Kansas City Chiefs News

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has decent long-term upside as a potential handcuff option for Patrick Mahomes' fantasy managers. Mahomes is currently recovering from a torn ACL, so Justin Fields is expected to start Week 1. Nussmeier might be able to jump Fields on the depth chart, but more than likely, he'll be the primary backup until Mahomes returns. The LSU product was projected to be a mid-round pick, but fell to the Chiefs in the seventh round. Nussmeier didn't look great during his senior year, but threw for over 4,000 yards in 2024. Mahomes will eventually take his starting gig back, but who knows what kind of toll that torn ACL will take on his body long-term. Nussmeier isn't a bad stash option, given he could be one injury away from the starting job.

After being named the MVP of Super Bowl LX in February, running back Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year, $43 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in March. The 25-year-old has been a productive player over the past four years as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, averaging 1,140 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns per season. However, he's never recorded more than 255 touches in a season and had his 2025 workload with the Seahawks impacted by the presence of Seattle back Zach Charbonnet (knee). In Kansas City, Walker III profiles as the clear number one back and should see all the touches he can handle. As long as he can stay healthy, Walker III may currently be undervalued in redraft formats as a lower-end RB1.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) was released from Dallas County Jail on Tuesday morning after serving 30 days for a probation violation, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. After being released, Rice ran away from cameras and refused to speak to the media before being taken away in an SUV. In addition to more off-the-field issues this offseason for the 26-year-old, Rice had a clean-up surgery on his right knee in May, but head coach Andy Reid said he expects Rice to be ready for the start of training camp in late July. Barring a setback with his knee this summer, Rice should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September, although another potential suspension to begin the year hanging over his head will have fantasy managers hesitant to take him early in drafts. When active, Rice has clearly established himself as the WR1 in KC as quarterback Patrick Mahomes' (knee) favorite weapon, but injuries and off-the-field issues have limited him to just 12 regular-season starts in the last two years. The former second-rounder in 2023 out of SMU is a risk/reward, low-end WR2/high-end WR3 target in upcoming 2026 fantasy drafts.

Despite rampant speculation that he would retire following the 2025 season, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is back for at least one more year in 2026. As he enters his age-37 season, Kelce is clearly no longer the elite force he once was at his peak. However, he remained a useful piece for fantasy managers in 2026, recording 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets across 17 games. Kelce could presumably have a stronger offensive environment around him in Kansas City in 2026 if Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) can play a fully healthy season. Additionally, the Chiefs once again look to be light on reliable pass-catching options outside of Kelce, particularly given wide receiver Rashee Rice's (knee) persistent struggles with both injury and off-field issues. Kelce's upside on a week-to-week basis is limited, but his current dynasty value may be undervaluing the solid production floor he can provide for win-now managers in 2026.

The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that if the Kansas City Chiefs handed out an MVP award for their organized team activities this offseason, the recipient would have been wide receiver Xavier Worthy. And Worthy did it all while wearing a no-contact jersey while in the final stages of his recovery from a torn labrum that he suffered in 2025. "Xavier really had a nice camp," head coach Andy Reid said. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder and former first-rounder in 2024 added strength in the offseason as part of the process while rehabbing from surgery in January to fix the torn labrum in his shoulder. Newell thinks there are plenty of reasons for optimism around Worthy in 2026 after he caught just 42 passes for 532 yards and one touchdown in 13 games a year ago. The 23-year-old tore his labrum on the first drive of Week 1, and he wasn't the same weapon afterward. Reid admitted in March that the coaches changed Worthy's role late in the year to shield him from further injury. His shoulder is close to 100% and is improving daily. RotoBaller currently has Worthy ranked as the No. 45 WR for 2026, but if Rashee Rice (knee) faces another suspension, his draft stock will receive a huge boost.

After a highly productive career at the University of Nebraska, running back Emmett Johnson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Johnson dominated the Big Ten in 2025, recording 1,821 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns on 297 touches across 12 games. His path to the starting job with the Chiefs is blocked by running back Kenneth Walker III, whom Kansas City signed to a big-money deal in free agency in March. However, Johnson could emerge as the team's RB2 in 2026 if he can beat out fellow Kansas City backs Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith. Walker III was fully healthy in 2025, but he missed 10 games over the first three seasons of his NFL career from 2022 to 2024. If Johnson establishes himself as the primary backup running back for the Chiefs, his three-down skill set makes him a high-end handcuff option for fantasy managers. In dynasty formats, Johnson's stock is rising entering his rookie campaign.

The Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) are both "leaning into this Week 1 possibility" that he'll be ready to go for the first Monday night game of the 2026 season against the division-rival Denver Broncos, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Mahomes has made great progress this offseason while recovering from surgery to fix ACL and LCL tears that he suffered on Dec. 14 last year against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old two-time MVP has been taking part in seven-on-seven drills during offseason workouts, but the next step will be for him to be cleared for contact and to participate in 11-on-11 team drills. Running and cutting will be a focal point for Mahomes over the next weeks and months as he attempts to regain his patented mobility. Head coach Andy Reid is optimistic that Mahomes will progress in training camp next month, and Mahomes would like to get a dress rehearsal during the preseason to test his surgically-repaired knee. KC added Justin Fields as insurance at the position, but all signs are pointing to Mahomes being ready for the regular-season opener. Nobody should be doubting Mahomes at this point in his career, but fantasy managers should also be tempering expectations as he returns from a major knee injury. It's best to target Mahomes as a high-end QB2 in 2026 fantasy drafts.

When asked if wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) will be ready for the start of training camp in late July, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said, "I think he will be. He gets out [of jail] next week. We'll see where it goes. He'll be back up here and working." Rice has had another rough offseason, violating his probation and being sentenced to 30 days in jail due to a positive test for marijuana. In addition to ongoing legal trouble, the 26-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove loose bodies, keeping him out of organized team activities this offseason. It sounds like Rice's knee surgery won't prevent him from being ready for a Monday night affair in Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but another potential suspension hanging over his head has caused him to fall to No. 22 in RotoBaller's WR rankings for the upcoming campaign. The former second-round pick in 2023 out of SMU is KC's clear WR1 when he's available, but he's played in just 12 games in the last two seasons due to suspension and injury. Rice showed his true upside in 2023 in his rookie year, catching 79 of his 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (eight starts).

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid hinted on Thursday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will be active in training camp this summer, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. "Looks like he'll be able to do some things in [training] camp. We'll see where it goes. So far, it's been a steady climb up the hill," Reid said. Mahomes has been recovering from a torn ACL and LCL that he suffered in Week 15 last year against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he has made significant progress in his rehab and has been taking part in seven-on-seven drills during organized team activities this offseason. He has so far been held out of 11-on-11 work, but the 30-year-old six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP is trending in the right direction to be ready for a Week 1 showdown on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos. Nobody should be counting out the former 10th overall pick in 2017 out of Texas Tech University after all he's done in his nine years in the league, but coming off a serious knee injury with a questionable group of pass-catchers has him ranked as more of a high-end QB2 in fantasy football for the 2026 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are adding two years to quarterback Patrick Mahomes' (knee) contract on Wednesday, tying him to the franchise through the 2033 season at a value of $504.75 million, making it the first NFL deal valued at over a half-billion dollars, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The landmark deal gives the 30-year-old signal-caller an average salary of $64 million per year, which seems wild after he tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last year. Mahomes has obviously done a lot for the organization already, though, and he has been taking part in seven-on-seven drills during mandatory minicamp this week as he works towards being ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in a Monday night showdown versus the division-rival Denver Broncos. It's unclear if he'll be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of July, but barring a setback, we would bet that Mahomes will be ready for Week 1 this fall. For fantasy purposes, though, with a questionable supporting cast at receiver and while coming off a major knee injury, it would be wise for fantasy managers to treat Mahomes as more of a high-end QB2 target than as the high-end QB1 that he's been in years past.

