The Chiefs selected Texas WR Xavier Worthy in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Worthy set the Combine record with a 4.21-second 40 time and plays to that speed on the field. He averaged 14.0 yards per reception for his college career, making big plays both downfield and after the catch (7.3 career YAC/reception). He’s also an impressive route runner. Worthy broke out as an 18-year-old true freshman, easily leading the Longhorns with 62 catches, 981 yards, and 12 TDs. A QB change and a fractured finger led to a dip in raw production in 2022, although Worthy still led Texas in all major receiving categories. He made it three straight seasons as Texas’ top receiver last year, despite the arrival of WR Adonai Mitchell. Not only did Worthy easily beat Mitchell in catches (75 to 55) and yards (1,014 to 845), but he also dusted him in advanced metrics like targets per route (0.25 to 0.17) and yards per route (2.14 to 1.72). The glaring concern with Worthy: He’s just 165 pounds. Only two WRs at 170 pounds or lighter – DeVonta Smith and Tank Dell – have reached 10 PPR points per game since 2000. Worthy, though, is just the third sub-170-pound WR since 2000 to be a top-50 pick in the draft (joining Smith and Dexter McCluster). His chances of success increase in Kansas City. The Chiefs are simply thin at WR, especially with Rashee Rice facing a multi-game suspension. Note that free-agent addition Marquise Brown signed a one-year deal. Worthy ultimately projects in WR5 range for early best ball drafters.
ESPN's Adam Schefter writes that Chiefs WR Rashee Rice "is expected to be disciplined by the NFL, resulting in at least a multi-game suspension.” The line came in a much larger piece about NFL Draft rumors, with Schefter pegging the Chiefs as a candidate to add a WR in Round 1. But he wouldn't write that about Rice if he didn't have good intel. Rice is facing eight charges after his involvement in a street-racing crash in Dallas in late March. The league tends to wait for the legal process to play out, so it's unclear exactly when any potential Rice suspension would come. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation but are docking two games from Rice's 2024 projections for now. That has him falling in the 2024 WR Rankings.
The Chiefs re-signed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. CEH drew very little interest in free agency after setting career lows last year with 223 rushing yards and 3.2 yards per carry. He'll be no higher than No. 2 on Kansas City's depth chart behind Isiah Pacheco. We'll see if the Chiefs add to the backfield in the draft. Edwards-Helaire is not worth a pick in early best-ball drafts.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice allegedly fled the scene of a serious accident in Dallas on Saturday night. He's believed to have been driving a Corvette that was racing a Lamborghini. The Lamborghini lost control, hit a median wall, and caused "a chain reaction collision involving four other vehicles," according to the Dallas police. Four people suffered minor injuries, including two who were taken to the hospital. We'll keep you updated on the situation, but Rice comes with at least some suspension risk if you're drafting right now.
The Chiefs are signing WR Marquise Brown to a one-year deal worth "up to" $11 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If you have to settle for a "prove it" deal, it's tough to imagine a much better place to do it. The Chiefs return TE Travis Kelce as the most likely top target. WR Rashee Rice seized a large role late in the season and appears likely to hit 2024 as at least the lead wideout -- maybe a challenger to Kelce. But last year's No. 3 in targets was WR Justin Watson, whose 53 checked in 49 behind Rice. Brown obviously gets a boost to his weekly upside by joining QB Patrick Mahomes. He might have a tough time finding consistent targets. But he should easily emerge as at least the clear No. 3 target. We'll see where Brown lands in ADP before judging how good a draft value he is. "Mahomes WRs" often get pushed up the board a little too much. If Brown can stay outside the top 36 in ADP, he'll be fine to target. Climbing high into WR3 range would start to add more risk. Check our best ball rankings to see where Brown lands post-signing.
Texas WR Xavier Worthy ran an official 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the Combine on Saturday, breaking WR John Ross' old record by one one-hundredth of a second. That followed a three-year college career that saw Worthy average a big 14.0 yards per catch, including 7.3 yards after the catch. He also impressed in Indianapolis with a 41-inch vertical and 131-inch broad jump. But the most important measurable might have been when Worthy weighed in at just 165 pounds. That was seven pounds lighter than his college listing and lands him in a bucket of players that rarely make significant fantasy impacts. In fact, Tank Dell and DeVonta Smith are the only sub-170-pound WRs since 2000 to reach 11 PPR points per game in a season. Of course, none of those light WRs were as fast as Worthy. And most didn't get first-round draft capital, as Worthy likely will after running the 4.21-second 40. His fantasy stock certainly gets a bump post-Combine. Just don't forget to factor his size into the evaluation.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce said after Sunday's Super Bowl win that he'll be back for the 2024 season. There had been some whispers that he'd retire, especially if the Chiefs won another title. But Kelce will help Kansas City gun for a three-peat. The 34-year-old averaged 14.8 PPR points per game this past year -- his fewest since 2016 but still enough to lead all TEs. Kelce then racked up 32 catches, 355 yards, and three TDs across four playoff games. He sits atop our 2024 fantasy football TE rankings.
