Team news: Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs received encouraging news Friday morning as rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen returned to practice after missing nearly a week with a shin injury.

Allen, a fifth-round draft pick, had quickly become one of the biggest standouts of Chiefs training camp before suffering a shin bruise during Saturday’s practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.

Related Players: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, Travis Kelce

Allen was one of Kansas City’s biggest early-camp standouts, earning first-team reps and developing an apparent rapport with Patrick Mahomes before the injury. His quick return allows him to resume competing with Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Royals and others for a depth role. Allen remains a deep fantasy dart throw, but his combination of training-camp buzz and attachment to the Chiefs offense makes him worth monitoring.

The Chiefs have plans to give running back Kenneth Walker III the majority of their carries. They signed him for a reason, and they believe he gives HC Andy Reid something he hasn't had in a very long time -- a running back who can do everything they need. They like him as a blocker, pass catcher and between-the-tackles runner. They're running more under-center plays with Patrick Mahomes, as they think that's the best way to maximize what Walker does best.

Related players: Emmett Johnson, Emari Demercado, Brashard Smith

Perhaps more of note for Walker owners is the story believes Johnson has a shot to be the number-two back. Johnson is the rookie fifth round back drafted this past spring. It will be a situation worth watching, especially if Walker is going to get a heavy workload. The story added Walker might have operated in a timeshare last season with the Seahawks, but the Chiefs believe he's capable of much more.

Tests on Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen revealed a shin bruise.

That's a lot better than what it could have been, given he was carted off following a collision during a special-teams drill. Allen has been getting rave reviews in camp and could carve out an early role in the Chiefs' offense. The rookie is already becoming a favorite of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs are evaluating a pair of wide receivers for injuries: Xavier Worthy for a shoulder and Cyrus Allen for a lower leg.

Allen was carted off the field following a collision with cornerback Kaiir Elam during a special teams drill. Allen had been getting rave reviews and was already gaining the trust of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Worthy had been recovering from his January surgery and was just cleared for return earlier this week.

Chiefs now have placed WR Rashee Rice, WR Tyquan Thornton and CBs Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson on season-ending injured reserve.

Related Players: Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster

With Chris Oladokun taking snaps this week, and potentially next, it'd be hard to trust any of these Chiefs pass-catchers in the most pivotal of pivotal fantasy weeks. Kelce can be considered a top-15 option, but not much more.

Justin Fields’ first season with the Jets has come to an end.

The Jets are putting Fields on injured reserve with a knee injury, ending his season.

Related players: Brady Cook, Tyrod Taylor

Cook will start at quarterback for the Jets, with Taylor backing him up. As the story said: the decision to give Fields a two-year, $40 million contract in March is looking like a costly mistake. Fields has a $20 million base salary next season, of which $10 million is guaranteed. It’s unclear at this point whether Fields will be back next year, but the Jets are on the hook for at least that $10 million either way.

Chiefs out of practice on Tuesday: CB Trent McDuffie (knee), KR Nikko Remigio (knee), WR Rashee Rice (concussion), WR Tyquan Thornton (concussion), CB Jaylen Watson (groin)

Chiefs could be down McDuffie/Watson against WR Courtland Sutton — presenting a tough matchup.

There isn't much reason to get Rice in the lineup for the Chiefs, who were eliminated from the playoffs and are likely down to their third string QB. Even if Rice plays, he could still be a big risk for fantasy lineups, just based on the QB play.

The Chiefs listed four players as out of practice on Monday’s estimated report.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice (concussion), cornerback Trent McDuffie (knee), wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) and cornerback Jaylen Watson (groin) were listed as non-participants.

The Chiefs certainly aren't going to rush Rice back into the lineup at this point, but either way, he'll need to be cleared before his Christmas Day game if he's going to play. Even if Rice is a go, he'll be a risky fantasy start given the Chiefs QB situation.

Quarterback Gardner Minshew got some positive news on the knee injury he suffered during Sunday’s loss to the Titans. But Kansas City is still adding another quarterback.

According to multiple reports, further testing revealed that Minshew did not, in fact, tear his ACL as initially feared on Sunday.

Related players: Steve Buechele, Chris Oladokun

Minshew is still set to miss time, but he avoided a worst-case scenario after going down early during Week 16, the story said. The team signed Buechele to the 53-man roster off of the Bills’ practice squad, and he'll backup Oladokun.

Chiefs ruled out Rashee Rice, Trent McDuffie, Leo Chenal, Jaylon Moore, Jawaan Taylor, Tyquan Thornton, Jake Briningstool, Nazeeh Johnson, and Derrick Nnadi for Sunday's game agains the Titans.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Travis Kelce

Geez. Worhty is likely the biggest beneficiary here, but his floor and ceiling are still very much capped with Garnder Minshew at the helm. Consider him and Brown WR4 options, while Kelce is in the low-end TE1 conversation.