FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

SD (7-3) vs KC (3-7)

Game Prediction: SD 30, KC 27

This is the first of two matchups these teams will have this season and the Chiefs have won five of the last six meetings including the last three. But these are two entirely different teams this time around.

The Chiefs are not 3-7 NFL bad by any means. But they are definitely 3-7 snake-bitten, broken mirror, bad mojo bad.

Pre-Game Notes - SD

The Chargers, AKA the highest scoring team in the NFL that does not have a horseshoe on their helmet, are currently on a four game winning streak and tied for the lead in the AFC West. But not with Kansas City.

Running Backs: Take a little rest for two weeks and LaDainian Tomlinson's groin has improved markedly. Last week in Oakland he had his best game of the season with 37 rushes for 164 yards and one score. He has scored in every game this year other then week three against Denver. Since KC has a top 5 worst rush defense, there is not only excellent chances for one score, he could see his first two touchdown game of the year this week.

Wide Receivers: With Tomlinson in fifth gear again, this squad had marginal use against the Raiders and only Keenan McCardell (7-91) had a fantasy impact on the game. As the year progresses and as long as Tomlinson remains healthy, it's most likely that McCardell will prove to be the lone consistent wideout for the rest of the season.

Tight Ends: The Raiders #1 goal for the defense last week was to stop Antonio Gates who had two scores against them in their prior meeting. This meant that Gates only scored once and it was on, of course, the first series of the game. Gates has six scores in the last three games.

Match Against the Defense: This should prove fascinating since the Chiefs have never played against the Chargers and had to care about the pass. Tomlinson is now healthy and he never had a truly big game against them last season - his best was "only" 100 yards and one touchdown. With the defense now worrying about Gates, Brees and McCardell, expect Tomlinson to "only" have at least 120 yards and an excellent shot at two touchdowns.

The Kansas City pass defense has been bad all year and has regularly allowed over 250 yards to opposing quarterbacks. They allow success to tight ends (bad with Gates coming) and wideouts (bad with McCardell coming) and that was when they weren't already concerned with Tomlinson in the game.

Look for a nice effort in a payback game by the Chargers who must beat this divisional foe to stay in the race for the title and make next week's game against Denver become the critical game of the year.

Pre-Game Notes - KC

The Chiefs come off a heart-breaking loss to the Patriots on Monday night and the losing streak - now up to three games - is taking a big toll on their ego and psyche. The Chiefs are so upset right now that they'll either obliterate the Chargers in a great cathartic showing or they will self-implode yet again. In either case, Vermeil will likely be moved to tears, it just depends if there is wailing involved as well.

Running Backs: Priest Holmes missed last week with a Grade-2 MCL strain and barring information he returns, I am assuming that Derrick Blaylock takes his place again this week. Blaylock only managed 58 yards on 19 carries against the Patriots which only indicates how truly bad the Saints were when they allowed him 186 yards the previous week.

Wide Receivers: All this passing yardage has directly benefited the wideouts with Johnnie Morton gaining his second 100 yard game last week and Eddie Kennison netting 99 yards and two touchdowns, Kennison has caught 16 passes for 324 yards and three scores in the last three games. The oddity in this is that the Chiefs are finally throwing for excellent yardage and involving the wideouts and yet losing every single game that it happens.

Tight Ends: The passing bonanza had also been good to Tony Gonzalez who had caught at least six passes in each of the last four games and recorded three scores and two 120+ yard efforts.

Match Against the Defense: Forget last year. The Chargers have allowed only one 100 yard rusher all season and only three rushing scores in the last eight games. The scoring ability of San Diego has kept almost all opponents to less than 15 carries a game. With Holmes out and Blaylock in, expect only moderate production from the man who is not Holmes and likely no scores.

The Chargers pass defense has been less effective, largely due to teams trying to stay up with the scoreboard and getting trashtime benefit. The Chargers almost always yield at least one passing touchdown but never more than two this season. That includes four tight end touchdowns in the last five games - hello, Gonzo. Green has a great opportunity to be that first three touchdown opponent.

The reality as well is that the Chargers have not faced a top passing attack in many weeks and both Morton and Kennison are great plays since both corners are weak against a passer like Green.