After posting a 4.21-second finishing time in the 40-yard dash, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s fantasy football outlook in 2024 is a hot topic of discussion.
The popular rookie will enter the fold with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who will aim to utilize this record-breaking speed.
Let’s analyze Worthy’s 2024 fantasy football outlook and evaluate if he’s a good pick in your draft.
Xavier Worthy’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
A favorite fantasy football strategy of mine is to draft some rookie wide receivers. Now more than ever, there have been multiple that pop off and have productive seasons. In 2023, three wide receivers finished inside the top 25 at the position in points per reception (PPR) leagues.
Right now, Worthy is going as WR40 and No. 92 overall, just after second-year wideout Jordan Addison and before veteran DeAndre Hopkins. It’s also worth noting that he’s going just two spots after fellow Chiefs wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
According to TruMedia, Mahomes had 34 attempts that had air yards of 25 or longer.
At Texas in 2023, Worthy was targeted 20+ yards downfield 18.4% of the time.
He caught five of 19 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. The majority of his targets were 0-9 yards downfield, where he caught 22 of 33 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown and averaged 4.6 yards per catch per reception.
Worthy joins a receiving corp that houses Brown, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and even running back Isiah Pacheco.
However, Brown suffered a serious injury during Week 1 of the preseason.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Brown suffered a “dislocation of his sternoclavicular shoulder joint,” and his status for Week 1 “remains uncertain.” This was a serious injury, according to Dr. Jesse Morse of TheInjuryExperts, who said this type of injury can sometimes be life-threatening.
Given the circumstances, though, it’s expected that Brown will be back in 4-6 weeks.
With this news and a possible suspension looming for Rice after a headline-inducing offseason, Worthy could be one of Mahomes’ most relied-upon targets.
Is Worthy a Good Fantasy Pick?
Due to Brown’s injury and its severity — and Rice’s availability — Worthy is bound to shoot up draft boards. The Chiefs have a bye week in Week 6, which is likely too far away for the team to just have Brown sit out until then (but it’s certainly possible).
Worthy can snag deep passes, but he’ll also be an excellent target anywhere in space for Mahomes.
Mahomes threw for 4,183 yards, 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. That was a down year by his standards, but the Chiefs also had limited weapons. In 2022, Mahomes had 5,250 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
With this group at full health, I’d expect Mahomes to be closer to his 2022 self.
Worthy should be a top option in a highly productive offense.