Kansas City Chiefs News

The Kansas City Chiefs made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason by signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43 million contract in free agency. Walker III recorded 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches across 17 games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. The 25-year-old did so despite splitting touches with fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee) for the majority of the year. In Kansas City, Walker III profiles as the clear lead back and could easily top 300 touches for the first time in his career if he can stay healthy. The Chiefs' offense could have some struggles in the early going while star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) makes his way back from knee surgery. Still, Kansas City should put Walker III in a position to rack up consistent fantasy production. In dynasty formats, Walker III profiles as a major riser following his offseason change of scenery.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes's (knee) status for the start of the 2026 season is currently unclear as he recovers from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered last December. Across 14 games before getting injured, Mahomes II completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. A large portion of his fantasy value came from his work as a rusher, as he collected 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 64 attempts. While Mahomes II remains arguably the best overall quarterback in the NFL, his fantasy production as a passer has not been elite since 2022. If his recovery from major knee surgery limits his effectiveness as a rusher, Mahomes II's short-term value as a must-start quarterback could be in question. Until he proves he's fully recovered from the injury, Mahomes II's dynasty value is trending slightly downward as well.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has cooled off slightly over the last three seasons, but he remains a high-end scoring fantasy option in fantasy football. After an impressive seven-year stretch in which he delivered six TE1 finishes and one TE2 finish, he has been the TE3, TE5, and TE3 over the last three years, respectively. His reception total dropped to 76 last season (his lowest mark since 2015), but he still mustered 851 yards and five touchdowns. Fantasy managers' biggest complaint was likely that he lacked consistency, ranking outside the top 16 fantasy tight ends in eight of his 17 games. He also took a major step backward near the end of the season; over his final five weeks, he ranked 35th among tight ends in fantasy points per game. Part of that was because Patrick Mahomes (knee) tore his ACL in Week 15, but it was a disappointing stretch nonetheless. Managers pursuing Kelce in redraft leagues next season will have to be okay with his high ceiling and low floor. The conversation in dynasty leagues is a little more complex. Kelce's new three-year deal with the Chiefs has two void years, so it's effectively a one-year deal that will let him retire after 2026. Assuming this is his last year in the league, managers should look to trade away Kelce for some sort of return this offseason.

Former Chiefs and Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) remains unsigned one full month into the new league year, and at this point, it seems extremely unlikely that he will find a new home until after the NFL Draft. Hill's 2025 campaign was limited to only four games after suffering a gruesome knee injury, but his play had fallen off considerably since flirting with a 2,000-yard season in 2023, putting up only 60.8 yards per game over the past two seasons. The Dolphins released him in February, and while there were early rumors of a reunion in Kansas City, nothing has materialized, and most receiver-needy teams will now look to address the position with younger, cheaper options from a deep draft class. The 32-year-old Hill did not dismiss the idea of retirement in the immediate aftermath of the injury, but has since suggested he still has more to give after being cut for the first time in his NFL career.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith remains in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart as the 2026 offseason moves along. With Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt departing in free agency, it seemed like there would be an opportunity for Smith to step into a much larger role this offseason. However, the Chiefs had other plans, signing Kenneth Walker III to be their every-down back and Emari Demercado to occupy the backup role. There's a slim chance that Smith could pass Demercado on the depth chart, but the latter has a much stronger track record with 819 rushing yards and 324 receiving yards (relative to Smith's 151 rushing yards and 172 receiving yards as a rookie last season). The most likely path to fantasy relevance for Smith would probably be an injury to Walker. If Walker misses time, Demercado would presumably lead the backfield, but not in an every-down role. There would be plenty of opportunities for Smith to get involved, especially in the passing game. Smith could have been an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues if he jumped to No. 2 on the depth chart this offseason, but since he's still nestled into the No. 3 role (and could face additional competition via the NFL Draft), he's merely a hold for now.

