Predicting Chiefs’ starters for Week 18 vs. Broncos with Patrick Mahomes, other star players expected to rest

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Kansas City Chiefs News

Things are going to look a little different for the Kansas City Chiefs in their Week 18 tilt with the Denver Broncos. Having locked up the AFC’s No. 1 seed in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs don’t have anything to play for when they travel to Empower Field at Mile High Stadium to face the Broncos.

The team is expected to rest several starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, quarterback Travis Kelce, and defensive tackle Chris Jones, during the Week 18 game. Just last season, 14 starters or high-snap-count players were inactive or didn’t appear in the final game of the season as the team had already locked in as the No. 3 seed.

Unfortunately, roster size won’t allow the Chiefs to rest every player, and several key players will likely have to dress out even if they don’t start. That said, Kansas City will likely trot out a very different starting lineup compared to what fans are used to seeing.

Here’s a quick prediction of the Chiefs’ starting lineup for Week 18’s game in Denver.

Projected Chiefs starting offense in Week 18

QB Carson Wentz

RB Carson Steele
WRs Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio
TE Peyton Hendershot
LT Kingsley Suamataia
LG Mike Caliendo
C Hunter Nourzad
RG C.J. Hansen
RT Ethan Driskell

Notes: As much as some people want to see D.J. Humphries get some repetitions, I don’t think you risk him in a meaningless game. You’ve got an abundance of young offensive linemen who need repetitions and experience. This is a massive opportunity for guys like Suamataia, Driskell, Nourzad, and Hanson to show season-long growth. I could see some movement and rotation at positions with Caliendo and Nourzad, as well as Wanya Morris maybe getting some snaps at right tackle. Likewise, I think that the Chiefs give three-down running back repetitions to Carson Steele. Hunt/Perine will probably dress, but I’d be very surprised if they play a lot of snaps. I think Noah Gray is too important to the offense at this juncture for him to get a lot of snaps. I’d guess that the team could elevate recently-signed practice squad TE Robert Tonyan along with QB Chris Oladokun.

Projected Chiefs starting defense in Week 18

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
DT Derrick Nnadi
DT Marlon Tuipulotu
DE Malik Herring
LB Leo Chenal
LB Cam Jones
CB Nazeeh Johnson
CB Keith Taylor

Slot Chris Roland-Wallace
S Jaden Hicks
S Chamarri Conner

Notes: Joshua Uche should be active and a key rotational player off the bench. Obviously, other players like Joshua Williams, Bryan Cook, and others. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Steven Nelson elevated from the practice squad for Kansas City this week, but they’ll have a roster crunch no matter what they do. They also lack an abundance of interior defensive linemen and linebacker depth, so they could use some help in that department. I do think that Leo Chenal gets the start and some time with the green dot, given the injury Jack Cochrane back in Week 16.