The Week 1 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans could be a low-scoring game where fantasy points are hard to come by. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Fantasy football projections, Week 1: Chiefs-Texans featuring Jeremy Maclin, Jamaal Charles and DeAndre Hopkins
We break down the Week 1 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.
Kansas City Chiefs
With Dwayne Bowe now a member of the Cleveland Browns, there is a new No. 1 receiver in Kansas City. The chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin in free agency in hopes of upgrading their passing game. While he’s admittedly moving over to a team that is much more conservative in the passing game than Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs haven’t had a true top flight receiver in a couple of years. Only tight end Travis Kelce will aid Maclin through the air.
When the Chiefs go to the ground, which will undoubtedly be often this season, running back Jamaal Charles will handle the bulk of the work. Yes, teammate Knile Davis did show that he could carry the load when Charles missed time due to injury last year, but Jamaal is still the go-to guy. He has the quickness, pass-catching ability and rushing stats to warrant consideration as a top fantasy player in 2015. Facing J.J. Watt and the Texans is a tall order for any running back, but Charles should be up to the task to start the season.
Houston Texans
Star running back Arian Foster is out at least a couple of weeks with a torn groin, which means that Alfred Blue will start the season as the team’s top rusher. Blue was fortunate to gain experience when Foster was out last year, but his 3.1 yards per carry isn’t exactly going to fill Arian’s shoes. Blue is a fantasy starter for Week 1 in deeper leagues, but the Chiefs represent a tough test.
More than likely, the offensive star for the Texans this Sunday will be wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins managed to put together his first 1,000-yard receiving season last year finishing with 1,210 yards to go along with six touchdowns and 76 receptions. Those numbers should improve even more with Andre Johnson now a member of the Indianapolis Colts and only the on again, off again Cecil Shorts III competing for receptions. Hopkins is a Week 1 fantasy starter even though the Chiefs have a quality secondary.
