With the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos poised to play their game in little over a day, let’s take a complete look at the fantasy picture.
QB: Kyle Orton Vs. Matt Cassel
Kyle Orton has been burning opposing defenses for most of the season and has put up 138 fantasy points under ESPN scoring rules. He came out as the No. 7 QB to play this week, according to ESPN’s fantasy experts. With the Chiefs easy to pass on, Kyle Orton should have another big day.
Matt Cassel checks in at No. 16 among QBs and could turn into a better option if he and Dwayne Bowe connect on some long passes.
RB: Knowshon Moreno Vs. Jamaal Charles & Thomas Jones
The Broncos’ rushing defense is an absolute sieve, ranking 31st at 154.6 yards per game. This bodes well for both Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, who lead the top rushing attack in the league.
Both Charles and Jones rank above the Broncos’ main rushing option, Knowshon Moreno. The Chiefs have a top 10 rushing defense and with the Broncos having Orton throw often and early, Moreno could still be in line for 11-15 carries. For Moreno to be a reliable fantasy option he’d need to get 20-plus carries.
WR: Brandon Lloyd Vs. Dwayne Bowe
As we looked earlier in the week, the Broncos have a wide array of fantasy talent at the position, starting with Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd and the Chiefs’ Dwayne Bowe should start, but the Broncos’ Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal are decent third wide receiver options.
Defense: Broncos Vs. Chiefs
We started the week with a discussion of the Broncos’ and Chiefs’ defenses. The verdict still remains the same: the Broncos defense should not be starting in any league.