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Prediction: KC 3, PIT 24 (Line: PIT by 13)

Players Updated: Jonathan Dwyer, Rashard Mendenhall

Players to Watch: KC Quarterback, Dwayne Bowe, Isaac Redman

The 1-7 Chiefs are on a five game losing streak with no end in sight. The 5-3 Steelers are on a three game winning streak and are 3-0 at home. None of these trends are going to change this week.This is the Monday night game. And yeah - "wow".

Pregame Notes: TImes are tough in Kansas City and not only are they apparently in a death spiral, but apparently they are going to take all the fantasy value down with them, This team has not scored more than one touchdown per game for the last month. There are still a few opportunities for a decent score later in the season but this week is the worst match-up left to face and they'll do that not sure what they are going to do for quarterback.

Matt Cassel is just done as far as the Chiefs are concerned and in fairness throwing 11 interceptions and losing seven fumbles will send anyone to the bench. But Cassel is the only way that Dwayne Bowe produced decent yardage or scores. Brady Quinn only threw for 180 yards and no scores in Tampa Bay in his only game. Quinn was knocked out of the Chargers game with a concussion and Cassel filled in with 181 yards but no scores. Almost all of his passes went to Bowe who ended with eight receptions for 79 yards.

The Chiefs may opt for Ricky Stanzi to play this week if Quinn is still out because of his concussion. That'll be even more risk and unknowns with an offense that is already bad.

Bowe caught a a season low three passes in Oakland when Quinn played. It is important to get Bowe involved because no one else is of any consequence in the passing scheme. The offense under OC Brian Daboll has been horrific so far with no signs of improvement. No wideout has a touchdown this year and no wideout ever gets more than about three catches for 50 yards. The tight ends are no better. Tony Moeaki caught four passes for 57 yards in week eight but then no catches against the Chargers.

Jamaal Charles was knocked out of the game in San Diego but passed all his concussion tests while still there and says he could have returned. Although Charles is clearly the best weapon on the entire offense, Daboll wants to platoon him. Peyton Hillis rushed seven times for 14 yards and had one catch. Shaun Draughn only had one carry which was the short touchdown run and he caught two passes. Dexter McCluster ran four times for 17 yards and caught two passes. Charles ran for 39 yards on 12 runs and caught three passes. Gone are the days that Charles gets 25 touches and racks up a monster game apparently. His two big games this year came when Hillis was injured.

Possible change at quarterback means that Bowe is still a risk to use and the matchup is not a good one anyway. The Chiefs are already driving the fantasy value of Charles and Bowe down and this game is not going to do anything to turn that around. Tough place to start any Chiefs players.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
QB Patrick Mahomes, KC	OAK	20	0	0	0	0	280	3	0
Mahomes is the only 30-point passer in fantasy vs. Oakland this year. The last three weeks have been in favor of Oakland, with four picks and only five TDs allowed. Big Ben was the best of he, Jeff Driskel and Case Keenum, as one would expect. KC has something at stake, so keep rolling with Mahomes.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
RB Damien Williams, KC	OAK	40	0	4	40	1	0	0	0
Williams was effective but saw only seven touches in Week 13. The Raiders have been tough against PPR backs his year, so we could be looking at an optimistic projection. Spencer Ware should return, which will diminish Williams' workload.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
RB Spencer Ware, KC	OAK	60	1	3	20	0	0	0	0
Ware returned to full practice this week and is expected to play. The Raiders gave up just 52 yards to Ware in a featured role in Week 13, but he found the end zone to salvage 12.2 points. He's a flex or low-end RB2 this week, but don't be overly excited to play him.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR Demarcus Robinson, KC	OAK	0	0	2	30	1	0	0	0
Robinson has four catches on six targets for 24 yards -- total -- in the last two weeks. He has, however, scored in each of those games and is a high-risk, modest-reward flier in fantasy this week. The Raiders have given up only 156 catches to WRs, but 22 have scored, which is a clip of once every seven grabs.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR Tyreek Hill, KC	OAK	0	0	4	60	0	0	0	0
Hill has not scored in four games and was held to just one catch for 13 yards on six targets vs. Oakland in the Week 13 trip to California. This project could prove to be conservative, and his explosive nature means he shouldn't leave lineups in conventional setups. DFS gamers can look for better options. Oakland has given up a TD every seven catches by WRs this year.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR Chris Conley, KC	OAK	0	0	3	30	0	0	0	0
He caught a touchdown in the last meeting, so there is a hint of upside, especially since Oakland has been super generous to WRs this year when it comes to scoring. Conley isn't an ideal play in any format, but he could do in a pinch or as a gamble in DFS. He has exactly one explosive game in 2018 (26.4 points vs. LAR).