When asked if there is anything that new running back Kenneth Walker III can improve at, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy pointed to pass-blocking and receiving, according to Nick Roesch of Heavy.com. The Chiefs made a big splash in free agency by signing Walker, the Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks to close out last season, and with the return of Bieniemy, he's expected to be part of a much-improved rushing attack for KC. "First of all, what I want Kenneth to work at is just understanding that we just have to become a better player when the ball is not in our hands," Bieniemy said. The 25-year-old former second-round pick (41st overall) by Seattle in 2022 out of Michigan State had his second 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 and added five rushing TDs, but he really took off in the postseason, gaining 313 yards and four TDs on 65 carries over three games. Walker is no stranger to lower-body injuries in his NFL career, but with the Chiefs looking to make him more of a complete back, he'll clearly be in the RB1 conversation as a top-12 fantasy back in his first season in the AFC West.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee), who tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 of last year, is still hoping to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season for a Monday night matchup against the division-rival Denver Broncos, and despite a bulky brace on his left leg, he has reportedly "looked sharp" during seven-on-seven drills during voluntary offseason workouts, per Mike Jones of The Athletic. The Chiefs have so far held Mahomes out of 11-on-11 work. KC needs the six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP to return to his high level of play to start a new streak of AFC West dominance, but uncertainty is also hanging over top receiver Rashee Rice due to more off-the-field legal issues. The 30-year-old Mahomes appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery, but it remains to be seen if he can perform as a true QB1 for fantasy managers coming off a serious knee injury. With questions surrounding his aerial targets, including the aging Travis Kelce, fantasy managers are better off targeting Mahomes as a high-end QB2 than a legitimate QB1 in 2026.

