 TD