Fantasy Football Player Notes

Rashee Rice was electric early last season, averaging 21.6 PPR fantasy points per game over the first three weeks of the season. But he tore his torn LCL and PCL in Week 4, and he also needed surgery to repair a hamstring tendon. It's possible Rice goes right back to being Patrick Mahomes' favorite short-area target and picks up where he left off. But young WR Xavier Worthy asserted himself for the Chiefs down the stretch last season, and it's possible Rice doesn't have quite the same juice this year post-injury. A lot of people think Rice is worthy of a second-round fantasy draft pick this year. I see him as more of a third- or fourth-round value.

Add Xavier Worthy to the list of disappointing rookie wide receivers, as he finished as the WR40 in fantasy points per game. He can thank a strong finish to the season in the "Rashee Rice role" for even ranking that high in his first season. In Weeks 1-12, he operated as a field stretcher, as the WR51 in fantasy points per game with a 13.9% target share, 32 receiving yards per game, a 12.1 aDOT, and a 13.2% designed target rate (per Fantasy Points Data). It wasn't until they shoved him into the Rice role that he took off. In Weeks 13-17, he was the WR21 in fantasy points per game, with a 21.3% target share, 57 receiving yards per game, an aDOT of 6.3, and a designed target rate of 25.6%. Unfortunately for Worthy, Rice will be back in 2025 and reprise his underneath role. Worthy's per-route metrics don't offer a ton of hope, as he was 75th in separation and 86th in route win rate among 112 qualifying receivers last year. Worthy could take a step in his sophomore season, but it's tough to view him as anything more than a run-of-the-mill risky WR3/4.

Marquise "Hollywood" Brown had a lost 2024 season due to a shoulder injury but returned in Week 16 and immediately saw strong usage in the Chiefs' offense. From Week 16 on, he posted a 29% target rate - top-10 among WRs - and a 28% air yards share, signaling Kansas City still views him as a key piece. The production didn't follow (14 catches, 141 yards, 0 TDs), but the opportunity was promising. With Rashee Rice recovering from injury and facing a possible suspension, and Travis Kelce approaching age 36, Brown could take on a larger role than expected in 2025.