The NFL concluded on Friday that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice "has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal-conduct policy," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The investigation into accusations from his former girlfriend is now closed, and there will be no discipline from the league at this time. "Mr. Rice wants to thank the NFL for their thorough investigation, and looks forward to the start of the 2026-27 NFL season," Rice's attorney, Sean Lindsey, said in a statement. The 25-year-old Rice is no stranger to bad off-the-field publicity, as he was suspended for the first six games in 2025 due to a high-speed hit-and-run incident in Dallas. The former second-rounder in 2023 out of SMU caught 53 of his 78 targets for 571 yards and five touchdowns in his eight games played in 2025 before suffering a concussion in Week 15 and missing the final two games. The Chiefs can't be happy with Rice's choices off the field, but with no discipline affecting his fantasy value in 2026, he should have a pretty high ceiling as KC's WR1. Rice had a 79-102-7 line in 16 games in his rookie campaign, but he's played only 12 games since due to injuries and suspension.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields can be a temporary solution for the team and fantasy managers as Patrick Mahomes (knee) recovers from his ACL tear. Fields was solid through nine games with the New York Jets last season, amassing 11 total touchdowns, one interception, and three lost fumbles. As the Jets moved on to Geno Smith as their quarterback, it was clear that they had no place for Fields. Thus, he was dealt to Kansas City, where he might start Week 1 if Mahomes isn't cleared to play. Fields' rushing upside should be put to good use in a Chiefs offense led by Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator behind Mahomes' 358 rushing yards in 2022 and Sam Howell's 263 rushing yards in 2023. Over those two seasons, Mahomes and Howell combined for nine rushing touchdowns. Fields isn't a full-season option in fantasy football, but he has QB1 upside for the first few weeks if Mahomes isn't ready. He's worth a late-round pick for managers who wait until the later rounds to select their primary quarterback.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy continues to be an unappealing option in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Worthy played in 14 games last season, amassing just 42 catches, 532 yards, and one receiving touchdown. He finished the year as the overall WR59, which was a significant step backward from his WR33 finish as a rookie in 2024. His rookie season showed that he's capable of being a top-36 fantasy receiver, but whether he'll actually be able to reproduce that type of campaign in the future remains uncertain. There was a perfect opportunity for Worthy to break out as Rashee Rice missed nine games due to suspension and injury, but the Texas product failed to live up to expectations. Going forward, there are rumblings that Rice may be suspended again. Worthy averaged 12.8 fantasy points (PPR) per game when he was healthy and Rice was suspended last year, but as soon as Rice came back, Worthy's fantasy production dwindled. The 22-year-old still projects as the No. 2 receiver in Kansas City long-term, and that's not good for his dynasty outlook. He currently ranks #50 among receivers in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was suspended for the first six games of the 2025 season due to a 2024 hit-and-run incident that resulted in him pleading guilty to two felony charges. Across eight games after returning, the 25-year-old recorded 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 78 targets, missing additional time due to a concussion. While Rice is expected to be healthy heading into 2026, he may be facing yet another suspension due to an unresolved domestic violence lawsuit that was filed against him. When he's on the field, Rice remains a talented pass-catcher who should be a consistent fantasy producer, particularly in PPR formats. However, Rice's legal troubles are adding up, and his consistent issues with availability make him an unreliable player for managers to roster. In dynasty formats, Rice's current value is difficult to gauge while his status with the league office remains uncertain.

