Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Athletic’s Nate Taylor believes Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is “skilled enough to be the Chiefs’ top passing option” for two more seasons. “An argument can be made that Mahomes is so brilliant, from the pocket and improvising out of the pocket, that perhaps he and Kelce can continue to connect for at least 1,000 yards the next three years,” Taylor concludes. Kelce, 34 in October, has hit 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons. He showed no signs of decline last year, but that’ll be a topic worth revisiting each offseason. For now, Kelce remains king of the TE rankings.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach suggested that the team views rookie WR Rashee Rice as a potential replacement for WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. “He was a guy that the contested catch and the run-after-the-catch (skill) was something that really stood out," Veach said. “We did lose JuJu. It makes sense to find a guy that can do a lot of things that he can do on the inside game. He’s almost like a running back after the catch." Rice has reportedly spent time out wide, in the slot and even attached to the line of scrimmage at rookie minicamp. He played 82% of his snaps out wide at SMU last year but was in the slot for 94% of his snaps back in 2021. That positional versatility can only help Rice's chances of earning a significant role as a rookie.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is recovering from offseason surgeries on his hand and labrum, HC Andy Reid said. According to Rutgers Wire, Pacheco played "much of the season" with a torn labrum and then broke a bone between his wrist and thumb in the AFC Championship Game. "He's making progress," Reid said. "We'll just see how he does with it. I can't even give you a timeline on it, but he's doing well." Pacheco emerged as Kansas City's lead back over the second half of last season, averaging 13.6 carries over the final 12 games (including playoffs). He ceded most of the passing-down work to RB Jerick McKinnon, who just re-signed with the Chiefs last week. We'll likely see a similar arrangement this season, assuming Pacheco is back to 100% by Week 1. We'll keep an eye on his recovery.

The Chiefs selected SMU WR Rashee Rice in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Rice is coming off a huge 2022 season: 96 catches, 1,355 yards, and 10 TDs. He ranked ninth among 286 qualifying WRs in yards per route run (3.05) and seventh in Pro Football Focus receiving grade. He also led SMU in catches as a sophomore and junior. Rice isn’t a burner (4.51-second 40 time) but has the leaping ability, body control, and ball skills to win contested balls downfield. He led the FBS with 18 receptions 20+ yards downfield last year. Rice helped himself at the Combine with a 95th percentile Relative Athletic Score, highlighted by elite marks in the vertical and broad jumps at 6’1 and 204 pounds. He joins a depth chart featuring Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore. There’s room to climb into a fantasy-friendly role as soon as 2023. Longer-term, you’re chasing a potential full-time starter alongside Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs spent the final pick of Round 1 on Kansas State Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The former Wildcat posted nice numbers over the past two years, totaling 25.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks over that span. He didn't run a 40-yard dash leading up to the draft because of right foot and left hamstring issues. But Anudike-Uzomah otherwise tested well, including a 91st-percentile 3-cone drill. There's room for him to carve out an early role in Kansas City. Landing in Round 1 figures to move Anudike-Uzomah up our rookie IDP rankings.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is excited by WR Justyn Ross' progress this offseason. “The talent is through the roof,” Mahomes said. “I think anyone can see that. He’s getting better and better. Even though he wasn’t active all year he was in the building and he was able to see the guys and how we do things. Listening and being in the meetings and some of the stuff like that. I’m excited for him, man. To be able to get out there and get the reps in practice, get the little fine details that we like to do in this offense.” Ross went undrafted last year due to medical concerns and then missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury. But he was awesome early in his Clemson career, racking up 1,865 yards and 17 TDs over his first 2 seasons. Ross is still a long shot for tangible fantasy value this season, but he's worth keeping an eye on if for no other reason than the offense he plays in. Ross is also worth stashing in deeper dynasty leagues.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes conceded that the right ankle he injured in the Divisional Round of the playoffs still isn't back to 100%. “Now, it’s been more about just kind of managing it, but getting the mobility back as best I possibly can,” Mahomes explained. “I wouldn’t say I’m 100%, but I’ve had no, necessarily, limitations. When you go through the grind of the week of training, you’re trying to push it and go through the rehab process, but at the same time, you want to make sure you’re still building. You might be a little sore on the weekends, but I think we’ve done a great job of pushing it to the right limit to where now I’m throwing and stuff like that and having no limitations there. Running and cutting, there will still be a few limitations going for the next few weeks.” Mahomes added that he expects to be at 100% come training camp. We'll continue to keep an eye on the situation, but the ankle is not impacting our 2023 projections for Mahomes.

