Patrick Mahomes is not a player you want to face in the postseason. Since becoming the Chiefs’ starting QB in 2018, Mahomes has made the playoffs every year and has yet to lose before the AFC Championship Game. And Mahomes has already shown he has answers for whatever the Texans might throw at him. Houston has generated a league-high 38.9% pressure rate this season, but Mahomes is surgical in the quick passing game. In a Week 16 win against the Texans, Mahomes completed 17 of 19 quick passes (under 2.5 seconds) for 155 yards and one TD. That 83.6% completion percentage on such passes was the highest in the NFL this season, per Next Gen Stats.
Houston also opted to play man coverage on a season-high 48.9% of dropbacks against Kansas City. Mahomes responded by throwing for 151 passing yards against man coverage, his most in a game this season. And if DeMeco Ryans’ defense does flush Mahomes out of the pocket? Good luck. In the last six postseasons, Mahomes has thrown for 14 TDs on passes outside the pocket — nine more than any other QB — while scrambling for 517 yards, 32 first downs and four TDs. Mahomes is inevitable and with an extra week off to study Houston’s defensive tendencies, he should ink a positive next chapter in his legendary playoff story. (Check out this All-22 playlist of Mahomes’ quick passing success against the Texans in Week 16.
DraftKings Price: $6,000
You’ve heard of Mr. October in baseball? (Reggie Jackson, for the MLB-illiterate.) Well, Patrick Mahomes is Mr. January. In his career, Mahomes has averaged 24.3 fantasy points per game this month, more than any other player ever with at least seven career January contests. Mahomes also improved over the second half of this season — averaging 20.2 PPG since Week 9 — and tagged the Texans for 23.7 points a month ago. He might not have the floor or the ceiling of Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, but Mr. January comes at a significant DFS discount in comparison, making him valuable for lineups focusing elsewhere.
