Xavier Worthy Fantasy Impact
Your fantasy football draft is almost here, and that means it’s time to think about the potential sleepers who can help you win your league. For many, Rashee Rice was that guy last season. He finished with 79 catches on 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns, with most of the production coming toward the latter half of the season.
The Kansas City Chiefs liked what they had with Rice, but then he ran into legal issues. Thus, they retooled their receiving core, releasing Marquez Valdes-Scantling, signing Marquise Brown, and then trading up to draft Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs have a potential three-headed monster at wideout and some options for Patrick Mahomes to throw to when he isn’t passing it to Travis Kelce. We will go in-depth about the fantastic potential of Xavier Worthy and why he can help you win your fantasy football league.
Xavier Worthy: The Profile
ADP: 88, WR38
Worthy will line up on the left side and figure to be the deep option for Mahomes to pass to. While Brown also can go deep, Worthy is the guy everyone is talking about for being the potential favorite of Mahomes. Worthy set an NFL Combine record when he scorched the competition with a 4.21, which broke the previous record held by John Ross.
His speed and ability to blaze past opposing cornerbacks could pay dividends, especially if Mahones feels like chucking the ball deep over the left side. It could also present a dangerous dilemma where Worthy becomes a boom-or-bust player. Regardless, anyone with that much speed can be dangerous.
When To Draft Xavier Worthy
This is always the million-dollar question. But if you consider the average draft position, most 12-team leagues will have around the seventh or eighth rounds. That is not a bad deal, especially for a caliber receiver. But if you do choose to draft Worthy at this point, it is essential that you already have two reliable receivers on the team.
You must consider that it took Rice a little while to get going last season. Similarly, it may take Worthy a few games to stretch his legs in the NFL before he truly starts to make an impact. If you are in a PPR league, you will likely want to take advantage of the big-game potential Worthy may give you. While he may not get off to a hot start, he will pay dividends by midseason and potentially be a league-winner for you in the long run.
When you participate in your fantasy football draft, you must approach Worthy with heightened expectations. Yes, he has the potential to be amazing, but it might take some time. His stock will go up if Rice faces any suspension for his off-the-field arrest.
The Early Reviews for Xavier Worthy
Mahomes is gaining chemistry with Worthy in camp and appears poised to ensure his success in the NFL. Despite the slight hesitation by early drafters and Brown and Rice behind ahead of him in the target competition, there is a lot of positivity around camp about Worthy. Some equate that to his instant chemistry with Mahomes and the fact that the two other receivers might take some pressure off him.
These reports often indicate what is to come. The Chiefs moved up to draft Worthy, so they wanted to make him as comfortable as possible to try to get him going early.
Expected Production
Worthy was exceptional in his final season at Texas, catching 75 passes for 1,104 yards and five touchdowns. While it was his highest total yards, he also scored less than he did in the two previous seasons. Ultimately, he has shown the capability of scoring multiple touchdowns and will look to make an impact from the start, catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Worthy should have a good rookie season, similar to Rice’s last season. Some fantasy predictions have him finishing with around 39 receptions for 564 yards and three touchdowns. Our projections have him doing much better, finishing with around 58 receptions for 823 yards and four scores.
Much of what will happen with Worthy really depends on what happens with Rice. Remember, Kelce is still first in the pecking order. Rice is the next in line after his production last season. Additionally, consider the fact that even Brown is not guaranteed to be a game-changer in this offense, especially since he has been a disappointment over the past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. This may open up the door for Worthy.
Others in your league may also be looking at Worthy. The best advice is to approach him with optimism but not reach. When you get to the seventh round, and Worthy is still on the board, then take him and reap the rewards.
