Team news: Kansas City Chiefs

Jaylon Moore, Rashee Rice and Brashard Smith will be out Sunday.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jake Briningstool, Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker

Worthy remains Kansas City’s preferred WR start, offering WR3 value with WR2 upside through additional target opportunities. Kelce would remain a TE1 if cleared of his own ankle issue. Royals is a deeper-league option, while Allen remains difficult to trust without a larger role. Mahomes is better suited to SuperFlex lineups than being treated as an automatic QB1 against Seattle.

Kansas City ruled Rashee Rice out for Sunday’s game against the Chargers with hamstring and knee injuries. Rice did not practice this week.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jake Briningstool, Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker

Worthy becomes a stronger WR2/WR3 play with Rice’s targets available, while Kelce remains a clear TE1. Royals and Allen enter deeper-league FLEX consideration, but neither is assured a large enough share to become a comfortable starter. Mahomes remains usable, although losing Rice makes Kansas City more dependent on its remaining playmakers.

Chiefs LT Josh Simmons (back) again on the practice field Thursday.

WR Rashee Rice (hamstring) watching his teammates go thru drills, but not practicing today.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Patrick Mahomes

If Rice remains out, Worthy would have WR2 upside from additional targets, and Kelce would remain a strong TE1 option. Royals would enter deep-league FLEX desperation, while Allen and Gray remain speculative. Mahomes stays in QB1 consideration, though Rice’s absence would reduce the offense’s receiving depth.

Andy Reid said Rashee Rice is the lone player who is not going to practice.

This will be Josh Simmons' first practice in almost two months.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, Cyrus Allen, Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Patrick Mahomes

If Rice remains out, Worthy would have WR2 upside from additional targets, and Kelce would remain a strong TE1 option. Royals would enter deep-league FLEX desperation, while Allen and Gray remain speculative. Mahomes stays in QB1 consideration, though Rice’s absence would reduce the offense’s receiving depth.

Even before the injuries to Tyquan Thornton and fellow receiver Rashee Rice on Sunday, the Chiefs had already shown interest in signing wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is a free agent.

Related players: Xavier Worthy, Cyrus Allen, Jalen Royals

Following Sunday's game, a team source said "we've remained in contact" with Hill and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The Chiefs believe Hill is targeting a November return. Hill has been disappearing off wires since the news picked up some steam over the last couple of weeks. The downside is roster spots are valuable, so you'll have to carry Hill for possibly a month before being able to possibly plug him in lineups. Thornton suffered a dislocated ankle, which was popped back into place, according to the story. Rice suffered a hamstring injury and the story made it seem like he wanted to return to the game, but was held out for precaution, which is great news. The story added HC Andy Reid didn't seem too concerned about Rice's injury. All that said, we'll have to monitor injury reports for Rice this week to hopefully get a better idea of his status for Week 6. Keep in mind, the Chiefs have a bye in Week 5.

The big question for Kansas City Chiefs fans is when they’ll see Emmett Johnson play a little more. He’s very much the No. 2 running back behind Kenneth Walker. Johnson played just 14 offensive snaps in Week 2 against the Colts, accounting for 18% of the team’s offensive snaps.

According to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, fans won’t have to wait long for more of the rookie. While K.C. has no intention of limiting Walker or giving him fewer touches, they do want Johnson to continue growing. He should earn more opportunities to get on the field soon enough.

The Chiefs may not want Walker to keep up his current workload, so it's only natural Johnson begins to get more work at some point this season. Despite his limited snaps and touches, he's certainly passed the eye test, and the Chiefs are obviously high on the rookie. While Johnson may not be ready for fantasy lineups just yet, he's a must-own for any Walker owner as a handcuff at the very least.

Jadarian Price received a clear majority of Seattle’s early-down snaps Wednesday night, confirming his place in the Kenneth Walker role. George Holani handled every third-down and two-minute snap.

Price was also removed near the goal line, where Emanuel Wilson entered once Seattle reached the five-yard line. A delay-of-game penalty prevented that possession from providing a clearer indication of Wilson’s scoring-area role.

Related Players: Zach Charbonnet

The opener confirmed Price as Seattle’s primary early-down runner but also exposed a potentially damaging lack of passing-down and goal-line opportunities. He remains a viable RB3 while Charbonnet is sidelined, although negative game scripts could leave him with a pretty miserable floor.

Patrick Mahomes is set to start the Week 1 matchup against the Broncos.

“Pretty good chance Patrick will go ahead and start, unless something were to come up here in the next couple days,” HC Andy Reid said in his Tuesday video conference. “But, most likely, he’ll be the guy that’s out there.”

Reid had to use phrases like "pretty good chance" and "most likely," but it nevertheless looks like Mahomes will play in Week 1. Mahomes did not play in the preseason, he was an active participant in training camp and did not spend any time on the physically unable to perform list — despite suffering a torn ACL in December, the story points out. But we all saw the clips in practices and there never seemed to be a doubt he'd be ready for Week 1. Mahomes is going later in drafts than we're all used to, so if you want to draft him, you'll certainly have your chance if you like to wait on the position.

Just in from the Chiefs’ Wednesday workout. I did not see DT Chris Jones or LT Josh Simmons. S Chamarri Conner, DE Ashton Gillotte and DE Tyreke Smith (PS) were watching without a helmet. DE Jack Pyburn left early.

CB L’Jarius Sneed and RB Kenneth Walker did everything.

Related Players: Emmett Johnson, Brashard Smith

Walker’s return to a full workload effectively closes the short-term injury concern unless he experiences a setback. He can be drafted normally as a high-end RB1/2 option. Johnson remains the most relevant handcuff, while Smith profiles as a deeper developmental option with potential third-down work.

The Chiefs love what Emmett Johnson has showed. Brashard Smith is a wild card Andy Reid can move around on offense, and he’s KR2. Best return in a while for KC on Friday night.

Related players: Kenneth Walker, Emari Demercado

The Chiefs moved on from from Demercado and it was due liking what they've seen from the rookie Johnson this offseason, the post said. The post added the team considers Walker a three-down back. It looks like Johnson will be the team's clear RB2. Walker may get a large majority of the work, but Walker owners may want to back themselves up by taking Johnson later in drafts.