RADIO
Monday Night Football is here, and the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) are headed to Mexico City to take on the Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) in a battle of two teams that are jostling for their division along with playoff seeding in a competitive AFC.
However, we're not here for that. We're here to make some money in daily fantasy lineups. The Chiefs still have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL, and they can't strike from anywhere at any time. For the Chargers, their running game has been going well, and they have some stud wide receivers.
Whether you're playing on FanDuel or DraftKings, the slightest lineup constructions can make all the difference. Choosing one player over another is the difference between winning a little or a lot. So, let's look at how we're going to construct our lineups.
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DFS Quarterbacks - Week 11 Picks
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs - FanDuel $16,500/ DraftKings $12,000
In season-long fantasy, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a lock every week. In daily, you're forced to pay up for him, and that can scare players off of him. In FD and DK lineups, you're having to sacrifice a major portion of your budget towards one guy. The Chargers Defense has been improving, specifically in the pass-rush department as of late, and that can push Mahomes off of his spot. He gets a slight downgrade, but he's still a supremely talented player.
Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers - FanDuel $13,500/ DraftKings $8,800
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers isn't Mahomes, and he's at the back end of his career. However, you're getting him for a much cheaper price. The team is going to have to throw a lot to keep themselves in the game with that Chiefs offense which means more opportunities for Rivers to generate big plays down the field. With that cheaper price, you can get more talented skill-position players in your lineup rather than scouring for discounts.
DFS Running Backs - Week 11 Picks
Melvin Gordon, LAC - FD $14,000/ DK $8,600
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon reported after a holdout, and he took a few weeks to get rolling. However, now that he's going, he is playing at a stellar level. The Chiefs have one of the worst running defenses in the NFL, and the Chargers could look to keep the ball out of Mahomes' hands by riding Gordon. He's totaled over 200 total yards and three touchdowns in the past two games, and he can easily add to those marks this week.
Damien Williams, KC - FD $11,500/ DK $7,400
Chiefs running back Damien Williams dealt with a personal matter earlier this week that caused him to miss a couple of practices, but he is expected to play. Similar to Gordon, he has come to life in the last two weeks. He only has one touchdown over the last two weeks, but he's gotten over the 200-yard mark as well. The Chiefs are likely going to play running back LeSean McCoy more this week, but Williams still gives you the best bet among this backfield to get points.
Austin Ekeler, LAC - FD $9,500/ DK $6,600
Over the first month and a half of a season, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler was the hottest back in football West of Minnesota. He's cooled off a considerable amount in recent weeks, but he's still an effective running back, especially as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. If you decide to spend up at quarterback with Mahomes, Ekeler is an easy choice to slot in those lineups.
DFS Wide Receivers - Week 11 Picks
Tyreek Hill, KC - FD $15,500/ DK $10,600
The obvious stack if you go with Mahomes is his favorite wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Hill has been one of the top 10 receivers in the NFL over the past two seasons. His ability to simply outrun everyone on the field pairs perfectly with Mahomes' ability to outthrow the entire defense. He'll be dealing with a pair of very good cornerbacks in Casey Hayward and Desmond King, but he'll do his damage as he always does.
Keenan Allen, LAC - FD $10,500/ DK $8,400
If you go with Rivers, your stack is wide receiver Keenan Allen. Unfortunately for him, he's been struggling a ton over the past couple of months. In response to that, his price has gone way down, but this is the matchup for him to get right. The Chiefs prefer to outscore you with offense rather than slowing you down with defense, especially through the air. Even if you don't go with Rivers, Allen is primed to have a great game on Monday night.
Sammy Watkins, KC - FD $9,500/ DK $6,000
Trying to figure out who your second wide receiver should be is just about impossible. These offenses run through their top wideouts along with their tight ends. The other wide receivers get sprinkled in, but Chiefs wideout Sammy Watkins gets your next spot. He's seen at least six targets in 7-of-8 games this season, and the other receivers just don't have that consistency. He's also a big play waiting to happen with his crazy speed.
DFS Tight Ends - Week 11 Picks
Travis Kelce, KC - FD $12,000/ DK $9,000
The best tight in the NFL is Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Yes, you can make an argument for a couple of other guys, but Kelce is the NFL's best. He's a mismatch against everyone that covers him, and, with the Chargers being without both of their starting safeties, they're going to be scrambling to find someone that can go toe-to-toe with Kelce. If you can find the money to start Kelce, your mouth should be watering with this matchup.
Hunter Henry, LAC - FD $11,000/ DK $8,200
Chargers tight end Hunter Henry returned in Week 6 with 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Since then, he has just one touchdown in four games. Similar to Allen, this is a game he can take advantage of his matchup. When healthy, he's got a ton of size and athleticism that makes him an elite red-zone threat. If you're going to choose one of these two guys though, I'd lean towards Kelce unless you have to budget.
DFS Defenses - Week 11 Picks
Chargers Defense - DK $2,600
I don't love the fact that they're playing the Chiefs, but I do love the pass rushers that this group is trotting out. Edge rushers Nick Bosa and Melvin Ingram III are one of the best duos in football. The Chiefs have only given up 18 sacks this season, but divisional games are always different with an interesting feel to them. Mahomes has only thrown one pick this season, but it wouldn't surprise me if he added at least one to that total Monday night.
