The summer months are a crucial period for dynasty fantasy football managers to refine their rosters, whether by acquiring players to bolster a contending team or offloading assets to initiate a rebuild. Throughout the summer, we will analyze players frequently appearing on PFSN’s Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer to determine if they are proper buy or sell candidates.
Today, we will examine Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Uncertainty Surrounds Rashee Rice: Why Are Managers Trading Him Away?
Since May 1, Rice has been the fifth-most frequently traded away wide receiver by PFSN users. An estimated 55.7% of the deals on the trade analyzer involve him being moved.
A 2023 second-round pick, Rice made an instant impact as a rookie, catching 79 passes on 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. Rice finished as the WR29 in PPR points per game as a rookie with 13.3, but he averaged 18.5 over his final six games of the season.
Things were looking even better to start the 2024 season. Rice was the WR2 in points per game (21.6) over the first three games, catching 24 of 29 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns during that span. Unfortunately, a torn LCL after four snaps in Week 4 ended his 2024 season early.
Rice looked excellent throughout the recent summer offseason program and has been cleared to start training camp on time. So, why is he being traded away so frequently in dynasty leagues, especially considering he is only 25 years old and tied to Patrick Mahomes?
One of the main driving forces is likely the pending court case for the second-year receiver. Before the 2024 season, Rice was involved in a serious car accident on the highway and was filmed walking away from his vehicle after traveling recklessly at a high speed. As a result, he potentially faces numerous felony charges that, if found guilty, could lead to a suspension from the NFL.
However, there has been little movement in the case, and the NFL has indicated it will not suspend Rice until a verdict is handed down. Additionally, Rice will enter the 2025 season with far more target competition than he has seen since being drafted.
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Wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who tallied 98 targets, 59 receptions, 638 receiving yards, and six touchdowns as a rookie, established himself as a legitimate threat in the passing attack toward the end of the 2024 season.
Additionally, Kansas City re-signed veteran receiver Hollywood Brown to a one-year, $11 million deal. Then, there’s Travis Kelce, who, even though he has shown some signs of losing a step at 35 years old, is still a threat to earn a high volume of targets, posting 133 targets in 2024.
Rice’s ongoing legal questions and a passing attack with legitimate talent are casting doubts upon his role in the Chiefs’ passing attack and the number of games he will play going forward.
Should Dynasty Fantasy Managers Trade For Rice?
Through two seasons, Rice has shown a clear ability to earn targets from Mahomes. Rice had a 17.9% target share during his rookie 2023 season, which jumped to a 25.7% rate in 2024 through the first three games.
Rice’s 3.39 yards per route run in his first three games of 2024 would have been the second-highest mark among all wide receivers if he had been able to maintain that pace over a full season.
You’re probably too low on Rashee Rice. pic.twitter.com/WX40yPzg3T
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) June 12, 2025
Even better, the area where Rice is at his best — short to intermediate passes with high yards after catch upside — perfectly coincides with the areas that are up for grabs with Kelce’s gradual decline.
In normal circumstances, a 25-year-old wide receiver who has earned a 21.8% target share over 20 games and is tied to Mahomes would be a top-five dynasty WR. However, due to his injury, the Chiefs’ passing volume decreasing in 2024, and his pending legal issues, Rice is instead being moved frequently in dynasty trades.
There are several red flags with Rice off the field, but there also haven’t been any convictions yet. More importantly, Rice has been able to avoid further legal issues since the incident before the 2024 season.
Entering his prime, Rice is seemingly healthy and will be playing with Mahomes for at least two more seasons until it comes time for a contract extension. The reward of acquiring a top-end dynasty WR at a discount outweighs the risks of his legal issues at this time and the long-term effects of his 2024 injury.
If Rice is available in your fantasy league, do not be afraid to shoot for upside and acquire him.
