As if the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t had enough problems this season, the team lost wide receiver Jeremy Maclin midway through Sunday’s game with a concussion. Maclin caught three passes for 48 yards before leaving the game, which the Chiefs lost to the Minnesota Vikings 16-10, to fall to 1-5 on the season.
Jeremy Maclin leaves with concussion; Chiefs, fantasy owners must hope for the best
The wide receiver had to be helped to the locker room. We break down the fantasy implications.
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For the year now, Maclin has 39 catches (on 56 targets) for 531 yards and a touchdown. After his concussion on Sunday, the Chiefs looked to tight end Travis Kelce (five catches for 88 yards on seven targets) and wide receiver Albert Wilson (three for 57 and a touchdown on six targets) for its passing production.
Fantasy impact: Maclin looked to be in line for a big increase of targets in the wake of the season-ending ACL tear for running back Jamaal Charles, so the timing of this -- not that there’s ever a good time for a concussion -- is particularly frustrating. Maclin will have to go through the league’s concussion protocol before he can play again.
A week off wouldn’t be a surprise at this point, though neither would Maclin being active for Week 7. If Maclin does miss time, you’d have to think Kelce would be the greatest beneficiary, as clearly the most talented healthy offensive player the team has.
Wilson and De’Anthony Thomas would likely also see a bump in targets, just out of sheer attrition. Neither, though, would be a great fantasy option unless it’s desperate.
