Patrick Mahomes’ Week 10 status got a little shaky after the hit he took against the New York Jets, but the bottom line for fantasy managers is simple: he’s in.
Mahomes was left off the Kansas City Chiefs’ final injury report and will be available against the Atlanta Falcons. That clears up the biggest question after he injured his throwing elbow in the win over the Jets, when a hard shot left him grabbing at his right elbow and forearm.
He walked off in obvious pain, then came back on the Chiefs’ next offensive series. An MRI after the game showed no major injury.
The week didn’t bring any new alarm bells, either. Mahomes was a full participant in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, which lined up with the Chiefs’ decision to leave him off the final report.
Kansas City did have a few other names worth watching. Running back Kenneth Walker and cornerback Mansoor Delane are questionable for Sunday’s game, while offensive lineman Jaylon Moore is out. The team also noted that Kenneth Walker, Jaydn Ott, and Mansoor Delane are questionable for Sunday’s game in Atlanta, with Jaylon Moore, Peter Woods, and Omarr Norman-Lott ruled out.
From a fantasy standpoint, Mahomes still looks like the kind of quarterback you don’t overthink. He’s thrown for 2,037 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games, and he’s coming off back-to-back strong performances with 563 passing yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions over his last two outings.
The matchup also helps. Atlanta has allowed 241.2 passing yards per game this season, and Joe Burrow just put up 271 passing yards against them in the Falcons’ Week 9 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Final verdict: Start.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Made Their Post-Bates Defensive Priorities Very Clear
The Falcons wasted little time reinforcing the defense after the Bates move, locking in two more pieces before the market could shift further. Atlanta agreed to a three-year extension with EDGE Cameron Thomas that can reach $33 million, keeping him under contract through the 2029 season, and also finalized a two-year deal with cornerback CJ Henderson that can climb to $20 million with $11 million guaranteed.
Both moves were confirmed by multiple NFL insiders and agents, a sign the Falcons are intent on stabilizing the back end and the pass rush at the same time. For a team trying to sort out its defensive identity, the message is clear: Atlanta is not waiting around to see which of its own pieces might be available later. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Signaled Bigger Offensive Line Changes Are Coming
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Bill Callahan plans to open with Corey Levin at center, but the bigger question is how much else changes around him. Matthew Bergeron and Jake Matthews could be part of a reshuffled group, and the Falcons are already expected to keep looking for help in free agency and the 2027 NFL Draft. For a team trying to stabilize up front, this trade looks less like the end of the conversation than the start of it. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Huge Chiefs Question Before Week 10
The Falcons Week 10 trip to Kansas City just picked up a little more uncertainty, and it centers on a backfield issue that could alter how the Chiefs approach Sunday. Kenneth Walker III reported groin tightness and sat out Fridays practice, leaving Andy Reid and his staff to sort through one more late-week question before making a final call on his status.
For Atlanta, the timing matters because Kansas Citys offense can look very different depending on who is available in the run game. Reid said the team will evaluate Walker before deciding whether he can go, and if he cannot, rookie Emmett Johnson is in line to step in. It is the kind of development the Falcons will be watching closely as they try to prepare for whatever version of the Chiefs shows up. [Read more 🡒]