Kansas City Chiefs News

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Xavier Worthy • WR • Chiefs

Xavier Worthy Should Be The Chiefs WR1 In Week 16

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught two passes for 35 yards in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but he should step into the lead role for the Chiefs this week. With fellow receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out with concussions, there should be plenty of opportunities for Worthy to shine against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. The Titans have given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, which means this could be a smash spot for Worthy if he hits. Worthy has had an up-and-down season, but he should be able to produce with the runway cleared for him. That said, he does have a quarterback downgrade, going from Patrick Mahomes to Gardner Minshew this week. Minshew has proven capable in the past and should be able to deliver the ball to Worthy. Worthy is ranked WR39 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end WR3/flex option this week.

55 minutes ago

Isiah Pacheco • RB • Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco Should Retain Lead Role In Week 16

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco led the backfield in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Pacheco handled 11 carries for 21 yards and did not earn a single target. The 26-year-old supplanted Kareem Hunt as the back with the most opportunities, but Pacheco only averaged 1.9 yards per carry with those opportunities. That said, he should retain the lead role in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, so Pacheco should have an easier time finding success on the ground. The Chiefs could also lean on the run game more with Patrick Mahomes out for the season. Minshew will step into the lead role at quarterback, which could decrease the overall efficiency of the offense. So, Pacheco may end up getting more work, but the scoring opportunities could be less frequent. Pacheco is ranked RB40 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end flex option this week.

1 hour ago

Kareem Hunt • RB • Chiefs

Kareem Hunt Hard To Trust Without Mahomes In Week 16

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt took a backseat to Isiah Pacheco in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and his value should also decrease without Patrick Mahomes leading the offense. Hunt rushed six times for 12 yards and caught one pass for eight yards in Week 15. Hunt handled five fewer carries than Pacheco, but neither back was able to average more than 2.0 yards per carry in the contest. Gardner Minshew is now set to be the starting quarterback for the Chiefs for the rest of the season, which could decrease the number of scoring opportunities in this offense. Since most of his value is tied to finding the endzone, Hunt will be very difficult to trust this week. That said, Hunt will have a softer matchup in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have given up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Hunt is ranked RB33 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him an RB3/Flex option this week. Given his reduced role last week and fewer expected scoring opportunities moving forward, Hunt is a tough player to project.

1 hour ago

Gardner Minshew • QB • Chiefs

Gardner Minshew Will Lead The Chiefs In Week 16

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew replaced Patrick Mahomes after he suffered his season-ending knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. Minshew completed three of his five pass attempts for 22 yards and an interception in the loss. It was a difficult spot for the backup to be thrust into, but he should have the opportunity to bounce back this week against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, putting Minshew in an advantageous situation this week. The last time Minshew started a game was over a year ago when he was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old completed 25 of 42 pass attempts (60%) for 230 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a loss to the Denver Broncos. Minshew has proven to be a capable starter when given the opportunity, but the Kansas City offense should still take a hit without Mahomes at the helm. Minshew is ranked QB26 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a backend QB2 option in Superflex and 2QB leagues this week.

1 hour ago

Rashee Rice • WR • Chiefs

Rashee Rice Officially Ruled Out for Week 16

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (concussion) has been ruled out for his team's Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans due to a concussion. The 25-year-old has functioned as the number one option in the Chiefs' passing game since returning from suspension in Week 7, recording 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns across eight games. Kansas City will also be without wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) in Week 16, so wideouts Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster appear likely to see the majority of the snaps on Sunday. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could see an uptick in targets as well. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) out for the season and Gardner Minshew now the starting quarterback in Kansas City, the outlook for all of the team's pass catchers is less favorable. Still, Kelce and Worthy in particular could have a chance to volume their way to production in Week 16 against Tennessee.

2 hours ago

Xavier Worthy • WR • Chiefs

Xavier Worthy to be the Chiefs' WR1 This Week?

Kansas City Chiefs second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy could be in store for an elevated target share in Week 16's road outing with the Tennessee Titans, depending on the health of his running mates. It's been a strange season for the former Texas Longhorn. Worthy essentially missed the first three weeks of the campaign with a shoulder injury, and before he could really get his year on track, teammate Rashee Rice (concussion) returned from a suspension to act as KC's WR1. In the eight games together since, the 22-year-old has played a clear second fiddle. Still, there's some hope he'll see a substantial uptick in work this weekend, particularly with Rice and Tyquan Thornton (concussion) in danger of missing the game. For now, the situation is worth monitoring, as Worthy, Marquise Brown (personal), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (rib) would operate in three-wide-receiver sets if the duo mentioned above is inactive.

