Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Football Matchup Breakdown For Week 6

Rashee Rice (WR)

From Dwain McFarland's Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (WR Injury Watch):

Rashee Rice | Chiefs: Rice (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, which isn't great given Kansas City is coming off a bye week. Rice's production has slumped in 2026, but the Chargers run the 11th-most zone (75%). Historically, he has earned more opportunities against zone, but his TPRR is 16% this year. He does have a 1.94 YPRR. Rice would be a low-end WR2 in a week with four teams on bye.

Xavier Worthy (WR)

From Matthew Freedman's Week 6 WR Favorites (Offensive Injury Upgrades):

Xavier Worthy (Chiefs) vs. Chargers: WRs Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) both suffered injuries in Week 4, which resulted in Worthy having his most complete game of the season (9.0 fantasy points, 4-70-0 receiving, 7 targets). The Chiefs should be fresh off the bye, but there are reasons to be pessimistic: They've had the league's No. 3 worst home-field advantage over the past five years (-0.61, per NFElo), and it doesn't get a boost hosting the division-rival Chargers, against whom Patrick Mahomes has notably struggled (4-8-2 ATS, -31.0% ROI). Plus, we tend not to see many points in general at Arrowhead Stadium: No QB has been more profitable to the under at home than Mahomes (50-30-1, 19.7% ROI). Still, Worthy could see an increased workload without Rice and Thornton, and the Chargers could be without CB Donte Jackson (hamstring) and SS Derwin James (hamstring) in the secondary.

From Zain Dhanani's Week 6 Scheme Advantages & Disadvantages (Matchups That Are Tougher):

Xavier Worthy vs. Chargers Coverage: Worthy's target rate falls from 30.8% against man to 13.9% against zone, with just 0.78 YPRR on his 72 routes against zone this season. The Chargers play zone on 63.7% of dropbacks.

Los Angeles uses Cover 3 on 29.9% of dropbacks, its most-used coverage. Worthy has earned 5 targets on 37 routes against Cover 3, averaging 0.73 YPRR.

I'd use Worthy as a WR3/flex because Rashee Rice will miss the game with his hamstring injury. Rice missed practice the entire week following Kansas City's bye.

There's also chatter about more Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen usage, so we could see more rotations at WR. Those guys might be interesting deep-league adds to get ahead of the wire in case either has a big game.

Travis Kelce (TE)

From Matthew Freedman's Week 6 TE Fades (Scoring Downgrades):

Travis Kelce (Chiefs) vs. Chargers: The Chiefs should be fresh off the bye, but there are reasons to be pessimistic. They've had the league's No. 3 worst home-field advantage over the past five years (-0.61), and it doesn't get a boost hosting the division-rival Chargers, against whom QB Patrick Mahomes has notably struggled (4-8-2 ATS, -31.0% ROI). Plus, we tend not to see many points in general at Arrowhead Stadium: No QB has been more profitable to the under at home than Mahomes (50-30-1, 19.7% ROI). Kelce could see more usage without WRs Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Tyquan Thornton (ankle), who both suffered injuries in Week 4, but the Chargers are No. 2 in smallest fantasy boost allowed to TEs (-5.5), even with SS Derwin James (hamstring) missing the past two games.

Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Preview For Week 6

Justin Herbert (QB)

From Matthew Freedman's Week 6 QB Fades (Offensive Injury Downgrades):

Justin Herbert (Chargers) at Chiefs: The Chiefs are coming off the bye, and the Chargers are playing their third road game in four weeks. Philosophically, I want to like Herbert in this spot. He has done well in the past against Chiefs HC Andy Reid (8-2-1 ATS, 52.6% ROI), as has HC Jim Harbaugh (5-0-1 ATS, 80.0% ROI). Additionally, Herbert has dominated in division (22-11-1 ATS, 28.0% ROI). But this season his play has been atrocious, both his overall production (12.1 fantasy points per game, 937 yards passing, 5 TDs, 7 INTs with 24-142-0 rushing) and startling inefficiency (59.4% completion rate, 5.0 AY/A). Now he has a tough matchup against the Chiefs, who are No. 4 in smallest fantasy boost allowed to QBs (-4.6), and his offensive support has been decimated. No. 1 WR Ladd McConkey (foot) technically suited up last week but didn't play. Nos. 2-3 WRs Quentin Johnston (chest) and Tre' Harris (hamstring) are uncertain. LT Rashawn Slater (ankle, IR) and C Tyler Biadasz (knee, IR) are out, and RT Joe Alt (neck) and LG Kayode Awosika (lower leg) are questionable. At some point, Herbert and the 0-5 Chargers will bounce back … but not this week.

