Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes→ his ranking

Mahomes' 2022 season was his best yet on paper. With nearly identical volume to prior years (435 completions on 648 attempts), he set career highs in passing yards (5,250) and touchdowns (41) while adding a rushing dimension (61 carries, 358 yards, and four TDs). He generated 20-plus yard completions on 73 plays, with 13 of those reaching 40 yards or more.

Mahomes posted a career-low 7.0 yards per attempt, and his touchdown total dropped to 27 in 2023, well below his three-year average of 41. His completion rate climbed to a personal best (67.2%), and he ran more than ever (75/389), but Kansas City's receiving corps was visibly diminished. He threw for 300-plus yards in three of his first seven starts, then managed it just twice more over his final 13 games. A 12-game stretch beginning in Week 8 led to only 19.47 fantasy points per game in four-point touchdown formats, a telling sign of diminishing weapons around him.

Further regression came in 2024, when Mahomes set another career low in yards per attempt (6.8) while reaching a new high in completion rate (67.5%), and his big-play production nearly vanished, with just four completions of 40-plus yards compared to 66 over his previous 95 starts. He topped 300 passing yards only three times all season. His year opened with negative outings (six touchdowns and eight interceptions over the first six weeks), numbers that would have buried most quarterbacks in the standings.

But Mahomes steadied the ship over the final 10 regular-season games, averaging 23.16 fantasy points per game in four-point formats, averaging 272 combined yards with 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He topped 30.00 fantasy points twice (Week 12 and the conference championship) and finished with a 15-1 regular season record (the best of his career), despite what was statistically his most uneven stretch as a pro.

Last year, the direction of the Chiefs’ offense was finally exposed in the win/loss column. Mahomes comes off a career-low completion rate (62.7%), with a slight rebound in his yards per pass attempt (7.1). His Superman cape was still visible based on a path to gain combined yards (4,868) and touchdowns (33). Unfortunately, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in mid-December. His recovery time should be nine months, suggesting that he will be borderline ready for the start of the 2026 season.

On his winning days in 2025, Mahomes posted five impact games in fantasy points (28.60, 30.00, 30.90, 34.05, and 32.05). He also delivered five subpar outings (15.40, 14.00, 17.10, 11.90, and 15.95).

In the early draft season, Mahomes draws a QB2 price tag in the National Fantasy Football Championship as game managers wait for new updates on his timetable to return to game action. I don’t like the offensive receiving structure of the Chiefs heading into 2026, but Mahomes makes players better and wins games, and Kansas City has a great coaching staff.

Take the early plunge with Mahomes, as his slow start to the year can be covered by another quarterback—any later investment hinges on his future rise in ADP, paired with his outlook for Week 1.

Justin Fields→ his ranking

Fields rides into Kansas City with a 16-37 record, while being miles away from his first-round price point (11th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft. His ability to run adds another dimension to the Chiefs’ offense if they decide to use him in goal-line packages. He provides experience at the quarterback position, with a chance to start one or two games to open 2026. Kansas City’s coaching staff should get the most out of his talent.

Kenneth Walker→ his ranking

Walker's rookie season followed a familiar boom-bust pattern. After a quiet four-game introduction (15 carries, 58 yards, six catches, and 14 receiving yards), he exploded over the next five weeks (96 carries for 512 yards and seven touchdowns with six catches for 34 yards). A mid-season lull from Weeks 10 through 14 (39/126/2 at just 3.2 YPC, with an ankle issue costing him one game) gave way to a strong finish: three consecutive productive outings (26/107, 23/133, and 29/113) to close the year. Walker finished 18th in PPR running back scoring (203.20 points), but was only a reliable fantasy option in roughly half his games.

Seattle kept his workload nearly identical in 2023 (248 touches over 15 games), and the results were similarly consistent (1,164 combined yards, nine touchdowns, and 29 catches). Walker cracked 100 rushing yards once (26/105) and topped 100 combined yards three more times, in Weeks 3, 10, and 15. A shoulder injury cost him two games. The most notable trend was a significant home/road split (16.97 fantasy points per game at home versus just 10.08 on the road), a gap that made him difficult to trust in away matchups.