After being named the MVP of Super Bowl LX while playing for the Seattle Seahawks in February, running back Kenneth Walker III landed a lucrative three-year, $43 million contract in free agency from the Kansas City Chiefs in March. Even while losing carries to fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee) throughout 2025, Walker III still finished the season with 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches. In Kansas City, Walker III profiles as the clear RB1 and could surpass the 300-touch mark for the first time in his NFL career. Injuries remain a slight reason for fantasy managers to take caution with Walker III, as he missed 10 games over his first three seasons as a pro. The Chiefs' offense could also struggle early in 2026 as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) works his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 campaign. Still, Walker III's value in dynasty formats is surging as he enters his first season in Kansas City.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged quarterback Patrick Mahomes' (knee) progress from a torn ACL and LCL suffered late last year, but he did not commit to an exact recovery timeline, according to Judy Battista of the NFL Network. Mahomes posted a video of a throwing session on Wednesday, and he is hoping to be ready for a Week 1 return later this year after having surgery to fix a torn ACL and LCL in his knee. "He's doing great," Reid said. "He spends a ton of time in the building. ... He's in there for seven hours a day. It's showing, the progress. Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he's striving for. We'll just see where it goes from there." The Chiefs' ability to bounce back on offense in 2026 depends heavily on Mahomes' recovery. If he's not ready for Week 1, the Chiefs could be in trouble, as Justin Fields is their current backup. Coming off major knee surgery, Mahomes will be riskier in fantasy football drafts this fall, dropping to more of a low-end QB1 signal-caller if he's on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) posted a video on Wednesday of himself in a training session where he dropped back and threw the ball, according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. It's the first public footage of him doing anything football-related since he had surgery in December to fix the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. "Day by Day!" Mahomes wrote his Instagram story. "Felt Great being able to throw the ball around today!" Based on the video clip, Taylor writes that the Chiefs are "optimistic" that Mahomes is on track to take part in the team's voluntary offseason practices, which are expected to start in May. The 30-year-old six-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl MVP had surgery exactly 100 days ago and said a month after the surgery that he hoped to be in uniform for the season opener in September. It's still early in the offseason, but it's a positive development for Mahomes to be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. The question now is whether he has already peaked in KC's offense after failing to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark in each of the last two years. It hasn't been fruitful to bet against Mahomes, but coming off a serious knee injury, he needs to be knocked down to the low-end QB1 tier going into 2026 fantasy drafts.

Since being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, tight end Noah Gray has been a popular dynasty stash in the hopes that he would one day assume at least part of Travis Kelce's volume-rich role in Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes' offense. With Kelce and the Chiefs agreeing to a three-year, $54.7 million extension on Monday, it would appear that Gray is entering year six in relatively charted territory. Kelce will be almost 37 years old at the start of the 2026 season, so Gray still carries some value as the rare tight end handcuff, but the future Hall of Famer has been incredibly durable throughout his career, missing only six games over his past 11 seasons despite working through a handful of injuries. Gray has 1,255 receiving yards and nine touchdowns over his five-year career, but he has not cracked lineups as a weekly TE1 since Week 15 of 2024.

Veteran tight end Travis Kelce has officially signed his new contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and is locked in for the 2026 NFL season, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. There had been some speculation immediately following the conclusion of the 2025 season that Kelce was considering retirement, but the 36-year-old will be back in Kansas City for at least one more year. Rapoport reports that Kelce's new contract is worth over $54 million over three years and guarantees him $12 million in year one. While Kelce is no longer the player he was at his peak, he still recorded 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. Kelce has also played in at least 15 games in every season since 2014 and remains a featured piece in the Chiefs' offense, earning over six targets per game in 2025. He profiles as a lower-end fantasy TE1 in redraft formats for 2026.

The Kansas City Chiefs are a potential landing spot for free-agent defensive end Cameron Jordan, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. Defensive lineman Chris Jones recently posted on social media, floating the idea of the Chiefs signing Jordan, and Taylor confirms Kansas City is indeed a "possible destination." Jordan is nearing the end of his career at 37 years old, but he remained highly productive last season with 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 47 tackles. The 15-year NFL veteran has spent his entire career so far in New Orleans, so a shift to the Chiefs would be quite significant. He'd give Kansas City a clear upgrade on the defensive line, opposite George Karlaftis, especially as the Chiefs look to get back into the NFL playoffs after finishing below .500 last year.

