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| Other Week 10 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at CAR | BAL at CLE | BUF at TEN | CHI at SF | CIN at PIT | DAL at GB | DEN at WAS | DET at MIN |
| JAX at NYJ | KC at OAK | NE at IND | NO at STL | PHI at SD | SEA at ARI | TB at MIA | |
Week 10 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 16, Oakland Raiders 10
Kansas City Chiefs
| QB Matt Cassel, Pass: 19 - 34 - 216 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 4 - -3 - 0 |
Cassel didn't have an outstanding game, but he didn't make any big mistakes and kept the Chiefs offense viable enough to win the game. His interception was an underthrown deep ball, and while Cassel continue to have much better accuracy on short and intermediate throws than downfield throws, he was throwing the ball downfield into small windows and trusting his wide receivers to make plays. Both Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers played well enough to merit that kind of trust. Cassel did fumble an exchange and also missed a wide-open Dwayne Bowe for a TD on 4th and 1 in the red zone, reminding us of his limitations, but his offensive line didn't do him any favors, although it seemed like he had more time to throw than he has in recent weeks. Cassel remains only a desperation start in fantasy leagues.
| RB Jamaal Charles, Rush: 18 - 103 - 1, Rec: 4 - 14 - 0 (5 targets) |
Jamaal Charles 44-yard TD run on 4th and 1 should put to rest any ideas of real committee backfield in Kansas City. He was patient and rubbed off contact to find the lane through lots of strong downfield blocking by the Chiefs to paydirt, never really having to turn on the jets. Charles didn't make any other big plays, but he ran hard for the entire game, not shying away from contact at all, even though his build/size leaves him open to get man-handled at times. Charles was still fresh in the fourth quarter, showing his ability to handle a heavier load, and Charles also showed off his soft hands out of the backfield. Charles also got through trash in the backfield with good feet. Two goal-to-go carries went Charles, but the line got no push at all. He should be a great flex and solid RB2 play going forward, but this game could represent his high-water mark over the remainder of the season.
| RB Kolby Smith, Rush: 9 - 12 - 0 |
Smith was the primary back on a few drives, but he had little burst, power, or creativity in his runs. He has little to no fantasy value and can be dropped.
| WR Dwayne Bowe, Rec: 6 - 91 - 0 (11 targets) |
Bowe had a good statistical game, but his best play came on busted coverage, and he otherwise had to fight for everything he got. He caught the ball very well with strong hands, not letting it get to his body. Bowe ran very hard after the catch and always forced a good effort out of the defender to get him down. He was wide open for a touchdown on a fourth-and-1 in red zone, but Matt Cassel never saw him. Bowe continue to put up good enough numbers to be a WR2/WR3 while playing more like a WR1. That will not change unless Cassel and the offensive line greatly pick up their play in the second half of the season.
| WR Chris Chambers, Rec: 3 - 60 - 0 (5 targets) |
Chambers carried over his great second half performance from last week into another good game. He was fast after the catch on one big gain, and he tightroped the sidelines in tight coverage for his other good gain on the day. A Chambers block downfield spring Jamaal Charles long TD run, and it's clear that he will remain a semi-productive starter. He's worth carrying in deep leagues, but Chambers is still only a desperation start because of the offense he plays in.
| WR Lance Long, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (5 targets) |
Long came back to earth this week because Matt Cassel was throwing more downfield. He can be dropped in all but the deepest of leagues.
| WR Mark Bradley, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (3 targets) |
Bradley showed good effort on one catch to try to stretch for the first down, but he also had a bad drop. Chris Chambers good play has destroyed any fantasy value Bradley might have had going forward.
| TE Leonard Pope, Rec: 3 - 11 - 0 (3 targets) |
Pope has little to no fantasy value, but it's worth noting that he got the start and didn't do anything to lose that job.