TE Irv Smith has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Bengals. The 50th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft posted a promising 36-311-2 line as a rookie -- but then missed 3 games in 2020, the entire 2021 season with a torn meniscus in his knee and then half of this past year with a high-ankle sprain. Smith was an intriguing prospect coming out of Alabama: a catch-first TE who broke out for 710 yards and 7 TDs on 16.1 yards per catch as a junior. And this is about as strong a landing spot as we could have hoped for. The Bengals are looking to replace TE Hayden Hurst, who averaged 5.5 targets, 4.2 catches and 36 yards across 15 healthy games last season (including playoffs). He ranked 18th among TEs in PPR points per game and 16th in expected PPR points per game. That's a fair expectation level for Smith. Consider him a TE2 with spike-week potential in early best-ball drafts.

SMU WR Rashee Rice earned the fifth-highest Relative Athletic Score (RAS) among receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 6'1, 204-pounder registered the position's second-highest vertical (41 inches) and a strong broad jump (10'8). His 4.51-second 40-yard dash was closer to decent for the position (63rd percentile), but Rice's 1.49-second 10-yard split rated elite. Rice posted huge numbers as a 2022 senior, catching 96 balls for 1,355 yards and 10 TDs. He broke out as a 20-year-old sophomore. Look for much more on Rice in his upcoming dynasty prospect profile.

The Commanders announced on Monday afternoon that they've parted ways with QB Carson Wentz. The former 2nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft appeared in only 8 games in his lone season with the Commanders, completing 172 of 276 attempts for 1,755 passing yards with 11 TDs and 9 INTs. The structure of Wentz's contract made it so that he wasn't guaranteed any money beyond 2022, so this is a clean break for the franchise after a 1-year trial. Wentz struck out in consecutive seasons with the Colts and Commanders and may struggle to find another starting job in the NFL. It's likely we see him go the veteran backup route on the open market.

The Chiefs promoted Matt Nagy to OC. Nagy spent this past year as Kansas City's QBs coach and has 11 total seasons working with HC Andy Reid under his belt. That includes serving as the Chiefs' OC back in 2017, when the team finished top 6 in both points and total yards with QB Alex Smith. We're not expecting a notable change to Kansas City's offense with Nagy replacing Eric Bieniemy.

Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is inactive for the Super Bowl. He wasn't listed on this week's injury report after being activated from IR, so this is a healthy scratch. Kansas City will again roll with RBs Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and Ronald Jones vs. the Eagles.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He avoided a setback in the AFC Championship win over the Bengals and should be closer to 100% for Sunday's Super Bowl vs. the Eagles.

Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (ankle, hamstring) put in a limited practice on Wednesday. He said that he expects to play in Sunday's Super Bowl vs. the Eagles -- and the limited practice early in the week puts him on track. We'll get another update on Toney's status on Thursday.

Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) has been activated from IR. It makes him eligible to play in Sunday's Super Bowl, although it's still unclear if he will. Edwards-Helaire has been out since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 11. If he does play against the Eagles, he'll likely be used sparingly behind RBs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Thursday that WR Kadarius Toney (ankle) is "close." He didn't practice on Thursday but did participate in the walkthrough. It sounds like Toney has a good chance to play in next weekend's Super Bowl. We'll keep you updated on his progress.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said Thursday that his ankle is "in a good spot" coming out of the AFC Championship win over the Bengals. Mahomes ran for just 8 yards in that one but didn't seem impacted when throwing, finishing with a 326-2-0 passing line. He has another 10 days to get ready for the Super Bowl.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (back) is active for today's AFC Championship game vs. the Bengals. He reportedly injured his back on Friday and was a legitimate game-time decision for this one, so Kelce brings more risk than usual in fantasy lineups.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that there's "true uncertainty" about how Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' injured ankle will hold up in today's AFC Championship game vs. the Bengals. The ankle didn't swell up as much as the team thought it would, and Mahomes looked better in practice than expected, per Rapoport. But Mahomes didn't sprint at all this week, and it's unclear how the ankle will respond when Mahomes gets hit. There's clearly elevated risk to Mahomes in fantasy lineups today.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) practiced fully all week and doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's AFC Championship game vs. the Bengals. Mahomes still tossed 2 TDs and 195 yards while looking visibly slowed by this ankle issue last week vs. the Jaguars. Even if his mobility is limited, his full practice participation every day this week should instill confidence in fantasy managers this weekend. It's hard to bet against a dominant player like Mahomes despite the fact that the Bengals' defense ranks as the 2nd-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.