I’m not a big fan of trying to rely on fill-in players on teams that are resting regulars. That will almost certainly be the case with Kansas City this week, and rarely do you see those kind of players putting up good numbers.
With Kansas City, they have a coach with a long track record of preferring to rest players. If he’s got a team positioned to help itself to a free bye, he’ll take it. He did it many times in Philadelphia (1999-2012), and he’s done it twice with Kansas City.
Occasionally, one of the players in these games will surprise. A.J. Feeley tossed 3 touchdowns in a fill-in start 11 years ago, and Knile Davis ran for 81 yards and 2 TDs filling in for Jamaal Charles four years ago (with Kansas City taking San Diego to overtime before losing 27-24).
But the larger body of work indicates it’s best to stay away from a team that’s not putting its best foot forward.
By my count, Andy Reid has been in this position seven times before (coaching a playoff team with the opportunity to rest regulars). Those teams have gone only 3-4, scoring an average of 16 points.
I’m mildly interested to see what Patrick Mahomes looks like on Sunday. He connected on some deep balls in the preseason; I think he’ll start for them on opening day next year. But not a player I would want to have a fantasy team relying on.
| ANDY REID IN MEANINGLESS GAMES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Opponent | Result |
| 2001 | at Tampa Bay | W 17-13 |
| 2004 | at St. Louis | L 7-20 |
| 2004 | Cincinnati | L 10-28 |
| 2006 | Atlanta | W 24-17 |
| 2010 | Dallas | L 13-14 |
| 2013 | at San Diego | L 24-27 |
| 2014 | San Diego | W 19-7 |
—Ian Allan