Omarion Hampton & Keaton Mitchell (RB)

From Matthew Freedman's Week 6 RB Fades (Road Dog Downgrades):

Omarion Hampton (Chargers) at Chiefs: The Chiefs are coming off the bye, and the Chargers are playing their third road game in four weeks. Philosophically, I want to like the Chargers and Hampton in this spot. QB Justin Herbert has done well in the past against Chiefs HC Andy Reid (8-2-1 ATS, 52.6% ROI), as has HC Jim Harbaugh (5-0-1 ATS, 80.0% ROI). Additionally, Herbert has dominated in division (22-11-1 ATS, 28.0% ROI). But this season Hampton has been only marginally functional (9.4 fantasy points per game, 306 yards, 3 TDs on 73 carries, 6 targets, 51 Utilization Score), and last week he found himself in an ugly three-man committee (32% snap rate, 43% rush share, 9% route rate, 36 Utilization Score). Now he has a tough matchup against the Chiefs, who are No. 3 in defensive rush SR (33.7%), and his OL has been decimated: LT Rashawn Slater (ankle, IR) and C Tyler Biadasz (knee, IR) are out and RT Joe Alt (neck) and LG Kayode Awosika (lower leg) are questionable. At some point, Hampton and the 0-5 Chargers will bounce back … but not this week.

From Dwain McFarland's Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Running Backs I Am Sitting):

Omarion Hampton | Chargers

They say a picture is worth a thousand words:

That is the Chargers backfield rotation over the last three games. Hampton is an early-down grinder with the short-yardage role.

The Bolts have the worst team total (15.9) and are 8.5-point underdogs in Freedman's model.

What is the short-yardage role worth on an offense that can't block or score points? Nothing.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 7.0
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 12.1
• Floor: 5.0

Hampton is a mid-range RB3, even on a week with four byes. Life comes at you fast.

From Zain Dhanani's Week 6 Scheme Advantages & Disadvantages (Matchups That Are Tougher):

Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell vs. Chiefs Run Defense: I'd sit Hampton against Kansas City, especially in PPR leagues (he's caught just 5 passes all season and does not run many routes). He played just 20 offensive snaps against Denver, the fewest of the Chargers' three running backs.

Kansas City has allowed 3.33 YPC to RBs, second fewest in the NFL. The Chiefs have stopped 24.7% of opposing RB carries at or behind the line of scrimmage, with backs averaging just 0.59 yards before contact per attempt.

The same notes apply to Keaton Mitchell—this is the worst timeline for the Chargers.

Ladd McConkey (WR)

From Dwain McFarland's Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (WR Injury Watch):

Ladd McConkey | Chargers: McConkey (foot) got in a limited practice session on Wednesday after not practicing last week. Unfortunately, the Chargers own the lowest team total (16.2) and draw a tough matchup. The Chiefs are the eighth-hardest WR matchup (-4.1 PPG). Still, if McConkey gets cleared to play, he will be a high-end WR3 with WR2 upside.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR)

From Matthew Freedman's Week 6 WR Fades (Offensive Injury Downgrades):

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chargers) at Chiefs: Let's say you're desperate because there are four teams on bye, and you have a number of WRs who are out and/or injured. You see Valdes-Scantling sitting there on waivers, and you think: "Hey, No. 1 WR Ladd McConkey (foot) technically didn't play last week, and Nos. 2-3 WRs Quentin Johnston (chest) and Tre' Harris (hamstring) are uncertain. This guy might actually be the No. 1 WR for QB Justin Herbert this week!" I get it. And I'm sympathetic. Philosophically, I want to like the Chargers and Valdes-Scantling in this spot. Herbert has done well in the past against Chiefs HC Andy Reid (8-2-1 ATS, 52.6% ROI), as has HC Jim Harbaugh (5-0-1 ATS, 80.0% ROI). Additionally, Herbert has dominated in division (22-11-1 ATS, 28.0% ROI). But the Chiefs are coming off the bye, and the Chargers are playing their third road game in four weeks. Not great. And here's what's worse: The Chiefs are No. 1 in defensive pass DVOA vs. No. 1 WRs (-65.8%) and fewest fantasy points allowed to WRs (15.6), and the Chargers have a decimated OL: LT Rashawn Slater (ankle, IR) and C Tyler Biadasz (knee, IR) are out and RT Joe Alt (neck) and LG Kayode Awosika (lower leg) are questionable. At some point, the 0-5 Chargers will bounce back … but not this week. Resist the siren song of Valdes-Scantling.

Oronde Gadsden (TE)

From Dwain McFarland's Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (TE Sicko Start):

Oronde Gadsden II | Chargers: It probably won't happen, but Gadsden gets the third-best TE matchup (+8.2 PPG) and had a 76% route share last week with Charlie Kolar back. Gadsden is a low-end TE2 with low-end TE1 upside. How about that for a range of outcomes, y'all!?!? SICKO!!!!!!

Sources

• Matthew Freedman: Week 6 QB Fades, RB Fades, WR Favorites, WR Fades, TE Fades (full series: Freedman's Favorites & Fades for Week 6)
• Dwain McFarland: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em For Week 6 Fantasy Football Lineups
• Zain Dhanani: Week 6 Scheme Advantages & Disadvantages For Fantasy Football

Back to the full Week 6 Game-By-Game Breakdown.