The Kansas City Chiefs failed to make the postseason for the first time in a decade in 2025, and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) also tore his ACL and LCL late in the year. Yup, it was a season Chiefs fans would like to forget. Mahomes ended up playing in 14 games in his ninth year in the league, completing a career-low 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His 22 TD passes were his lowest since his rookie season, when he appeared in just one game. The 30-year-old added 64 carries for a career-high 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns to finish just inside the top 12 at the position in 2025. Mahomes is hoping he'll be fully recovered from knee surgery for the start of the 2026 season this fall, but it's not a guarantee. We wouldn't bet against the six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and three-time Super Bowl MVP, but Mahomes' injury uncertainty definitely puts him on more of the low end of QB1 options for the upcoming fantasy football season. If the gunslinger's mobility is affected at all next season, his fantasy ceiling and floor will definitely be lowered.

The Kansas City Chiefs are acquiring quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets on Monday in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2027, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Other teams were interested in trading for Fields, but his preference was to go to Kansas City, where he'll be the backup for Patrick Mahomes (knee). Fields also dealt with a knee issue late last year, but he should be fully ready for offseason workouts and training camp this summer. If Mahomes were somehow not ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall while recovering from his torn ACL, Fields could be named the starter early on for KC. The 27-year-old former first-rounder has excellent rushing abilities, but he just hasn't progressed enough as a passer to take the next step in the NFL. Fields threw for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception last year in nine games for the Jets before being benched for veteran Tyrod Taylor. Landing with head coach Andy Reid in KC is an ideal landing spot for Fields, but he'll only see the field if Mahomes is injured.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith may not take as big a leap as initially anticipated in 2026. The Chiefs recently signed running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43 million deal, locking him in as their primary ball-carrier through 2028. That move seems to put a damper on Smith's upside after it initially seemed like he could be headed for a larger role. Smith patiently waited his turn behind Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, who both struggled in 2025. Meanwhile, Smith showed plenty of upside and the potential for a second-year breakout, finishing off the regular season with 12 carries for 56 yards (plus two catches on four targets) in Week 18. While the Chiefs did shake up their backfield by letting Isiah Pacheco (and likely Kareem Hunt) depart in free agency, they also signed Emari Demercado along with Walker, which means that Smith will likely open next season as the team's No. 3 running back once again. His path to carving out meaningful fantasy value in 2026 just got much more challenging, but managers should remain patient and hold him in dynasty leagues for now.

Valued as high as a dynasty WR2 through the early weeks of the 2025 season, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy is now being drafted as a low-end WR4 in dynasty startups. After setting the NFL Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash and being drafted in the first round to a Chiefs team in need of playmakers, Worthy was viewed through the lens of unlimited upside despite some holes in his college film. Through two years in his league, his usage and production have not matched those lofty expectations, as he has most often found himself playing near the line of scrimmage, where both Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice dominate target share. With Rice facing potential legal issues heading into 2026, Worthy could again see his value spike, though dynasty managers should again take caution in overvaluing his surrounding narrative at the expense of what he's shown through his first 31 games.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has struggled with availability over the last two seasons, and he's likely hoping to rediscover the productivity he demonstrated as a rookie back in 2023. Over the last two years, Rice has been held to just 12 total games due to injury and suspension. He managed to tally 571 yards and five touchdowns across eight games in 2025, but he only finished as the WR40 in PPR leagues. By the time he returned after his eight-week suspension, it was too late for many of his fantasy managers to get back into contention. Being available for 17 games in 2026 would be ideal for Rice and his fantasy managers, as he can produce 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Unfortunately, there's still plenty of risk associated with drafting him. Rice faces an unresolved lawsuit for domestic violence and could end up being suspended again. Much like last year, we could see Rice's status remain in limbo deep into the summer, leaving plenty of uncertainty and doubt for fantasy managers. There's top-24 upside here if Rice plays 17 games, but we could also see a scenario where he misses half the year once again.