2024 was a fantasy manager's nightmare. Walker opened with a promising performance (20/103/1) before an oblique injury wiped out two weeks. He returned to tease again in Week 4 (116 combined yards, three TDs, and four catches), then slogged through the next eight games on 145 touches but managed only 3.2 yards per carry (113/359/3), kept afloat in fantasy largely by a heavier passing game role (32/229/1). Calf and ankle issues then ended his season early, with Walker missing four of his final five games.

During the 2025 regular season, Walker worked in a rotational role with Zach Charbonnet in Seattle, leading to more frustrating days (fewer than 10.00 fantasy points in nine games) than RB1 results (18.80, 18.00, 20.10, 25.40, and 17.30). His best stats came in Week 18 and over the final three games (81/410/4 – 5.1 yards per rush with 13 catches for 140 yards). He averaged 23.00 fantasy points per game in PPR formats over this span.

In the early draft season of the National Fantasy Football Championship, Walker is the 11th running back off the board, with a second-round ADP (19). I see great value in him in 2026, leading to 300+ touches with 1,500 combined yards and a dozen or more scores.

Emmett Johnson→ his ranking

Johnson spent his first two seasons at Nebraska in a limited role (253 touches, 1,341 combined yards, five touchdowns, and 46 catches) across 2023 and 2024. Given the keys last season, he delivered in a big way. Johnson led his conference in carries (251) and rushing yards (1,451), averaging an impressive 5.8 yards per carry with 12 touchdowns on the ground and a healthy receiving contribution (46 catches, 370 yards, and three TDs) on 297 total touches. He ran a 4.56 forty at the 2026 NFL Combine.

His NFL profile has some rough edges. Johnson is a north-south runner who attacks the line immediately, which works in his favor when there's daylight. His lower-body strength is below average, meaning he won't bully his way through contact or finish runs against stacked boxes. His movements in traffic lack the fluidity to maintain speed through tight creases, and he needs spacing to make his best plays.

Pass protection is an area that will need development before he can be trusted as a three-down back. His receiving ability is genuine and should translate, giving him a clear path to the field on passing downs. More strength at the point of attack would raise his ceiling considerably, but his game is ultimately built on getting to the second level quickly. When the blocking holds up, Johnson has the vision and acceleration to make defenses pay.

Brashard Smith→ his ranking

Smith spent three seasons at Miami almost exclusively as a receiver, carrying the ball just 18 times for 177 yards and a touchdown across 35 games while catching passes out of the backfield and on the perimeter (14/199/2, 33/308, and 22/263/2). The move to SMU in 2024 and a full transition to running back unlocked a different player entirely. He ran for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns on 235 carries while adding 39 catches for 327 yards and four receiving scores, announcing himself as one of the more versatile backs in the draft class.

Kansas City selected him in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the fit makes sense. His 4.39 forty gives the Chiefs something their backfield has lacked: difference-maker home run speed. His pre-draft knock on Smith was hesitancy when reading traffic in tight spaces, but that's a coachable issue that typically improves with NFL reps and experience.

His most likely role in Kansas City is a passing-down specialist in the mold of Jerick McKinnon's 2022 season (56/512/9), a mismatch weapon out of the backfield who can stress defenses in space. His size (5'10" and 195 lbs.) raises legitimate questions about his durability and effectiveness as a pass protector, which could limit his three-down value early on. But Smith’s more than just an outside runner. He has a feel for interior gaps and the foot speed to turn a crease into a chunk gain. Once in the open field, Smith is elusive and difficult to bring down cleanly, even if he doesn't have the power to run through contact at the finish.

Kansas City gave Smith 69 touches in his rookie season, leading to 323 combined yards with a touchdown and 25 catches. He gained only 3.4 yards per rush and 6.9 yards per catch. The Chiefs gave him winning touches (19) in only Week 7 (14/39 with five catches for 42 yards).

