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The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Rashee Rice in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
There is a clear void in the Kansas City wide receiver room, where they're hoping one of their draft picks from the previous two years can step up.
Rice produced his best fantasy output in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings. Is his upward trend a sign of things to come, and should he be a target for your fantasy football team?
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What Has Rashee Rice Done In Weeks 1-5?
Despite being fourth in snaps per game among Kansas City wide receivers, the rookie leads this room in fantasy points per game (9.2). He's also been a red zone target for Patrick Mahomes, securing his second touchdown this past week.
Rice's 13% target share on the season is mild, but offensive coordinator Matt Nagy stated, "I absolutely think he is. I think it's a growth process for him..." when asked about the SMU product earning more snaps in the future. Although Rice hasn't had a mind-blowing start to the 2024 season, the Chiefs are in desperate need of wide receiver production, and his opportunity should only grow moving forward.
Were There Any Worrying Signs With Rashee Rice In Weeks 1-5?
The rookie hasn't been perfect, however, which is part of the reason Matt Nagy has been hesitant to expand his role. He does already have a few dropped passes and is slightly underperforming in actual fantasy points per game (9.2) compared to expected fantasy points per game (11.8) per PlayerProfiler.
Rice's role also leaves a lot to be desired, running a murky 31% of routes on the season. A number that actually decreased in Week 5 despite the production.
It is extremely difficult to trust any player under 70% of a team's snaps to score points for your fantasy lineup.
Should I Pickup Rashee Rice Off the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Football?
Rice should be a target for your fantasy football team, ideally as a stash for the time being. The Kansas City Chiefs badly need a wide receiver to step up, and to this point, the second-rounder appears to have the most potential. Anytime a receiver can run routes with Patrick Mahomes, there's plenty of upside to go with it.
Unfortunately, the low snap share and rookie learning curve make him hard to trust at the moment. He's a flex play if your lineup really needs help, but better served as a stash hoping for a second-half breakout. Rookies often take time to acclimate to the NFL environment, so it is important to be patient and trust that his production and skillset will shine within the next few weeks.
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