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Through two games, Mark Ingram has 27 carries for 91 yards (3.4 YPC) while Pierre Thomas has 14 carries for 72 yards (5.1 YPC). Payton said the general plan is to give each a couple series at a time, but specific packages might “trump” that rotation. The goal-line work will usually include Ingram, making him worth sticking with in fantasy.

Good things happen when the Patriots get Williams involved downfield. He only caught one pass, but he made it count. Williams got open on a post route way downfield and was able to haul in the well-aimed pass from Drake Maye for a 43-yard score. The play was initially ruled incomplete because Williams accidentally kneed the ball out of his own possession as he entered the end zone, but coach Mike Vrabel smartly challenged the ruling of the play and won. Williams indeed crossed the plane before losing control of the ball. Williams’ workloads are frustratingly unreliable. He’s a boom-bust FLEX next week against the Packers.

Butker missed a 54-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter. It would have made the game a one-point deficit instead of four for the Chiefs’ final drive. Kansas City was ultimately rebuffed at the goal line and lost the game. Having missed a field goal in all but one game this year, we suspect Andy Reid will throw in the towel on Butker after today’s performance. Justin Tucker, recently signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad, will likely get called up for Week 9.

Coleman out-carried Dobbins 11-7 and was the only Broncos running back to earn a target, of which he saw five. Most importantly, Coleman was on the field for goal line duties, and he cashed in with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Though he only averaged 3.7 yards per carry, Coleman was a handful for Chiefs defenders to bring down, routinely creating missed tackles while racking up yards after contact. Coleman’s best rep of the day was a 51-yard catch-and-run to set up his touchdown on the next play. Coleman saw all of the high-value touches in the backfield while leading the way in carries and targets. The takeover is all but complete, putting Coleman in the RB2 ranks for Week 9 against the Panthers.

Maye’s two-yard touchdown run was a thing of beauty. The Patriots quarterback took off to the right side of the field, faking a pitch to Rhamondre Stevenson, which caused a Dolphins defender to fully bite on it, running right past Maye while the Patriots’ quarterback darted into the end zone. Maye’s first touchdown pass was thrown to Kyle Williams on a post route. It was well-placed, allowing Williams to secure the ball in stride just before entering the end zone. Maye later linked up with DeMario Douglas via play action for his second score. The Patriots’ quarterback is a QB1 against the Packers next week.

He added one carry for 15 yards. Johnson racked up the bulk of his production on a 73-yard touchdown grab in the first half. The Broncos sent pressure and Patrick Mahomes perfectly lofted the ball to Johnson, who saw nothing but green grass ahead of him. The turf monster nearly took him down at the 10-yard line, but Johnson stayed upright enough and lost one final defender on his way into the end zone. He also picked up a 38-yard catch just before halftime to set up a last-second field goal. Johnson had more than two touches in just one of his previous three games headed into Week 8. Though he’s not going to challenge Kenneth Walker for RB1 duties anytime soon, this breakout performance should earn him a few more touches in Week 9. He will be have some value as a boom/bust FLEX play versus the Jets.

Mahomes posted a strong box score for fantasy managers and took care of the football with zero turnovers. He also took just two sacks, but the second was one that will haunt Chiefs fans for a while. After marching the offense down to the goal line under the two-minute warning, the Chiefs found themselves on fourth-and-goal. They initially got the score via a strike to Rashee Rice, but the play was blown dead via a false start. The Broncos’ pass-rush got to him on the second try, taking Mahomes down for a game-ending sack. On the whole, it was another dink-and-dunk game plan from Mahomes, who failed to get the deep ball going once again. Luckily for him, Emmet Johnson averaged 25.6 yards per catch and turned a short toss into a 73-yard touchdown in the first half. The Chiefs get a bounce-back spot against the Jets next week in a game where Mahomes will be just inside the QB1 ranks.

The more efficient Blake Corum had 11 rushes for 73 yards and did not see a target in a run-heavy Rams offense. Williams led the LA backfield in routes but only had one look from Matthew Stafford. He was stuffed at the line of scrimmage a handful of times in the first half. The rushing volume in the Rams offense of late should make both Williams and Coum fantasy relevant every week, including next week against the Commanders.

Harbaugh is standing by the organization’s biggest offseason hire. The Chargers at least got a little passing production going today, though obviously the results continue to fall short of expectations. The Chargers, now 0-6, face the Texans, 2-5, in Week 9. Houston’s underperforming defense could give the Chargers a chance to improve their standing next week.

Nacua, with Davante Adams (hamstring) sidelined, again dominated targets in the newly run-heavy LA offense. No other Rams pass catcher saw more than four targets on the day. Nacua’s touchdown came on a well-designed screen in the second half at the end of a long drive for the run-first Rams offense. Nacua, who had 41 targets over his prior four games, is among the safest players in fantasy football. He matches up against the Commanders in Week 9.

It was another disappointing outing for Higbee. This one came with Colby Parkinson (ribs) sidelined. Davis Allen had two catchers on two targets for eight yards. Higbee now hasn’t had more than 25 yards receiving in a game since the beginning of October, and has lost opportunities with the Rams going run heavy in recent weeks. Higbee won’t be a fantasy option in Week 9 against the Commanders.