The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 4 matchup between the Chargers and Chiefs.
Find a breakdown of every Week 4 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Kansas City | Rank | @ | LA Chargers | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -8 | Spread | 8 | ||
| 23.5 | Implied Total | 15.5 | ||
| 25 | 7 | Points/Gm | 19.3 | 17 |
| 20.7 | 15 | Points All./Gm | 11 | 3 |
| 60.3 | 16 | Plays/Gm | 54.7 | 28 |
| 63.7 | 26 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 56.7 | 6 |
| 5.4 | 15 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.1 | 20 |
| 5.7 | 22 | Def. Yards/Play | 4.7 | 8 |
| 46.96% | 15 | Rush% | 55.49% | 4 |
| 53.04% | 18 | Pass% | 44.51% | 29 |
| 41.36% | 9 | Opp. Rush % | 41.76% | 11 |
| 58.64% | 24 | Opp. Pass % | 58.24% | 22 |
- The Chiefs have trailed for 63.5% of their offensive snaps, 25th in the league.
- Kansas City’s defensive success rate on passing plays is 53.6% (26th), down from 62.0% in 2023 (5th).
- The Chiefs allow 35.2 yards per drive (27th), up from 27.6 yards per drive in 2023 (5th).
- The Chargers are averaging 23.0 yards per drive, 29th in the league.
- A league-high 51.4% of the Chargers’ possessions have failed to gain a first down. The league average is 33.0%.
- The Chargers have a league-high 71.8% success rate defending on rushing plays.
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: Mahomes and the Kansas City passing game were a paper-cut-delivering machine again in Week 3.
Mahomes threw for 217 yards on 39 attempts (5.6 Y/A) with 2 touchdowns and an interception.
Closing the week as QB16 (16.4 points), Mahomes has only one top-10 scoring week over his past 12 regular season games.
He has only two top-6 scoring weeks since the start of last season.
He is averaging 5.2 air yards per pass attempt, 30th in the league.
37.0% of his passes are at or behind the line of scrimmage (30th).
After it appeared that the Chiefs had more answers for creating explosive plays in the season opener, this offense has reverted to where we left off a year ago.
It’s still early in the season, but Kansas City hasn’t found an answer for creating explosive plays downfield.
Xavier Worthy was supposed to be that but has struggled to earn targets to open the year.
When pressured, Mahomes has completed 38.1% (8-of-21) of his passes, ahead of only Caleb Williams (32.1%) and Bryce Young (25.0%).
The good news is that the Chargers are 30th in pressure rate (25.0%), so that should not be an issue.
The Chargers also could be without Joey Bosa (hip) and will be without Derwin James (suspension).
Los Angeles is only 6.4 yards per pass attempt (8th), but they have faced Garnder Minshew, Young, and Justin Fields.
Even if we dock Mahomes, he is better than all those players.
I do not believe we should hold the line with Mahomes as a front-end starter, but this matchup is not scary enough to make me use streamers over him, either.
The option that would make me sit him would be running into someone like Jayden Daniels as my QB2.
Chargers QB: Justin Herbert aggravated his high ankle sprain on Sunday, leaving his status questionable for Sunday.
The Chargers have a Week 5 bye, which makes the option to sit Herbert more logical.
The Chargers will also be without offensive linemen Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt to compound matters.
Even if Herbert attempts to gut it out, this is not a spot to use him unless you are forced to.
Should Herbert be held out, Taylor Heinicke came in for him last week.
Heinicke made four starts a year ago with Atlanta, averaging 13.2 fantasy points per game with a high-scoring week as QB14.
Given the injuries up front and the matchup, Heinicke is only an option for those filling Herbert’s roster spot.
Running Back
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More Week 4 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Cowboys @ Giants -- FREE | Thursday Night Football |
| Broncos @ Jets | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Saints @ Falcons | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Rams @ Bears | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Vikings @ Packers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Steelers @ Colts | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Eagles @ Bucs | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bengals @ Panthers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Jaguars @ Texans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Commanders @ Cardinals | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Patriots @ 49ers | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Browns @ Raiders | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Chiefs @ Chargers | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Bills @ Ravens | Sunday Night Football |
| Titans @ Dolphins -- FREE | Monday Night Football |
| Seahawks @ Lions -- FREE | Monday Night Football |
