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Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Fantasy Football News 2023

Most Recent Fantasy Football News & Updates

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.

The Chiefs signed WR Richie James. Turning 28 in September, James set career highs across the board with the Giants last year, snagging 57 balls for 569 yards and four TDs. He ranked a respectable 36th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 37th in yards per route run among 80 qualifying WRs. This is about as strong a fantasy landing spot James could have hoped for -- alongside Patrick Mahomes and with only Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to battle with for snaps as of now. We'll see if the draft brings more competition to the WR room.

The Jets have agreed to a one-year deal with WR Mecole Hardman, worth up to $6.5 million. Hardman missed the final nine regular-season games last year, as well as the playoff opener. He returned for limited use in the conference-title game but then missed the Super Bowl. He'll have a tough time climbing higher than fourth among Jets WRs, behind Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and Elijah Moore. WR Corey Davis also remains on the roster, though he has been rumored to be a candidate for trade or cut. It seems telling that the Chiefs didn't bother keeping Hardman around at such low contract terms. Don't bother mixing him into your best ball draft plans as anything more than an end-of-draft flier.

Update: Right after the Hardman deal's announcement came the Jets trading WR Elijah Moore to Cleveland. That obviously creates more room for Hardman, though we'll see what other moves are coming. We'll also see about Hardman's recovery from Feb. 21 pelvic surgery.

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.

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chiefs are “bracing to lose” WR Mecole Hardman in free agency. Hardman, who underwent groin surgery in February, appeared in only 8 games this past season. 30% of his fantasy production came in one game (Week 7, at San Francisco). According to Fowler, the Chiefs will “attempt” to re-sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. Even if the 26-year-old returns, we expect Kansas City to add WR talent this offseason.

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 WR Mecole Hardman underwent groin surgery on February 21, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Hardman suffered this injury in Week 9 in early November, finally returned for the AFC Championship in late January but played just 15 snaps and then missed the Super Bowl. Assuming this is a standard sports-hernia type surgery, Hardman should be ready in plenty of time for training camp. He's set to hit free agency in March for the first time.

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 WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) has been placed on IR, officially knocking him out for the Super Bowl. He went down way back in Week 9 and aggravated the injury when he tried to return for the AFC Championship. We're still waiting to find out whether WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Kadarius Toney (ankle) will be available for Sunday's showdown vs. the Eagles.

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 HC Andy Reid conceded Thursday that WR Mecole Hardman is unlikely to play in the Super Bowl after aggravating his pelvis injury in the win over the Bengals. “I think it’ll be tough for him," Reid said. "I doubt he’ll make the Super Bowl… He was not going to be denied the other day [in the AFC Championship Game], and that’s a tribute to the kid. He’s a tough, tough kid.” Hardman is scheduled to hit free agency in March.

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 WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) is active for today's AFC Championship game vs. the Bengals. It'll be his first action since Week 9. WR Justin Watson (illness) is inactive.

5:30pm EST 1/29/23

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.

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