Following a standout 2024 rookie performance, Xavier Worthy’s 2025 production stalled at WR59 due to a Week 1 labrum tear that restricted his usage and route tree. Head coach Andy Reid reports that a now-healthy Worthy will return to a full workload this season, expanding his role within the Chiefs’ offense.
This insight and role shift significantly boosts Worthy’s fantasy outlook, making a return to WR3 status or higher a realistic possibility for the upcoming year, depending on Mahomes’ recovery timeline. Worthy is a sneaky post-hype sleeper in fantasy football dynasty leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told The Athletic's ...
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy turned in an...
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy continues to...
The Chiefs will be without their star receiver Rashee Rice. The Chiefs are crashing down to earth as they have lost Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL. Rice sustained a concussion and will miss a juicy matchup against the Titans.
With Gardner Minshew at quarterback, expect Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce to be the main beneficiaries of Rice’s absence. While this is a good matchup, there is some risk given that Minshew just isn’t Mahomes. With that said, start Worthy and Kelce with confidence.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Chiefs are 3-3 in 3rd place in the AFC West. In their attempt to reach the Super Bowl for a 4th straight season, they now get back the highly talented Rashee Rice at wide receiver. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Rice will go “full bore.”
Much was made of the lack of receiver depth when Xavier Worthy suffered a dislocated shoulder on a crossing route where he collided with teammate Travis Kelce. The injury brought back bad memories from when Rice collided with quarterback Patrick Mahomes on an interception where he hurt his LCL and hamstring. Having been without Rice, the Chiefs offense has ironically been missing some extra juice for fantasy purposes.
Rice will immediately be in contention as a top-5 WR on a weekly basis as Mahomes has bounced back as the QB1 overall in fantasy football. Rice gets a juicy home matchup versus the Raiders. If Rashee Rice is on a roster, he needs to be started.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Chiefs will be without their rookie receiver when they travel to Brazil to play the Los Angeles Chargers. Royals is dealing with a knee injury. While injuries are never convenient, the timing does hurt as the Chiefs view Royals as an adequate replacement for Rice.
Royals’ skill set match would be perfect in the absence of Rice. Expect Patrick Mahomes to funnel targets to Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. A sneaky roster move is to pick up rookie running back Brashard Smith if he is available on the waiver wire. Smith ran with the first team offense plenty during training camp and drafters have aspirations of Smith filling the Jerick McKinnon role. Smith should be on benches everywhere as his role could grow into must start territory; a potential league winner.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
With the Chiefs looking at a possible suspension for Rashee Rice at some point this season, news of injuries to three of their other receivers is not ideal this early in training camp. Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown are significant pieces in their offense. One or both of them could be assets for fantasy with or without Rice in the fold.
Worthy’s injury is concussion-related, and hopefully, he’ll be able to return before too long. It’s unclear the severity of Brown’s hamstring injury. We’ll see how long the 28-year-old is forced to sit out, but his long injury history is cause for concern.
I like Worthy, especially in Best Ball. I think he could be a riser as the season approaches, depending on the Rashee Rice situation. Brown is going much later. But, again, his inability to stay on the field makes me wary of drafting him even at his current ADP.
– Blake Stachel (@bllakkay)
Wide reciever Justyn Ross was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs right before the start of training camp. In what was a promising start as a freshman at Clemson, Ross was destined for success. Unfortunately a congenital neck condition before his junior season had completely derailed his football career. He went undrafted to the Chiefs in 2022, he only appeared in 12 games with 6 catches and 53 receiving yards. Injuries and an arrest for battery has all but shut the door on an NFL career.
Ross has no fantasy value in any format. It will be unlikely another team will add Ross to their 53 man roster to start the season. This does mean more reps for Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and rookie Jalen Royals. With Rice recovering from injury, Worthy and Royals will have more opportunities to prove themselves. Royals will be a sneaky good late round choice in all formats.
Author: Jesse Baldwin @J_Baldwin51
