Nick Foles' Fantasy Outlook After Alex Smith's Injury

When your starting quarterback goes down with an injury, it's comforting to have an experienced backup who is ready to play.  

This is the situation the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in after Alex Smith left the game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8. He was replaced by Nick Foles, who has spent parts of four seasons as a starter in the NFL.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Foles will start the team's Week 9 game while Smith remains sidelined, though the Chiefs have maintained that Smith didn't suffer a concussion.

Foles was a third-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2012 draft, starting six games during his rookie season with mixed results. He broke out in 2013 when he tallied 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions while posting the highest quarterback rating (119.2) in the NFL.

The quarterback went to the Pro Bowl that season with Chip Kelly at the helm.

Injuries limited him to just 19 starts over the next two years—one with Philadelphia and one with the St. Louis Rams—and his production dropped. In 2015, Foles finished with just 186.5 yards per game to go with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

On the field, Foles is a perfect fill-in candidate for Smith for however long the starter is out. The Chiefs have a strong defense and enough playmakers on offense that there won't be much drop-off with another veteran quarterback under center.

It will be a bit different from a fantasy perspective. The Chiefs offense, in general, is in disarray, with Jamaal Charles going on injured reserve this week and Spencer Ware's availability in question due to a concussion. The Chiefs could have Foles and Charcandrick West in the backfield on Sunday, and it's hard to imagine them having a ton of offensive success, even against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Those who are desperate for a quarterback could add Foles and get lucky with a few touchdowns to Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce or one of the running backs, but don't expect the 27-year-old to crack the top 15 in scoring at his position.