The Chiefs haven’t rotated their wide receivers nearly as much this season as they have in recent years.
Over the first three weeks, Rice, Xavier Worthy and Thornton each played at least 96% of the snaps in 11 personnel. Worthy and Rice also played more than 85% of the snaps in 12 personnel, with Thornton serving as the top backup. Like most teams, Kansas City has mixed in some single-wide-receiver sets, which is the main reason Rice and Worthy haven’t played more than 90% of the offensive snaps this season. Rice played only a few snaps before suffering a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the rest of the game. Jalen Royals took over Rice’s role, playing 16 of 18 snaps in 11 personnel. In 12 personnel, Thornton and Royals split the snaps opposite Worthy. While Royals saw more playing time, Worthy moved into the slot more often, playing 40% of his snaps there after lining up in the slot on 29. 1% of his snaps over the first three weeks. Thornton was having the best game of his career, catching five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, before suffering a gruesome ankle injury late in the fourth quarter that required him to be carted off. Kansas City didn’t run another snap out of 11 personnel after the injury, but Cyrus Allen likely would have been the next man up. If both Rice and Thornton miss time, it’s unclear how Kansas City will structure its receiving corps. Thornton has an 18. 1-yard average depth of target this season, so someone will need to replace his downfield role. Worthy has five deep targets of his own, but the Chiefs may prefer to keep him in Rice’s role. Allen was viewed as a natural replacement for Rice, although his lone target this season came 19 yards downfield. Whoever inherits Rice’s role will likely have the best chance of providing fantasy value. Rice’s injury appeared to boost Worthy’s outlook by giving him more opportunities in the slot, but Thornton’s injury complicates matters. If Worthy is asked to run more deep routes to replace Thornton, it could actually hurt his fantasy outlook. It’s also worth noting that JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has played Rice’s role in Kansas City before, is currently a free agent. Justin Watson, who played for the Chiefs from 2022 through 2024 and filled the high-average-depth-of-target role, is also available. Kansas City will likely add a wide receiver, and who the Chiefs bring in could significantly influence which of their current receivers are worth targeting in fantasy.