Team news: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs ruled out RB Isiah Pacheco (knee) for Sunday's game vs. Denver.

LT Josh Simmons and WR Xavier Worthy are off the injury report.

Related Players: Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith, Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Travis Kelce

With Pacheco set to miss more time, Hunt should be considered a fringe RB2/3, while Smith is more of a desperation RB4.

While Rice is still in WR1 territory, Brown is pushed out of potential WR4 range.

George Karlaftis and Xavier Worthy were limited in practice today.

Isiah Pacheco did not practice.

Related Players: Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith, Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Travis Kelce

With Pacheco set to miss more time, Hunt should be considered a fringe RB2/3, while Smith is more of a desperation RB4.

While Rice would still sit in WR1 territory whether or not Worthy plays, Brown would elevate into more of a boom/bust WR4 role.

Reid nudged that RB Isiah Pacheco (knee) may take more time.

Related players: Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith, Clyde Edwards-Helaire

The Chiefs are coming off their bye and so it's not a great sign that Pacheco isn't ready to go. Hunt should be the team's main back with the rookie Smith likely getting a few more touches, perhaps especially in the passing game. There was even an Edwards-Helaire sighting back in Week 9, as the Chiefs continue to recycle running backs.

WR Hollywood Brown (ill), RB Isiah Pacheco (knee) and LT Josh Simmons (personal) will not practice on Wednesday ahead of Buffalo. As described by Andy Reid, RG Trey Smith will give it a "whirl" after going through the walkthrough.

Related Players: Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith

Given that Brown's absence is due to illness, we'll hold off making any sweeping judgments about his absence.

As for Pacheco, it seems very unlikely he'll play in Week 9, leaving Hunt (RB2) and Smith (low-end RB3) in the mix as fantasy pieces.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, who left Monday night’s win with a knee injury, is considered week-to-week with an MCL sprain, per sources.

Related players: Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith, Elijah Mitchell

The week to week tag suggest Pacheco could at least miss Week 9, which is a showdown against the Bills. Keep in mind, the Chiefs have a bye in Week 10. Hunt should get his normal workload but Smith could be an interesting add as he seems to be trending up, especially in the passing game, and it could result in more touches overall if Pacheco is out.

Before the practice, coach Andy Reid said Rashee Rice will make his season debut Sunday when the Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

"How many snaps he gets, [I don't know]," Reid said of Rice. "He's excited to be back in and going. I think getting through practices [this week] will be good for him to get into the swing of things. He's been working hard. He's in good shape."

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Tyquan Thornton, Travis Kelce

We could see a bit of a snap count for Rice, but we wouldn't assume they would be putting him on the field if they weren't going to use him. Even if he is limited, this should be quite the upgrade for Patrick Mahomes, while the intermediate work for Kelce could end up taking a backseat to the far more explosive option. Rice should be considered more of a fantasy WR2 than WR1 as he ramps up.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension is now over and he is eligible to play Sunday vs. the Raiders.

Related players: Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs and Mahomes get back another weapon for their offense which looks to be clicking, at least at times this season, especially this week when knocking off the Lions on Sunday night. When we last saw Rice to start 2024, he collected 24 catches on 29 targets in three games, piling up 288 yards and two touchdowns. It may take a little time to get Rice up to speed, but Rice was with the team in training camp before his suspension started which should only help. The Chiefs host the Raiders in Week 7 in an early Sunday game.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy has no injury designation for Sunday night’s game vs. the Lions and is good to go.

Related Players: Hollywood Brown, Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster

Worthy has made an immediate impact on the Chiefs offense, combing for 17 targets in his first two games back. In a nice matchup against the Lions in Week 6, consider him a fringe WR1/2.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy turned his ankle and popped up on the injury report, Ian Rapoport reported.

Worthy is also dealing with his shoulder injury, but returned last week with a 5-83-0 line. Rapoport said the ankle injury isn't serious and it won't keep him from playing Monday night against the Jags. Owners can keep him in lineups, but may still want to make sure when the inactives come out ahead of Monday night's game.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is off the injury report and officially good to go Sunday vs. Baltimore.

Related Players: Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hollywood Brown, Travis Kelce

Since his massive 16-target performance after Worthy went down in Week 1, Brown has been completely forgettable in his two chances to earn more work since. Push Worthy up into the WR3 range now that he's been completely cleared.