Rashee Rice, perhaps the most exciting rookie playmaker for the Kansas City Chiefs, has been zapped by a six-game suspension. This suspension comes after a breach of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. This unexpected development has left the team and fans evaluating their options as they prepare for upcoming games.
Though new to the pro game, Rice has quickly become a favorite target of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, having logged 55 catches for 631 yards and seven touchdowns. His absence will be most keenly felt as the Chiefs contend with their season, sans one of their great offensive assets. The suspension brings about uncertainty of how the team will adjust, and who will assume a bigger role in his absence.
In a recent ESPN segment, fantasy football analyst Daniel Dopp implored managers to trade for Rice. Now with Xavier Worthy recently seeing his snaps throttled due to some rather notable ground concerns, this advice would seem timely. Worthy’s unfortunate predicament only serves to muddy the fantasy waters further, making Rice an interesting potential add once he returns.
This year, Jalen Royals struggled after missing the first two games due to a right knee injury. News of this surfaced while Rice was serving his suspension. With both players out, the Chiefs’ receiver depth will be tested. As a byproduct, other teammates are forced to fill that void and push themselves into bigger roles.
While there is no direct information regarding Rice’s performance or statistics prior to his suspension, his reputation as Mahomes’ go-to target underscores his potential impact once he returns to the field. The Chiefs will need to find ways to manage their offensive strategy without him, especially as they face critical matchups in the coming weeks.
Moving forward on the year, fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Worthy’s snap count. They’ll want to know if trading for Rice makes financial sense over the long haul. Realizing that the mix of injuries and suspensions so the current climate is fertile ground for creating the most compelling player movement league-wide.
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