Oakland Raiders
| QB JaMarcus Russell, Pass: 8 - 23 - 64 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Russell actually played well in this game in the first half. He was let down by a ton of drops, including one Heyward-Bey drop on a perfectly thrown deep ball. On the next play, Russell hit Louis Murphy down the sidelines for a big gainer that was called back by penalty. After that, Russell regressed to his erratic passing and decision-making. He got worse as the game went on, until he finally got pulled for Bruce Gradkowski. The Raiders week 11 starter at QB is currently unknown.
| QB Bruce Gradkowski, Pass: 5 - 9 - 49 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0 |
Gradkowski got the call when JaMarcus Russell struggled in the second half, and while he threw two interceptions, he was probably only partially responsible, and only for one of the interceptions. Gradkowski looked a little overwhelmed when the initial read wasn't there, but he excelled in the two-minute drill, and make the throws to get the Raiders a first-and-goal, only to have Darrius Heyward-Bey bobble the ball into the air for no discernable reason and give up the game-clinching INT. Gradkowski won't have much fantasy value if he gets the start, but his presence should give the members of the Raiders passing game a boost in fantasy value from irrelevant to afterthought.
| RB Michael Bush, Rush: 14 - 119 - 0, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (3 targets) |
Bush got the day started right for the Raiders with a 60-yard run, bouncing off of contact near the line and exposing the poor speed of the Chiefs secondary. He ran very well for the rest of the day, generating good power by running behind his pads, and efficiently running behind the newly healthy offensive line. He showed good hands on his receptions after an early drop, and seemed to get stronger as the game went on. The Raiders backfield split will be hard to gauge, but if Bush gets a big piece of it, he should remain productive, and he deserves to be rostered in all but very shallow leagues.
| RB Justin Fargas, Rush: 10 - 41 - 1 (2 targets) |
Fargas gave the Raiders the hard running full of heart that he has been giving them all year, and got a touchdown after Bush's big run for his troubles. Fargas was getting extra yard in the fourth quarter with good moves and by bouncing off of contact. It is still clear that Fargas is not the most powerful or fastest back on the Raiders roster, but he gives top effort, and while his role isn't big enough to have significant fantasy value, it will continue to cap the value of Bush and McFadden.
| RB Darren McFadden, Rush: 4 - 11 - 0 (1 targets) |
McFadden got a few "wild hog" snaps that produced little, and he got the carries on one drive that was thwarted by penalty. The Raiders are easing him back in, and with Bush and Fargas running well, there is clearly no need to rush. McFadden is worth carrying as a flier, but he might not have significant value going into any week over the course of the second half if Bush and Fargas stay healthy.
| WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 4 - 41 - 0 (7 targets) |
Higgins was given some chances to make plays on short passes, and he couldn't create after the catch. He also bobbled a ball that was slightly behind him, but catchable, that ended up being an interception. Higgins could have a slight bump in value if Gradkowski starts, but he is not worth picking up.
| WR Chaz Schilens, Rec: 3 - 27 - 0 (4 targets) |
Schilens long awaited return resulted in modest production, but he did seem to be the Raiders most sure-handed receiver, so his role should only grow. He didn't flash any special physical abilities, but being reliable is probably enough to be the #1 receiver in this offense.
| WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (3 targets) |
Heyward-Bey was almost always on the field, but he was a liability in this game. Other than a catch on the fourth-quarter desperation drive, DHB contributed a drop of a deep ball inside the five, and the inexplicable bobble that cost the Raiders a chance to win the game. He is atop the depth chart at WR, but he deserves to be benched.
| WR Louis Murphy (3 targets) |
Murphy caught big gainer down the sideline that was overturned by penalty, and he also almost pulled in a one-handed catch in tight coverage on another bomb (from Gradkowski), but otherwise he was quiet. He deserves more playing time, but it remains to be seen whether the Raiders will give it to him.
| TE Zach Miller, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
Miller was barely targeted in this game because the Raiders were able to run their run-heavy vertical passing offense in this close game. He did have a catch and run inside the Chiefs 10 that was nullified by penalty. He also broke a tackle on his only reception. Miller still has a couple of statistical outbursts left in him this season, but his owners will have to endure duds like this one to get those points.