The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil, in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineup moving forward, specifically regarding WR Rashee Rice.
Rashee Rice’s Fantasy Outlook
Rashee Rice has been suspended for the first six weeks of this season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which you should be aware of.
Rice showed well physically in camp, and there’s no conversation when he’s back on the active roster. Over his past 13 healthy games, his 17-game pace was 110 catches and eight scores, a line that makes him an unquestioned asset in all formats.
With Travis Kelce at the mercy of Father Time and Xavier Worthy’s role only set to regress, Rice is the pass catcher to trust in this offense when at full strength, and it’s not close in my opinion.
If you roster Rice, you have the opportunity to play him every week. Survive in the short term and thrive in the long term.
If you don’t, I’d suggest actively rooting against the team that does. Not that “rooting” does you any good, but you will want to keep tabs on that team: if that team stubs its toe out of the gates and doesn’t feel as if it can survive the entirety of this suspension, you might be able to buy low on a potential league winner:
Week 12 vs. Colts
- Stat to Track: The second-highest short pass passer rating was allowed in 2024 (only the Patriots were worse)
Week 13 at the Cowboys
- Stat to Track: Highest short completion percentage allowed last season (78.5%, league average: 73.5%)
Week 14 vs. Texans
- Stat to Track: Allowed a league-high 6.1 yards per catch after the reception last season (NFL average: 5.3)
Week 15 vs. Chargers
- Stat to Track: Last season, 50 of Mahomes’ 66 passes thrown against the Chargers traveled less than 10 yards downfield (75.8%, the highest mark of his career against the divisional opponent, career rate before LAC: 65.4%)
Week 16 at Titans
- Stat to Track: Sixth-highest touchdown rate allowed on short passes
Week 17 vs. Broncos
- Stat to Track: Mahomes played against them once last season, and he threw 31 passes no more than five yards downfield, the third highest
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