6 hours ago

Gardner Minshew • QB • Chiefs

Gardner Minshew Set to Finish 2025 as the Starter in Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew has spent most of 2025 serving as his team's backup QB behind star signal-caller Patrick Mahomes (knee). However, with Mahomes suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 15, Minshew is in line to finish the 2025 season as the starter in Kansas City. Across 62 career NFL games (46 starts), Minshew has completed 63.3% of his pass attempts for 11,972 yards, 68 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. His most recent run as a starter came in 2024 for the Las Vegas Raiders, where he threw for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 10 games (nine starts). With a career average of 6.9 yards per pass attempt, Minshew carries limited upside. Still, he's had competent stretches of NFL quarterback play at various points in his career and will face a favorable matchup in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. Given his newfound playing time outlook, Minshew could be a low-end streaming option in two-quarterback fantasy formats.

6 hours ago

Tyquan Thornton • WR • Chiefs

Tyquan Thornton Remains in Concussion Protocol

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) is absent from Thursday's practice for the second straight day as he remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to senior team reporter Matt McCullen. Thornton exited the Week 15 loss to the Chargers after a 21-yard catch in the fourth quarter. The 25-year-old appears unlikely to suit up for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans unless he can clear the league's concussion protocol. The former New England Patriots wideout wouldn't have much fantasy appeal regardless, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) out for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL. Top wideout Rashee Rice (concussion) is also in concussion protocol with Thornton. Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster could be in line for more opportunities in Week 16 if Thornton and Rice are ruled out.

Yesterday

Rashee Rice • WR • Chiefs

Rashee Rice Not Practicing Again on Thursday

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (concussion) won't practice again on Thursday as he remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to Chiefs senior reporter Matt McCullen. Rice is trending towards missing his first game since returning from suspension in Week 7. The 25-year-old's rest-of-the-season outlook is already hurt with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) out for the year after suffering a torn ACL in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs could be thin at wide receiver for Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans, with Tyquan Thornton (concussion) also in concussion protocol and missing two practices this week. If Rice and Thornton are ruled out, quarterback Gardner Minshew will rely on a receiver trio of Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, along with a heavy dose of tight end Travis Kelce in the passing game.

Yesterday

Tyquan Thornton • WR • Chiefs

Tyquan Thornton Not Practicing on Wednesday

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) will not practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Andy Reid. Fellow wideout Rashee Rice is also dealing with a concussion and will not practice on Wednesday. The Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention and lost star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) to a torn ACL in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, so they won't be pushing Thornton or Rice to play in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. The 25-year-old Thornton has 19 catches on 36 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns this year, but he's mostly been quiet in KC's offense since Rice returned from his suspension. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Sept. 28 and has five zero-catch games this year. If Thornton and Rice are unable to play this weekend, Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster would all be forced into bigger roles.

2 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Rehabbing ACL, LCL Tears

Kansas City Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder said that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) was operated on quickly to fix the LCL part of his ACL/LCL knee injury that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Jesse Newell of The Athletic. Mahomes has started his rehab in Dallas this week and will continue through Thursday before returning to KC. The fact that the 30-year-old tore both his ACL and LCL will make his recovery more complicated, but reports suggest that Mahomes is "hellbent" on returning for the Week 1 season opener in 2026. For the final three weeks of the 2025 season, Gardner Minshew will run KC's offense, which is an obvious downgrade for all of the Chiefs' offensive skill players. Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, threw for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 games in 2025 in his ninth NFL season.

2 days ago

Rashee Rice • WR • Chiefs

Rashee Rice Won't Practice Due to Concussion

The Kansas City Chiefs say that wide receiver Rashee Rice (concussion) will not practice on Wednesday, according to Pete Sweeney. It's a new injury for Rice, and one that could certainly keep him from playing in the Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday, especially with the Chiefs now eliminated from playoff contention. The 25-year-old's fantasy stock will be down, regardless, for the final three games of the season, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) done for the year following a torn ACL suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Rice's status the rest of the week. He'll need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist to play this Sunday. Tyquan Thornton also suffered a head injury against the Chargers. Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster could be in for expanded roles against the Titans if Rice and Thornton are unable to suit up.

