By james art 
Breakdown of Monday night’s game between the Buccaneers and Chiefs and fantasy player rankings from the contest.
Week 9 of the NFL season concludes with a matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Let’s take a look at the best starting fantasy options from each team, and then we’ll rank them all before wrapping things up.
Looking for start/seat help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.
Quarterbacks
lead Tampa Bay in the game while leading Kansas City.
Mahomes has 1,651 passing yards, eight touchdowns and nine touchdowns this season along with a 68.4 completion percentage. He rushed for 139 yards and another score.
Although Mahomes is scoring in double figures in fantasy points every week, he has yet to reach 20 points. He is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season.
Mayfield has completed 71.1 percent of his passes for 2,189 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He rushed for 169 yards and two more scores.
Mayfield has topped 20 fantasy points in five straight games and has been one of the best fantasy QBs all season. Even without his top two receivers last week, Mayfield turned in another good fantasy performance.
The Bucs defense is the best possible fantasy matchup for a fantasy QB, with Tampa Bay allowing 23 points on the week. Mayfield’s game is average, with Kansas City giving up 16 points per game.
Mahomes is projected to have 20 fantasy points, while Mayfield is at 15. I also like Mahomes the most in this matchup, although the underdog could help Mayfield get another big fantasy score. Both are pretty solid starter options.
Running backs
will re-energize the Chiefs defensive backfield while supporting it.
has the most touches this season for Tampa Bay’s RBs, but is questionable for the game with a toe injury. and there are other options for the Bucs.
Hunt has at least 22 touches in three straight games and has totaled 308 rushing yards, four touchdowns and 84 rushing attempts this season. He added just 40 receiving yards on six catches and seven targets.
Steele has six or fewer touches over the last three weeks, while Perine has three or fewer. Steele had 140 yards on 41 attempts and 10 yards on three receptions and six targets. Perine rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts while contributing 104 receiving yards on nine catches and 12 targets.
Irving has at least 12 touches in the past three weeks. For the season, he has 395 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 76 attempts. Irving has 164 yards on 20 receptions and 22 targets.
White had 11 targets a week ago and 16 the week before that. He has 256 yards rushing on 67 attempts, but has 236 yards receiving and three scores on 28 catches and 31 targets.
Tucker had 17 touches three weeks ago when White was inactive, but has had just nine touches in the two games since. He has 175 yards rushing and a touchdown on 23 attempts, adding 91 yards receiving and scoring on six catches and seven targets.
This is a good matchup for the Chiefs RB as Tampa Bay has allowed 26 fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. The Chiefs defense is giving up a league-best 13 fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Week 9 projections as Hunt to score 14 PPR fantasy points. White is expected to have 11 points, while Irving is expected to have nine. Tucker registered three points.
I also think Hunt is the best fantasy option in this game.
I like White next, even if Irving is a good fit. White’s ability to catch passes will help him be a better fantasy asset. Then Irving would go here, but I really wouldn’t feel comfortable playing him in a standard league.
If Irving misses the game, White becomes a slightly better fantasy starter in standard leagues. Tucker would consider more, but I wouldn’t want to run him in any formats if possible.
Steele and Perine might score some fantasy points, but without a big play or goal, they aren’t the best fantasy options. I would try to avoid them outside of the major leagues.
Wide receivers
out this week for KC while everyone else should be playing. won’t play for Tampa Bay while both are questionable.
With Evans out of the lineup last week, McMillan was targeted seven times. However, he had just 35 yards on four catches.
had three catches for 19 yards on five targets. Shepherd had 18 yards on three carries and five targets. went for 58 yards on three carries and a target. went for 29 yards on two catches and a target.
McMillan led the way with 59 snaps, while Palmer had 51. Shepard had 45 snaps, Miller 30 and Jarrett 20.
Entered last week, had the best fantasy day among wideouts with 37 yards and a touchdown on four carries and eight targets.
played 55 snaps and had 33 yards on three catches and a target. Hopkins managed just 29 yards on two catches and three targets on 23 carries. played 21 snaps and had eight yards on his only catch and target. plays five pictures.
This is another tougher matchup for Tampa Bay’s players, while being a more favorable test for KC’s players. Tampa Bay is giving up 36 points per game to opposing fantasy outs, while Kansas City is allowing just 27.
Worthy is projected for 13 PPR fantasy points, while Hopkins has 10. McMillan is set for nine points and Shepard is the game’s last top-65 wideout with seven points.
I’m really not a huge fan of any of the wideouts in this game. A couple could step up, but I’d be most comfortable playing them in deeper leagues.
I’d take Worthy first, then Hopkins. Then I’d go with McMillan, Watson, Palmer, Shepherd, Hardman, Miller, Jarrett and Washington to round things out.
If McMillan can’t play, I’ll move Palmer ahead of Watson and keep everything else the same. If Shepard can’t go, I’ll move Miller over Hardman and leave everything else the same.
Tight ends
is the Bucs’ best wideout while still leading the Chiefs.
Otten has been fantastic the past two weeks and erupted for 81 yards and two scores on nine catches and 10 targets without Godwin and Evans last week. I expect him to be the team’s best pass rusher again tonight no matter who else is playing.
Kelce had his best fantasy performance last week and has produced solid fantasy numbers in three of the last four contests. My guess is he will lead the pass rushers in Kansas City tonight.
KC’s is also worth mentioning after playing 52 snaps last week. He managed just 23 yards on three catches and a target, but in deep formats and in a pinch, he’s a slightly better fantasy play tonight than you might think.
It’s a great match for all those tight ends. Kansas City is giving up the most fantasy points (17) to a fantasy tight end this season, while Tampa Bay is giving up 14.
Week 9 projections as Kelce to score 13 PPR points. Otto has 12 points.
I like Otto better than Kelce tonight. Otto should be heavily involved and a great matchup makes it an easy start for me tonight. Kelce is another player I would start this week.
Gray is more of a deep league fantasy option, but I like him better than many of the wideouts and running backs tonight (as you’ll see soon).
kicks
hits for Kansas City. He is 14-of-16 on his field goals and 17-of-18 on his extra points.
is the kicker for Tampa Bay. He has made 13 of his 14 field goals and made 24 of his 25 extra points.
Butker is projected to get nine fantasy points, while McLaughlin is just five. I also like Butker better tonight, though I think McLaughlin is a good starting option in a game that could be pretty high-scoring.
Defenses/Special Teams
Tampa Bay’s defense is allowing 389.5 yards and 29.4 points per game, while Kansas City is giving up 348 yards and 24.7 points.
The Bucs have 10 home runs and 12 turnovers. The Chiefs are at eight home runs and 11 turnovers.
Kansas City’s D/ST is projected for eight fantasy points, while Tampa Bay is at six. I also like the Chiefs’ D/ST better tonight, though both are average or worse fantasy options in my eyes.
Offensive Overall Ranking (OP or Flex Spots)
1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Baker Mayfield
3. Kareem Hunt
4. Cade Otten
5. Travis Kelce
6. Rachad White
7. Xavier Worthy
8. DeAndre Hopkins
9. Bucky Irving
10. Jaylen McMillan
11. Justin Watson
12. Trey Palmer
13. Sterling Shepard
14. Noah Gray
15. Carson Steele
16. McCall Hardman
17. Ryan Miller
18. Sean Tucker
19. Samae Perine
20. Rakeem Jarrett
21. Montrell Washington
If Irving can’t play, Tucker will slot in between Gray and Steele for me.
If McMillan drops out, Palmer will take his place. If Shepard can’t go, I’d move Miller in his place.
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