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
TE Travis Kelce, KC	OAK	0	0	8	110	1	0	0	0
Oakland has given up the sixth-most points in PPR to tight ends this year, and that number jumps up from 14.9 a game to 18.1 in the last five weeks. Most of the damage is due to Kelce owning the Raiders for a ridiculous line of 12-168-2 in Week 13.

	Opp	fga	FGM	xpa	XPM	ConFac
K Harrison Butker, KC	OAK	3	3	4	4
No writeup available

Pregame Notes: A nice three game winning streak has the Steelers within one game of Baltimore in the AFC North and after facing the Chiefs, they will host the Ravens in their first meeting this year. Even with the missing players by the Ravens, there will be no taking them lightly because there is a chance that the Steelers could actually run the board now that the tougher half of the season is over. For this week, the temptation to look past the Chiefs is almost certain because they know they can get away with it.

Ben Roethlisberger threw at least one touchdown in every game this year and currently stands at 16 scores against only four interceptions. He's more likely to throw two or more scores than just the one and this week goes against a defense that has given up 18 touchdowns to quarterbacks already and all but the Ravens scored at least twice via a pass. This could be a good game if Big Ben takes advantage of it.

Last week Isaac Redman blew up with 147 yards on 26 runs with one score but that's more a function of a rare instance of him being the primary back with only Baron Batch to share with. Jonathan Dwyer has been out with a quad injury and Rashard Mendenhall has a bad Achilles. This is a committee backfield and the sharing will be back as soon as either or both other runners return. I will assume that Redman gets the call alone again this week and update as the health status of Mendenhall and/or Dwyer is better known. With an easy game this week and then a critical game next week, the Steelers may elect to let the other two heal up again this week.

Antonio Brown injured his ankle in the Giants game. First it was a high ankle sprain, then it wasn't and at last report appears to be a "sorta high ankle sprain". Again - this is an easy game and then the schedule goes against divisional rivals so the Steelers may elect to let Brown heal up this week. Emmanuel Sanders will take his place if needed. I will project for Brown out and adjust later if he is able to play.

Heath Miller should be in for a good showing here since three of the last four road opponents for the Chiefs scored with their tight end. Miller is highly consistent around 50 yards per week and scores in most. Particularly if there are other players out injured this week, Miller will be relied on.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	CIN	0	0	0	0	0	320	3	0
No writeup available

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
RB James Conner, PIT	CIN	90	1	2	20	0	0	0	0
Conner appears on track to return, and Cincinnati is a fine opponent to exploit. The Bengals have given up 20 total touchdowns in 15 games this year, and this is a great matchup in both primary scoring formats. Conner produced 129 yards of offense and two TDs vs. the Bengals in Week 6. Update: Conner was a full participant all week and is still listed as questionable for some reason or another. Get him into lineups with such a good matchup.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
RB Jaylen Samuels, PIT	CIN	20	0	3	30	0	0	0	0
Samuels could see some work if James Conner isn't completely up to speed, but utilize Samuels only as a total flier in deep leagues, due to the matchup.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT	CIN	0	0	7	100	1	0	0	0
Cincinnati gave up seven catches for 111 yards against Smith-Schuster in Week 6. He has scored once in his three contests vs. this divisional foe. The recent output has been strong, and Cincy remains one of the easiest defenses to exploit in fantasy. Update: Antonio Brown didn't practice all week and is a game-time decision.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR James Washington, PIT	CIN	0	0	4	60	1	0	0	0
Update: The rookie would have a larger role if Antonio Brown cannot play. Washington is a risky play in any format, but the matchup could justify a play in DFS.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR Antonio Brown, PIT	CIN	0	0	3	40	0	0	0	0
Brown (knee) sat out Wednesday and Thursday but is expected to play. The Bengals have been a punching bag for him most of his career, especially recently. He has scored in three straight games vs. the Bengals, and Brown is coming off of his biggest game of the year (14-185-2). Update: He didn't practice all week and is a game-time decision.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
WR Ryan Switzer, PIT	CIN	0	0	3	30	0	0	0	0
Update: Antonio Brown is a game-time decision, and some of his looks would be absorbed by Switzer on underneath routes. There just isn't a lot of upside, despite a good matchup, to play Switzer as more than a wild gamble.

	Opp	RuYD	RuTD	Rec	ReYD	ReTD	PaYD	PaTD	Int	ConFac
TE Vance McDonald, PIT	CIN	0	0	4	40	1	0	0	0
He has no appearances with more than four catches since the seven-grab game vs. the Bengals in Week 6. McDonald didn't score but finished with 68 yards. The veteran has only one score in the last five weeks and is a pure matchup play in all settings. Cincinnati has yielded 10 touchdowns to TEs this year.

	Opp	fga	FGM	xpa	XPM	ConFac
K Matt McCrane, PIT	CIN	2	2	4	4
No writeup available

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