Week 17 vs Oakland
In what could be described as Six Degrees of Philadelphia Separation, Jeremy Maclin, signed by Kansas City in arguably the best free agent move of the offseason, played a major role in helping former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid clinch his second trip to the playoffs as leader of the Chiefs last weekend by catching five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Chip Kelly, who opted not to bring Maclin back to the City of Brotherly Love because he thought he could plug someone else into his overrated system, was fired by the Eagles on Tuesday. Hanging onto Maclin probably would have helped Chip win a weak NFC East and keep his job.
Despite missing a game earlier this season, Maclin heads into the season finale with 84 receptions for 1,034 yards and seven touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns came in Week 13 against the Raiders. With Kansas City needing a win to have any chance of taking home the AFC West crown, Maclin is a WR1.
Week 16 vs. Cleveland
Since Thanksgiving, fantasy general managers have been thankful to have Jeremy Maclin on their roster. Maclin has racked up plenty of yardage and scored four touchdowns during that span, including one last Sunday in Baltimore. He finished with seven receptions for 50 yards as the Chiefs easily defeated the Ravens 34-14.
And Maclin should have no trouble enjoying another round of success on Sunday. The Browns have given up 29 touchdown passes and also allow 252.9 passing yards per game. Maclin absolutely must be started if you are playing in a Super Bowl this week. He is also a good daily league option.
Week 15 at Baltimore
A soggy day in Kansas City last Sunday helped cool off Jeremy Maclin, who had scored three touchdowns during Weeks 12 and 13. Maclin caught six passes for 68 yards.
Game flow concerns with Maclin are quite real this week, but owners need to shake off fears of Kansas City racking up a big lead and keep Jeremy in the lineup. The Ravens have conceded a whopping 27 touchdown passes and allow just under 250 yards per game. There ought to be plenty of chances for Maclin, who almost always leads the Chiefs in targets. You can count on him as a WR2 who could easily produce WR1 numbers.
Week 14 vs San Diego
After breaking out of a slump against Buffalo in Week 12, Jeremy Maclin stayed hot in a crucial Week 13 win over Oakland, catching nine passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Maclin was targeted 10 times by Alex Smith. No other Kansas City receiver was targeted more than three times, underscoring Maclin’s importance to the offense.
The odds of Maclin being successful again this week are good, but he struggled earlier this year against San Diego, catching just three passes for 29 yards. Game flow hurt Jeremy in that one, as the Chiefs had no problem running the ball on the Chargers and won 33-3. It would not be a surprise if that problem popped up once again. Nevertheless, the potential rewards with Maclin outweigh the risks and you can count on him as a WR2 with the upside for more.
Week 13 at Oakland
It is safe to say Jeremy Maclin is no longer in the midst of a slump. Maclin was a major reason why Kansas City beat Buffalo 30-22 on Sunday, as Jeremy hauled in nine passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. Maclin’s upside is often curtailed by the conservative Chiefs offense, but when head coach Andy Reid opens up the offense, he is capable of big performances.
And it would make sense for Reid to keep things open out in Oakland, as the Raiders have one of the poorest pass defenses in the NFL. Given the matchup, Maclin may not need a lot of targets to produce a nice day. He can be plugged into lineups as a WR2.
Week 12 vs Buffalo
Kansas City’s recent surge up the standings has actually been bad news for Jeremy Maclin. As the Chiefs have won four in a row, Maclin has caught just nine passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Granted, he missed one of the wins because of a concussion, but defense and a strong running game are once again setting the tone for Kansas City. Alex Smith’s conservative nature is also a problem.
Buffalo’s pass defense can be vulnerable, as the Bills have conceded 18 touchdown passes. They also allow an average of 253.8 yards per game. Hopefully the Bills will serve as a slump buster for Maclin, who may be overdue for a big game. Despite his struggles, he remains on the WR3 radar.
Week 11 at San Diego
Denver’s dominant secondary put Jeremy Maclin in a deep freeze last Sunday. The veteran out of Missouri was held to three receptions for 17 yards. In his defense, game flow was an issue for Jeremy, as the Chiefs raced out to a 29-0 lead thanks to Peyton Manning’s perfect design on a patent for a turnover machine.
Maclin should be in a good spot to make amends for last Sunday, as San Diego’s secondary has given up 16 touchdown passes. Additionally, the Chargers are yielding 249.2 yards per game. Maclin may be a little bit more of a WR3 than WR2 in the wake of what happened in Denver, but regardless of classification, should be a solid starter.
Week 10 at Denver
Before the bye in Week 9, Jeremy Maclin returned to action in Week 8 after missing a game due to a concussion. Maclin caught three passes for 35 yards and his second touchdown of the season. Averaging six receptions and 81 yards a game, Maclin has given Kansas City the number one receiver they desperately needed.
Unfortunately, Maclin’s numbers this weekend may not resemble those of a top target. Denver’s pass defense struggled last Sunday in Indianapolis, but they remain the NFL’s best. Maclin had four receptions for 57 yards against the Broncos back in Week 2, an ordinary performance by his standards. While Maclin is hard to bench, it will be a challenge for him to top even those modest numbers. He will rebound into WR2 territory in the weeks to come, but in Week 10 he is nothing more than a WR3/flex.
Week 8 vs. Detroit
Jeremy Maclin missed Week 7 due to a concussion, but he has been practicing and will return on Sunday in London. Although Kansas City’s conservative offense has hampered Maclin’s touchdown potential, he has been a successful free agent signing for the Chiefs with 39 receptions for 531 yards on the season.
Detroit’s defense does not present a formidable obstacle. In seven games, the Lions have given up 12 touchdown passes. They also yield 268.9 yards per game, and Maclin needs to be started in all formats as a dependable WR2.
***UPDATE***
Maclin is out against the Steelers. Take him out of your lineup.
Jeremy Maclin suffered a concussion during Kansas City’s Week 6 loss to Minnesota and has yet to practice this week as of Thursday. However, ESPN’s Ed Werder has reported Maclin is expected to practice before Sunday and play against the Steelers. Before the injury, Jeremy caught three passes for 48 yards. Maclin must be started if available, but owners need to be making contingency plans just in case.