Inconsistency and a lack of a true bell cow atop the Chiefs' running back depth chart allowed ample opportunity for Brashard Smith to carve out a meaningful role as a 2025 rookie, but the seventh-round pick out of SMU was never able to capitalize. Appearing in all 17 games, Smith ran for only 151 yards on a 3.4-yard-per-carry clip, adding another 172 yards through the air and scoring his only touchdown of the season in a Week 17 loss to the Broncos. Kansas City added the top free agent running back on the market in Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III before spending a fifth-round pick on arguably the best receiving back in the 2026 rookie class, Emmett Johnson. The Chiefs rounded out their depth chart with the low-cost addition of veteran Emari Demercado, who had been hyper-efficient in his limited work with the Cardinals, averaging almost 7.9 yards per attempt over the past two seasons. Smith has accordingly been pushed to the bubble of most dynasty rosters, and with no clear path to fantasy relevance, he has fallen to RB74 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, making him a drop candidate in all but the deepest leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields remains in the mix to start Week 1 of the 2026 season, giving him some short-term upside in fantasy football. The Chiefs traded for Fields this offseason as a solid backup option to Patrick Mahomes (knee), who might not be ready for the season opener. If that's the case, Fields would draw the start against the Broncos, with potential games to follow in subsequent weeks against the Colts, Dolphins, and Raiders. The former Bears first-round pick was a productive fantasy option in 2024 with the Steelers, but he lost his job to Russell Wilson midseason that year. Likewise, he was a solid fantasy quarterback as a Jet in 2025, but an injury cost him the second half of his season. Across his six healthy games last year, Fields totaled 1,259 passing yards, 325 rushing yards, 11 total touchdowns, and just two turnovers. Fields' rushing upside and ability to protect the football give him high-end QB2 appeal as long as Mahomes is sidelined, even if that's just for a couple of weeks. Dynasty managers with some quarterback uncertainty should look to acquire him at a discount and deploy him as a solid fantasy option for the first few weeks of the 2026 campaign.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said he thinks wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) will be "ready for camp as we go forward," per Around the NFL. Rice underwent knee surgery in mid-May and is also currently serving a 30-day jail sentence in Dallas County after violating the terms of his probation for his role in a high-speed car crash. The 26-year-old has had his fair share of both injury and off-field issues, as he's played in just 12 games over the past two seasons due to a knee injury, a league suspension, and a concussion. Rice was a productive player when on the field in 2025, recording 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 78 targets across eight games. However, Rice's inability to stay on the field with any consistency makes his profile extremely risky for fantasy managers.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is wearing a yellow no-contact jersey during OTA practices this week after having surgery in the offseason to fully repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder, according to sports reporter Matt Foster. The 23-year-old speedster injured his shoulder in the Week 1 regular-season opener in 2025 and missed the following two games as a result. The former 28th overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Texas played in 14 games (13 starts) in his sophomore campaign and took a step back, catching 42 of his 73 targets for 532 yards and only one touchdown. Worthy has elite speed on the football field, but as long as Rashee Rice is active, he's been a distant second on KC's depth chart. His disappointing Year 2 performance has dropped him to No. 52 in RotoBaller's 2026 WR rankings, but with better health and Rice potentially facing another suspension to begin the year, Worthy's stock could be back on the rise in the coming months. Tight end Travis Kelce, now 37, also can't be relied on as much for a big role in the passing game.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) is being limited to 7-on-7 work during OTA practices this week, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. The fact that Mahomes is even participating at all in voluntary workouts at the end of May is a positive for the Chiefs after he tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers last year. The 30-year-old superstar is making great progress, and if he continues at this rate, he'll have an excellent chance to play in the Week 1 2026 regular-season opener on Monday Night Football against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP has finished as the QB11 in fantasy football in each of the last two years, and there's a chance his top receiver, Rashee Rice (knee), is suspended once again to begin the upcoming season. While we can't put anything past Mahomeboy after his stellar nine-year career so far, he's been trending down in fantasy the last two years and is now coming off major knee surgery. RotoBaller has him viewed as more of a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 target in fantasy drafts later this year. UPDATE: Mahomes said he is working toward being fully cleared for the start of training camp at the end of July.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) was on the field with a brace on his left knee on Tuesday for the team's opening OTA practice after having surgery on Dec. 15 to fix a torn ACL and LCL that he suffered on Dec. 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Tuesday's practice was closed to the media, so it's unclear exactly how much the star signal-caller did. Mahomes' goal is to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sept. 14, and him being on the field late in May is a good first step. The Chiefs are optimistic that Mahomes will be ready for the season opener. Still, there's no guarantee that the 30-year-old six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP will be ready for Week 1 against Denver, which clouds his 2026 fantasy value as a QB1. Despite another disappointing year from Mahomes fantasy-wise, he still finished as the QB5 in fantasy points per game, although his serious knee injury has made him a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 target in single-year drafts this year.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been a dynasty disappointment after his record-breaking Combine performance and favorable landing spot pushed him into the first round of 2024 rookie drafts. Injuries and inconsistency have limited him to less than 1,200 receiving yards through his first two seasons, but with teammate Rashee Rice again making off-field headlines and tight end Travis Kelce set to turn 37 at the start of the 2026 season, Worthy becomes an intriguing buy candidate with his price tag having fallen dramatically from the consensus WR18 dynasty ranking he took into his rookie year. Rice is currently serving a 30-day jail sentence after violating the probation conditions stemming from his 2024 multi-car collision that caused serious bodily injury. It's unlikely he'll face additional punishment from the NFL after serving a six-game suspension for the initial incident in 2025, but with injuries and the aforementioned suspension limiting him to only 12 games over the past two seasons, there is a potential opportunity for growth in an otherwise lackluster receiver room. Behind Worthy and Rice, Kansas City's depth chart includes Tyquan Thornton, 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals, 2026 fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, and undrafted free agent Jeff Caldwell. Worthy is RotoBaller's WR52 in dynasty leagues, but in an offense that could look drastically different as early as 2027, there is still a bull case to be made for his long-term upside.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Kansas City Chiefs have no plans for the foreseeable future to sign wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) to a long-term contract extension. Rice is currently serving a 30-day sentence in prison for violating his probation by testing positive for marijuana, and he's also recovering from a clean-up procedure on his right knee. Can you blame the Chiefs? The 26-year-old former second-rounder (55th overall) in 2023 out of SMU already served a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy, and although he should be recovered from knee surgery in time for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, the NFL could choose to suspend Rice again to begin the upcoming season. Rice is heading into the final year of a four-year, $6.4 million deal with KC and could be hitting the open market next March. He is serving a five-year probation for his involvement in an accident in Dallas in 2024. Rice has the potential to be one of the best wideouts in the league, but injuries and off-the-field issues are holding him back and causing his dynasty stock to fall drastically. He had 79 catches, 938 yards, and seven touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie season in 2023, but he has played in only 12 games in the last two years. A potential second suspension in 2026 will inevitably cause Rice's redraft fantasy value to drop.