Kansas City Chiefs News

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.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Demercado had over 1,100 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns (three rushing) in his three years with the team, and he'll now join Kenneth Walker III in KC's new-look backfield going into the 2026 season. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of TCU had a career-high 312 rushing yards on 44 carries in 13 games in Arizona in 2025, but he didn't find the end zone on the ground. Demercado added 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in an expanded role after both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries. He never held a big role in Arizona's backfield, but he was productive when he touched the ball, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt on 126 carries. Demercado should have more upside as a stash candidate in deeper fantasy leagues while competing for backup duties with Brashard Smith.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a big splash in the early portion of free agency by signing running back Kenneth Walker III away from the reigning Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. Across 17 games with Seattle in 2025, Walker III recorded 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches. The 25-year-old spent most of the year splitting touches with fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee) until Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in the NFC Divisional Round. In Kansas City, Walker III should be the clear number one back and could easily set a career-high in touches. While the Chiefs may be without quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) in the early portion of 2026 as Mahomes recovers from a knee injury, Walker III should be well-positioned for success in an offense that is typically one of the NFL's best. As long as he can stay healthy, Walker III has a clear pathway to fantasy RB1 production for the duration of his three-year contract in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed wide receiver Tyquan Thornton to a two-year, $11 million deal on Monday night, and ESPN's Nate Taylor thinks the Chiefs "should be able to offer him more snaps and more opportunities." The 25-year-old was one of KC's best receivers in 2025, especially early on when both Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension) were out. Thornton had a career-high 438 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 19 catches in his first year working with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. "He's the GOAT in my eyes, man," Thornton said of Mahomes. "He's a competitor, and he makes me so much better. It was an honor to go out there and catch those passes from him." As things currently stand, Thornton looks like the WR3 behind Rice and Worthy. His big-play potential is intriguing, though, as a late-round flier in what should be an improved Chiefs offense.

The Detroit Lions are signing free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Pacheco will essentially replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans, as the backfield complement to starter Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Rutgers had 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 375 carries for the Chiefs in his first two years in the league, but injuries slowed him down the last two years, as he had a combined 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in 2024 and 2025. The landing spot with the Lions is certainly a good one for a potential bounce-back campaign for Pacheco in his fifth year in the league, and he won't cost much late in drafts this fall as a handcuff for Gibbs.

The Kansas City Chiefs are re-signing wide receiver Tyquan Thornton to a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a maximum value of $14 million, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Thornton is a former second-round pick of the New England Patriots, but he joined the Chiefs prior to the 2025 season. Throughout the year, he caught 19 of his 37 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns. These aren't otherworldly numbers, but he was consistent enough to both establish himself within the Chiefs' depth chart and also earn a new deal to come back for 2026 and beyond. Fantasy managers should temper expectations on Thornton, though, at least for the time being. He peaked at WR81 in PPR leagues (last year) and will have a tough time cracking the top 75 in both dynasty startup and redraft leagues during 2026.

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew reached an agreement on Monday on a one-year, $8.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Cardinals have released Kyler Murray (foot), but even with the addition of Minshew, the Cardinals intend to keep veteran Jacoby Brissett as their starting QB in 2026. It means that Minshew will be the backup in the desert next season. The 29-year-old gunslinger spent last year in Kansas City, backing up Patrick Mahomes. The forer sixth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 out of Washington State appeared in four games (one start) and went 6-for-13 for 37 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Minshew injured his knee in his lone start late in the 2025 season and didn't play again after Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury. A Pro Bowler in 2023 with the Colts, Minshew won't be on the two-QB superflex radar unless Brissett misses time with an injury.

Eleven-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs have officially agreed to terms on a new deal on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Kelce will be back for a 14th NFL season in 2026, but the terms of the deal are undisclosed. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer contemplated retirement for the second straight offseason, but all signs had been pointing toward him returning to play for the Chiefs this fall. He will be hoping to get KC back to the postseason after they fell short in 2025 following three straight Super Bowl appearances. Kelce is no longer in his prime -- he hasn't reached 1,000 receiving yards since 2022 -- but the four-time All-Pro was still a top-five fantasy football tight end last year with 76 catches, 851 yards, and five touchdowns in 17 games played. He's more injury-prone near the end of his career, but his strong connection with quarterback Patrick Mahomes makes up for it. Kelce will be a midrange TE1 in fantasy drafts this fall.

Kansas City Chiefs future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce is expected to return to the Chiefs for a 14th season in 2026, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 36-year-old made his 11th Pro Bowl in 2025 and will stay loyal and return to KC despite having the opportunity to test the open market this offseason. The four-time All-Pro hasn't reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark since 2022 and is a much bigger injury risk for fantasy football purposes, but he still has enough in the tank to be in the TE1 picture for his 14th NFL season. Kelce caught 76 of his 108 targets last year for 851 yards and five touchdowns, ranking as the TE4 in half-PPR scoring. He's no longer at his peak, obviously, but he will return to a Chiefs offense with quarterback Patrick Mahomes still at the helm and with future Hall of Fame head coach Andy Reid running the offense.

Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent tight end Travis Kelce appears "motivated to return" for a 14th NFL season, based on conversations that The Athletic's Dianna Russini has had with several teams. The Chiefs are "very much" in the mix to re-sign the three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro tight end. The 36-year-old veteran has contemplated retirement for the second straight offseason, and although nothing is official, all signs have pointed towards Kelce returning in 2026, most likely back in KC. The 11-time Pro Bowler was the TE4 in half-PPR scoring in his 13th NFL season last year with 76 receptions on 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. Kelce has not had 1,000 receiving yards since 2022, but he proved last year that he can still be very valuable for fantasy football purposes, even if his ceiling isn't as an elite high-end TE1 anymore. UPDATE: Kelce's representatives are "expected to talk to multiple teams" when the legal tampering period begins on Monday, per The Athletic.