Free Agency and Injury report week 19 2020

By Kyle Dvorchak
Kyle Dvorchak

Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC

Andy Reid sounded optimistic that Mahomes would play, saying "he passed all of the deals he had to pass." Mahomes will have to continue passing concussion protocols before he is cleared for next week but all signs point to him playing. If he suffers some sort of setback, Chad Henne will be the starting quarterback for the Chiefs. All Kansas City pass-catchers will be significantly downgraded for DFS purposes if that does happen. Henne completed six of eight passes for 66 yards and an interception while filling in for Mahomes. He also converted two rush attempts into 12 yards. It's possible that he would come in as a contrarian DFS option if he does draw the start but that is nothing more than a high-risk tournament strategy.
 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC

CEH was unable to play in the Divisional Round but reports indicated that he will be ready for the AFC Championship. The Chiefs ran the ball extremely well versus the Browns but most of their production came from Darrel Williams, not Le'Veon Bell. Williams logged 13 carries for 78 yards and four receptions for an additional 16. It's hard to imagine that CEH doesn't see most of that role if he is at 100% health. He would be an obvious DFS play as the lead-back on the league's best offense if he can play next week. If he can't the same argument applies to Williams. Bell earned just two touches and has no fantasy value to close out the postseason.
 

Drew Brees, QB, NO

Brees is rumored to be retiring after exiting the playoffs with a loss to Tom Brady but he has yet to make anything official. If he does hang up the cleats, the Saints have a few options. Jameis Winston, who came in for a trick play and dropped a dime to Tre'Quan Smith could be an option. However, Winston is not under contract for the 2021 season and was not given the start when Brees went down earlier in the year. Taysom Hill was the passer getting the starting duties when Brees was out and he went 3-1 in his four starts this year. New Orleans used him effectively as a runner and his passing was more dialed in than anyone expected for a punt-gunner. Unless a QB falls to the Saints in the first-round, rolling with Hill for at least a season looks like the most-likely outcome if Brees is done.
 

Deonte Harris, WR, NO

Harris was ruled out with a neck injury in the Saints Divisional Round game versus the Bucs. He stepped up as the No. 2 receiver for the Saints last week but mainly did his damage as a punt returner versus Tampa Bay. Tre'Quan Smith scored twice on three receptions and went for 85 yards while Emmanuel Sanders led the team with six receptions. Most importantly, Michael Thomas did not catch a pass. The Saints are out of the playoffs but all of those players doing as much or more than Thomas is concerning for his long-term outlook in New Orleans. Combined with the potential loss of Brees, Thomas's fantasy status for 2021 is highly volatile.