Chiefs WR Skyy Moore (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. WR Kadarius Toney was not listed on the injury report. So it looks like both guys will be available for Sunday's Super Bowl, although it remains unclear if either or both will be active. Neither guy has played since mid-December. Rashee Rice, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Justin Watson will likely to continue operating as Kansas City's top three WRs regardless.
RB Kareem Hunt recently underwent sports hernia surgery to repair a ruptured adductor, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hunt was on the injury report with a groin for much of the season, which might have played a part in his career-low 3.0 yards per carry. Hunt is set to hit free agency in March. He's unlikely to capture a significant backfield role or be a major fantasy factor in 2024.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle, toe) is active for today's game against the Ravens. He missed the week's first two practices before a limited Friday and "questionable" listing on the final injury report. Pacheco's gotta be somewhere south of full strength. But we're also seen no indication his role will be limited today. It's tough to downgrade him as a fantasy option on a two-game slate. Perhaps the combo of toe and ankle issues at least gives Clyde Edwards-Helaire some upside, especially if Pacheco gets knocked out of the game at any point.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle, toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship game vs. the Ravens. He only got in a limited practice on Friday. While Pacheco clearly isn't at 100%, we haven't heard anything to suggest that he's in danger of missing this one. We'll keep you updated on his status and get Kansas City's inactives around 1:30 pm ET on Sunday.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco has missed the first two practices of the week with ankle and toe injuries. He told the media earlier this week that he'd be ready for Sunday's AFC Championship game vs. the Ravens, but Pacheco's status will be worth checking back in on when we get Kansas City's final injury report on Friday afternoon.
Chiefs WR Skyy Moore (knee) is out for Sunday's Divisional Round game vs. the Bills. He was designated to return from IR at the start of the week, got in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but then did not practice on Friday. It's unclear if Moore would be ready to go if Kansas City advances to the AFC Championship. WRs Kadarius Toney (hip, ankle) and Justyn Ross (hamstring) were limited in practice all week and are listed as questionable for the Buffalo game.
Chiefs WR Skyy Moore (knee) was designated to return from IR and limited in Wednesday's practice. He's been out since Week 15. We'll see if Moore makes it back for Sunday's Divisional Round game vs. the Bills, but he's unlikely to be a major factor. He hasn't topped 42 yards or scored since Week 2.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice (hamstring) was a full-go in Tuesday's practice. He didn't play in last week's meaningless regular-season finale but will be ready to rock for Saturday night's Wild Card game vs. the Dolphins.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) put in a full practice on Tuesday. He was held out of the meaningless finale but will be ready for workhorse duties in Saturday night's Wild Card game vs. the Dolphins. Pacheco sits atop this week's RB Rankings.
The Chiefs downgraded TE Travis Kelce to out for today's game vs. the Chargers. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that Kelce would play long enough to get the 16 yards he needs for 1,000, but HC Andy Reid evidently wised up since then and will hold Kelce out of this meaningless game. Noah Gray figures to operate as Kansas City's lead TE and is in play as a cheap DFS option.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is not expected to play today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It sounds like Pacheo will be active but only used in an emergency with the Chiefs having nothing to gain vs. the Chargers. RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La'Mical Perine will handle backfield duties.
The Chiefs are expected to play TE Travis Kelce long enough vs. the Chargers today to get him the 16 yards he needs for 1,000 total, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It'd be Kelce's eighth straight 1,000-yard season. Expect Kelce to be pulled as soon as he gets those 16 yards, with the Chiefs having nothing to play for today. Kelce still isn't a recommended Week 18 fantasy play, although this news is a knock against TE Noah Gray's viability.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (quad, shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Chargers. There’s no reason for him to play much, if at all, with his team locked into the AFC’s No. 3 seed. Pacheco should not be in Week 18 fantasy lineups. We’ll see which RBs end up active for the Chiefs on Sunday.
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