With the fantasy football season reaching its peak, league members are fighting to be in the best position possible in their leagues. The Kansas City Chiefs are bolstering their lineup with the versatile Brashard Smith, who has emerged as a valuable asset due to his two-way capabilities. Not everyone is having the same luck shine on them. Smith had a brutally quiet day in Week 11. RB Blake Corum and RB/WR Jerick McKinnon are two names to know as possible second-half playoff producers. They are proving to fantasy managers that, while undersized, they can be reliable, insurance-policy backs.
Brashard Smith has shown to be a tremendous asset for the Kansas City Chiefs this season. His dual-threat ability opens up an entirely new dimension to the running game and more specifically, the receiving game. It’s this versatility that has made him a fantasy football favorite. They’re excited to deepen their rosters as they head into this year’s inaugural playoffs!
While he’s shown immense promise overall, Smith faced adversity in Week 11, putting forth a quiet game. All of this begs the question about his consistency and reliability going forward. Fantasy managers will need to weigh his past contributions against recent performances as they prepare for the critical final weeks of the season.
While Smith’s trajectory is anyone’s guess, his outlier skill set deserves to be focused on. Analysts have been hungry to see how he develops. They are studying how changes in game strategy might maximize what he can do.
Key Players to Watch
Over the last few weeks, Blake Corum has established himself as a household name. Since the Los Angeles Rams Week 9 bye, he is averaging 11.5 rushing attempts per game. His consistently heavy workload makes him one of the more indispensable insurance-policy backs to roster down the stretch. Daniel Dopp, well-known fantasy football analyst, has already put his stamp of approval on Corum. He thinks Corum might turn out to be the x-factor in that playoff picture.
Analysts have made their picks, with both Brenton Strange and Dalton Schultz receiving one. This pressure is compounded by the fact that they’re being judged for places in fantasy lineups. These players may not be the top choices, but as the season progresses, they could prove valuable under certain circumstances.
Injury Concerns and Future Prospects
Injuries have been a huge factor for a lot of players, including Jaylen Warren, who left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. Such setbacks can greatly change the landscape, both for an actual NFL team and for potential fantasy strategies. Baseball managers must make timely roster changes, but they cannot do so without knowing the latest on players’ injuries.
Jerick McKinnon is one of those players whose practices have opened eyes. In terms of fantasy points, he was the No. 2 fantasy running back from Week 13 onward last year. He scored a staggering 124.6 fantasy points over that stretch. McKinnon has continued his high-scoring play into 2024. As it is, he’s the No. 6 scoring RB right now. Given his prolific scoring ability, he’s become a top-dollar target for teams looking to upgrade their playoff roster.
Uncertainty brought on by injuries and performance issues opens the door for other, less-heralded players. Wide Receiver Malik Washington and Quarterback Sam Darnold turned heads, each receiving a vote from analysts. Their possible fantasy contributions can provide some much needed fill-in as fantasy managers seek to complete their rosters for the upcoming playoff run.
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