2 days ago

Gardner Minshew • QB • Chiefs

Gardner Minshew on the Fantasy Radar in Superflex Leagues

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew is in line to start the rest of the season after Patrick Mahomes (knee) suffered a torn ACL in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Minshew completed three of five passes for 22 yards and a game-ending interception in relief of Mahomes in the fourth quarter. The 29-year-old has been serviceable in the past as a starter, with his best season coming in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 62.3% of his passes for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 13 starts. Minshew most recently started for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, where he wasn't quite as effective in a worse offensive environment, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) over nine starts. Minshew doesn't profile as a fantasy option in standard formats, but he has appeal in superflex leagues for a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

3 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Targeting Week 1 Return in 2026

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) "appears to be hellbent" on returning for Week 1 of the 2026 season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in Kansas City's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, ending his season. The 30-year-old underwent surgery on Monday, so a return in Week 1 of 2026 would be right around nine months of recovery time. While it's obviously too soon to know exactly when Mahomes will return, it's noteworthy that the initial plan is to be ready for the start of the season. By his lofty standards, the two-time MVP had a down year in 2025, completing a career-low 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 14 games. Gardner Minshew is the current fill-in for Mahomes in Kansas City, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season. If Mahomes were to miss time in 2026, it's unclear who the Chiefs would turn to under center.

3 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes has Successful ACL Surgery on Monday

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) underwent successful ACL surgery in Dallas on Monday. Mahomes went under the knife with Dr. Dan Cooper to repair a torn left ACL that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He'll immediately begin the rehab process, and his timetable to return is unknown right now. The 30-year-old is obviously out for the rest of this season and faces an uphill battle to be ready for the beginning of the 2026 campaign. In his absence, Gardner Minshew will take over under center for the final three games of the regular season with the Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention. With Mahomes out the rest of the way, KC's offensive weapons need to be downgraded in fantasy football.

3 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Seeking Second Opinion for Knee Surgery

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) is heading to Dallas for a second opinion on the surgery that is required to fix the torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. It was a dark day in KC on Sunday, as not only did they lose Mahomes for the rest of the season, but they were also eliminated from the postseason for the first time in a decade. Regardless of when Mahomes has surgery on his knee, he'll likely be fighting an uphill battle to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. For the final three games of the year, Gardner Minshew will run the Chiefs' offense, which means all of the team's offensive skill players should be downgraded in fantasy football. Mahomes finishes his ninth year in the NFL with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 games.

4 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Suffers Torn ACL

According to the team, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) has suffered a torn ACL. Mahomes exited Sunday's loss to the Chargers in the fourth quarter after suffering a left knee injury. Following the game, the three-time Super Bowl winner underwent an MRI, which eventually revealed the extent of their injury. The team noted that Mahomes and the club are currently exploring surgical options. As a result, this will keep the 30-year-old quarterback sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 campaign and potentially part of the 2026 season. Before exiting on Sunday, Mahomes went 16-for-28 with 189 yards, an interception, and added 15 yards and a score with his legs. For the remainder of the season, Gardner Minshew is slated to take over QB1 duties in Kansas City. He will carry mid-end QB2 upside in Week 16, facing a weak Tennessee secondary, playing in an offense with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Travis Kelce.

4 days ago

Tyquan Thornton • WR • Chiefs

Tyquan Thornton Exits Sunday's Loss in Concussion Protocol

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) exited Sunday's loss to the Chargers in the concussion protocol. The wideout sustained this injury in the final frame after catching a 21-yard strike from Patrick Mahomes. Thornton finished the game with two catches on three targets for 47 yards. His yardage total trailed just Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce. With Marquise Brown unable to suit up due to personal reasons, Thornton saw a larger role. Managers should monitor his status leading up to their Week 16 matchup against the Titans. If he is unable to play, JuJu Smith-Schuster would likely see an increase in snaps but would not carry much fantasy value as their QB, Patrick Mahomes, exited this contest with a knee injury and is alos in danger of sitting out next week.

4 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Slated for MRI Following Knee Injury

Head coach Andy Reid reports that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will undergo an MRI on his injured left knee. Mahomes exited Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers late in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly on his left knee. It's never good news when an athlete suffers a non-contact injury, leaving questions about the former Texas Tech Red Raider's status for the remainder of the season. For what it's worth, Reid confirmed what most of us watching already knew, that the injury "didn't look good." Journeyman signal-caller Gardner Minshew worked in Mahomes' stead for the remainder of Week 15's outing, and projects to be the team's solution under center if the latter is forced to miss more time moving forward. Fantasy managers can expect an update on the 30-year-old within the next 24 hours.

5 days ago

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Helped To Locker Room Following Knee Injury

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered an apparent knee injury late in the team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The three-time Super Bowl winner was replaced by Gardner Minshew on the Chiefs' final possession after taking a hit while attempting a pass. Mahomes did not return to the game and was seen being helped to the Kansas City locker room by members of the training staff. The Chiefs were mathematically eliminated from the NFL playoffs with the loss, marking the first time in Mahomes' career that he's failed to qualify for the postseason.

5 days ago

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