Rashee Rice→ his ranking

Rice wasted no time establishing himself as Kansas City's top receiving option as a rookie, leading the Chiefs' wide receivers in catches (79), receiving yards (938), touchdowns (7), and targets (102), good for 27th in PPR wide receiver scoring (213.80 points). His season had a slow build. Over his first 10 starts, Kansas City fed him just 4.6 targets per game (36/420/4), keeping his fantasy value modest. The second half of the season was a different story: 8.9 targets per game the rest of the way, producing 69 catches for 780 yards and four touchdowns at 17.15 FPPG. Rice was especially locked in from Week 12 through the postseason (8/107/1, 8/64, 7/72/1, 9/91/1, 6/57, 5/127, and 8/130/1), with a rest week in Week 18. His 77.8% catch rate for the season was among the best in the league.

Rice carried that success into 2024, posting three strong performances to open the year (7/103, 5/75/1, and 12/111/1) on 29 targets while converting 82.8% of his chances, reinforcing that his rookie catch rate was no fluke. With Travis Kelce's explosiveness continuing to fade, Rice was clearly positioned to become the engine of Kansas City's passing game.

Then came Week 4. Just four snaps in, Rice tore his ACL in his right knee, ending his season before it had barely started. Surgery followed in October, putting him on track to play in Week 1. Unfortunately, his off-the-field issue led to a six-game season to open 2025.

Over his eight starts last season, Rice caught 53 of his 78 targets (67.9%) for 591 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 18.51 PPR fantasy points over this span. Rice was at his best in five matchups (7/42/2, 0/105/1, 4/86/1, 8/141, and 8/94/2). A concussion in December ended his year. He had minor right knee surgery in early May. The Chiefs expect him to be back on the field in July.

Xavier Worthy→ his ranking

Kansas City used its 28th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Worthy, betting on his elite speed (4.21 forty) to add a new dimension to their offense. At 5'11" and 165 pounds, his frame is slight, and press coverage at the line will be an ongoing challenge, particularly in the red zone early in his career. But his vision is advanced, and defenses will have to account for him deep on every snap.

At Texas, Worthy caught 197 passes for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns across three seasons on 342 targets. His 57.6% catch rate and 14.0 yards per reception suggest a player used more as a big-play threat than a volume option. His best touchdown season came as a freshman (12 scores), and he topped 100 receiving yards just twice in 2023 (8/108 and 10/137).

His rookie year followed a familiar boom-bust arc. He opened with a bang in Week 1 (2/68/2, including a rushing score) before going relatively quiet over the next eight games (18/199/2 on 40 targets), with a few carries mixed in (8/16/1). Then he found his rhythm over his final 11 starts, excluding a one-snap rest game in Week 18. Worthy was one of the more productive receivers in football, posting 58 catches for 754 yards and seven touchdowns on 76 targets, capped by a statement Super Bowl performance (8/157/2).

He finished 33rd in PPR wide receiver scoring (188.20 points), highlighted by four winnings games (7/75/1, 8/89/1, 6/101/1, and 8/1572) after Week 15. Kansas City increasingly featured him closer to the line of scrimmage (his 10.8 yards per catch reflects that usage), and he had eight or more targets in six games. The one lingering concern is his lack of true explosion in the regular season; just one catch of 40-plus yards all year suggests the deep threat potential hasn't fully translated yet.

A Week 1 shoulder injury after three snaps last season led to Worthy missing two more games. Over his next 12 games, he caught 42 passes for 618 yards and one touchdown on 69 targets, leading to him averaging only 9.15 PPR fantasy points per game. His best success came from Week 4 (5/121), Week 5 (6/51), and Week 6 (2/26/1). Worthy missed Week 18 with an illness while gaining only one yard on one carry in the previous game.

In the end, was Worthy’s huge step back in play due to his early shoulder issue? Or was it a lack of development?

