ESPN Fantasy Football on Patrick Mahomes

ArticleFantasy football matchup rankings for Week 1: Mayfield, Hampton set up for succ...
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Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos). Credit Mahomes for working hard to get himself back into the lineup in time for Week 1, nine months to the date that he tore both the ACL and LCL in his left knee in a Week 15 game last season. Nevertheless, he's unlikely to display the level of mobility he did pre-injury, at least in the early weeks, and he faces one of his worst matchups all season in his first game back. Only five times in 2025 did the Broncos afford a quarterback more than 15 fantasy points in a game, and they return largely the same defense this year, with the most prominent exception the departure of DE John Franklin-Myers.
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Mahomes faces worst-case matchup in injury-plagued return; avoid in Week 1.

Mahomes faces one of his worst matchups all season in his Week 1 return from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered nine months prior in Week 15 last season. He is unlikely to display the level of mobility he did pre-injury, at least in the early weeks. The Broncos allowed quarterbacks more than 15 fantasy points in only five games all of 2025 and return largely the same defense this year, with the primary exception being the departure of DE John Franklin-Myers.

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