Super Bowl Fantasy POV: Watkins gives Chiefs edge at receiver
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins has quietly established himself as a difference maker for the Kansas City Chiefs as they face the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s Super Bowl LIV (54).
It is not like Sammy Watkins was invisible because he was targeted 90 times and fellow wide receiver Tyreek Hill was targeted 89 times during the regular season. It’s just Hill caught 7 touchdown passes to Watkins’s 3 and Hill averaged 15.7 fantasy football points per game to Watkins’ 9.9, according to ESPN’s FFL PPR scoring system.
When The playoffs began, the Texans and TItans’ defenses could not cover Watkins. In two playoff games, he was targeted 14 times for 9 catches, 190 yards receiving and one touchdown. Only Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce was targeted more (16 times) than Watkins. That makes Watkins a nice play in DFS for Sunday.
Normally, media coverage of the Chiefs’ passing game focuses on the “big three”: quarterback Patrick Mahomes, breakaway receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. But Watkins presents a problem for the 49ers defense. If you assign two defenders to Hill, then you are stuck with one-on-one coverage on Watkins and he still has speed to burn defenders on slant routes.
San Francisco also has their version of the “big three” in their passing game: quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and tight end George Kittle. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel would be Watkin’s counterpart, but the 49er wide receiver has just 5 catches for 88 yards and no touchdowns in two playoff games.
If you like hard-hitting football, watch 49ers tight end George Kittle and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce. They are combative and neither is easy to tackle.
Garoppolo will throw more passes to the running backs, but they are normally swing route plays that earn 3-5 yards. Mahomes will probably target 8 different Chiefs in an effort to keep the 49ers defense off-balance.
ADVANTAGE – Kansas City Chiefs
Next. 49ers have defensive edge in Super Bowl. dark
It will be like a chess match between the offenses and defenses in Super Bowl LIV (54). Kelce and Kittle will neutralize each other. In the end, the difference will be Patrick Mahomes’ ability to find open receivers and get the ball to them.
NEXT UP – A fantasy perspective on Kansas City and San Francisco’s running games.