Tyquan Thornton→ his ranking

Over three quiet seasons with the Patriots (39/452/3 on 76 targets), Thornton ended up being a surprising injury cover for Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice over four games. He flashed in Week 2 (2/59/1), followed by three playable outcomes (5/71/1, 1/11/1, and 3/90) while re receiving 21 combined targets. The Chiefs only looked his way 12 more times over his next nine games (6/166 – 27.7 yards per catch). His season ended with three weeks to go due to a concussion.

Jalen Royals→ his ranking

Royals emerged as one of the more productive receivers in the Mountain West in 2023, catching 71 passes for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns for Utah State. He was virtually unstoppable down the stretch, scoring in seven of his final eight games and rattling off three consecutive dominant performances (7/185/3, 6/140/2, and 7/125/2) that put him on the draft radar.

2024 was interrupted by a left leg injury that cost him five games, but his flashes were still there. After a modest start (5/77/1, 6/47, and 4/44), he caught fire over the following four contests (10/112/1, 9/211/2, 10/155/1, and 11/188/1), showing the kind of volume and big-play ability that translates. His career yards per catch (15.2) and a 4.42 forty at the 2025 NFL Combine round out a profile worth paying attention to.

What stands out on tape is the naturalness of his game. Royals runs routes with an easy, flowing rhythm and has a feel for finding soft spots against zone coverage. After the catch, he's a threat, thanks to shimmy and shoulder fakes at the second level, regularly turning completions into chunk gains. His hands are reliable, and his open-field running ability is a genuine plus. His areas that need work are his release package at the line and overall strength, both of which will be tested against NFL-caliber corners more frequently than he faced in college.

My CeeDee Lamb comparison may raise eyebrows given the level of competition, but the traits that made Lamb a volume slot receiver are visible in Royals' game: spacing instincts, yards after catch, and inside route feel. The Chiefs selected Royals in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Kansas City only had him on the field for 86 plays in his rookie season, leading to two catches for four yards on three targets.

Travis Kelce→ his ranking

His 2023 season opened with a knee injury that sidelined him in Week 1 and appeared to sap his explosiveness over the next three games. He rediscovered his form in Weeks 6 and 7 before going relatively quiet over his final eight starts (39/401/1 on just 43 targets), with Kansas City eventually resting him in the regular-season finale. He saved his best for the playoffs, posting strong lines across four postseason games (7/71, 5/75/2, 11/116/1, and 9/93).

At age 34, Kelce still commanded 133 targets across 16 regular-season games, maintaining a solid catch rate of 72.9 percent. His yards per catch (8.5) fell well short of both his career average (12.5) and his prior season mark (10.6). He failed to eclipse 40 receiving yards in a single catch in any game, a threshold he had cleared twice a year in each of the previous four seasons. That decline also snapped his remarkable streak of seven consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns.

Kansas City funneled double-digit targets his way in six matchups, and he topped 20.00 PPR fantasy points four times. But the cracks showed in the postseason, where he managed just 2/19 and 4/39 in the final two games. He finished fifth among tight ends in PPR scoring with 196.40 points.

Last year, Kelce made bigger plays (11.2 YPC) but finished with his lowest catch total (76) since 2015. Despite his regression, he was the third-best tight end in PPR scoring (193.20), with two winning games (9/91/1 and 6/99/1). Kelce scored fewer than 10.00 fantasy points in eight matchups.

In his career, he ranks 23rd all-time in receiving yards (13,002) and 8th in catches (1,080). Kelce needs 23 catches to be the fifth-best player in the history of the NFL.

Harrison Butker

The Chiefs gave Butker 38 field goal chances last year, with 33 going through the uprights (86.8%). Extra points (31-for-35) were an issue. In his career, he’s made 35 of his 53 tries from 50 yards or more. Butker finished 10th last season in kicker scoring (160.00). His career success rate (88.4%) in field goals ranks fourth all-time.