RADIO
Emmett Johnson Establishing Flex Value Through Receiving Profile
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson has seen his target total rise in four consecutive games, culminating in a season-high five receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Broncos. With the Chiefs in search of consistent producers in the passing game, the fifth-round rookie now ranks third on the team with his 237 receiving yards, presenting enough standalone value to make him a viable weekly flex option. Coupled with the week-winning potential he offers as a direct handcuff to Kenneth Walker, Johnson has emerged as a must-roster player and is a priority waiver add wherever still available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patrick Mahomes Bounces Back with Strong Performance in Week 8
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was able to rebound during Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Before this game, Mahomes hadn't thrown a touchdown in back-to-back games. The two-time MVP was carving up the Broncos defense through the first three quarters of this game. The Chiefs were unable to finish the job, but this was still a masterful performance by Mahomes. He completed 30-of-41 passing attempts for 321 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the loss. This marked the second time this season that Mahomes has thrown for over 300 yards with three touchdowns in a single game. He should continue to succeed against the shaky New York Jets defense in Week 9.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Emmett Johnson Plays Massive Role in Receiving Game
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson played a major role in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. So far this season, Johnson has mostly been a non-factor with Kenneth Walker III leading the way on the ground. Johnson was once again quiet on the ground with one carry for 15 yards. However, Johnson played a huge role in the receiving game during the Week 8 loss. Johnson hauled in all five of his targets for 128 yards and a touchdown. His biggest play of the game came on a 73-yard touchdown grab mid-way through the second quarter. Johnson has seen an increased role in the passing game in recent weeks. The expectation is that he'll continue seeing a handful of targets given his recent success. He's still off the fantasy radar in most formats ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New York Jets.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Chiefs Hope to Add a Receiver at the Trade Deadline
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Kansas City Chiefs are hoping to add a wide receiver by the Nov. 10 trade deadline, with Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs and Jacksonville Jaguars pass-catcher Brian Thomas Jr. among the possible targets. Rapoport says that it is no secret that the Chiefs are looking to bolster their WR room, even with Rashee Rice returning from a hamstring injury to play in Week 8 against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Chiefs acquiring a receiver would be bad news for the speedy Xavier Worthy, who disappointed during Rice's two-game absence as KC's top receiving option for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Both Downs and Thomas have struggled with the Colts and Jaguars, respectively, early on in 2026, with Downs posting a 26-307-0 line and Thomas recording only nine catches for 105 yards and one touchdown as Jacksonville's WR3. Rice has also left a lot to be desired after having a minor knee procedure in the offseason, as he heads into Week 8 action with only 13 receptions for 190 yards and one score on 17 targets across four games played.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Kansas City Chiefs Defense In A Good Spot In Week 8
The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Denver Broncos on the road in Week 8. Last week, the Seattle Seahawks dropped 20 points against this defense and gave up no sacks. The Chiefs defense has been a stronger real-life unit than a fantasy unit this season mostly due to their lack of sacks. This unit has racked up eight total sacks through six games but all their sacks came in just two games. The Kansas City defense has also allowed 20 or more points in half of their games this season. They will get a chance to bounce back against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos this Sunday. What they have lacked in the sack department, they've made up for in turnovers. The Chiefs have collected one interception in every game this year and a fumble recovered in four of their six games. This defensive unit does have its share of injuries with L’Jarius Sneed and Mansoor Delane listed as questionable, but they should still be considered a strong unit. The Chiefs are ranked seventh in our RotoBaller Week 8 rankings, making them a top-10 unit this weekend.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Harrison Butker Tough To Trust In Week 8 After Poor Performance
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Butker has struggled mightily this season and those struggles were on full display last Sunday night in Seattle. The Chiefs kicker missed two of his three field goal attempts, bringing his season percentage down to 68.8% which is tied for 29th in the league. In the wake of his failure, Kansas City signed former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. If Butker's struggles continue, his job may be in jeopardy with a viable backup behind him. Butker will get the chance to right the ship against the Broncos and their tough defense. Butker is ranked K20 in our RotoBaller Week 8 rankings, making him a low-end option at the position this Sunday.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Xavier Worthy Relegated To WR2 Status In Week 8
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will face the Denver Broncos in Week 8. In the absence of Rashee Rice, Worthy manned the WR1 role but produced mixed results. After catching seven passes for 73 yards in Week 6, Worthy was held to three catches for 11 yards at Seattle in Week 7. Now that Rice is officially back from his injury, Worthy should move right back into his WR2 role. Worthy will get the chance to bounce back this week against a strong Broncos secondary. The speedy wideout will need to step up his level of play because the Chiefs are severely lacking production from their receivers. Given his inconsistent performance and the tough matchup, Worthy is a tough player to trust in lineups this week. Worthy is ranked WR50 in our RotoBaller Week 8 PPR rankings, making him a desperation flex option this Sunday.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rashee Rice Faces Difficult Matchup in Week 8 Return
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will return to face the Denver Broncos on the road in Week 8. Rice has been dealing with knee and hamstring injuries since Week 4, but should be fully prepared to make his return this weekend. The 27-year-old should bring back an aspect of the Chiefs offense that has been missing in his absence, the presence of a WR1. While Rice is not the prototypical WR1 in today's NFL, he's operated as the focal point of the passing game in the past and excelled in that role. Before suffering his injury, Rice had put up back-to-back 80-yard games in Weeks 2 and 3. The fourth-year wideout should step right back into his old role since no other receiver stepped up to claim it while he was gone. While Rice had his lowest yardage and usage game of the season against the Broncos in Week 1, he did score his only touchdown of the year against them. If Rice is close to 100%, he should be a good play this week despite the strength of the Broncos' secondary. Rice is ranked WR20 in our RotoBaller Week 8 PPR rankings, making him a mid-range WR2 this Sunday.
Source: Chiefs.com
Source: Chiefs.com
Travis Kelce Off Injury Report, Ready To Rock In Denver
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will travel to Denver to take on the Broncos this Sunday. Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs offense was held in check by the Seattle Seahawks in last week's 3-20 loss. The veteran tight end caught four of his eight targets for 44 yards, his second-lowest yardage total of the season. Kelce sustained his lingering ankle injury back in the first quarter of Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Kelce was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday before being downgraded to a limited participant on Thursday, indicating that he's still working his way through the injury. That said, he logged a full practice on Friday before being removed from the report ahead of the weekend. Kelce will look to bounce back against a Broncos defense that he racked up 71 receiving yards against back in Week 1. Kelce has been the lone constant in the Kansas City passing attack with injuries and inconsistent play among the team's wide receivers, making him a valuable asset every week since he has Patrick Mahomes throwing to him. Kelce is ranked TE10 in our RotoBaller Week 8 PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE1 again this week. Fantasy managers will be hoping for a touchdown from Kelce to supplement his middling fantasy output so far.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Kenneth Walker Looking To Get Back On Track At Denver
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker will face the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Walker is coming off easily his worst performance of the season facing his former team the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks held Walker to just 36 rushing yards on 14 carries, marking his first game with fewer than 70 rushing yards since he joined the Chiefs. Despite his down game, Walker is still second in the league in rushing, just three yards behind Bijan Robinson for the lead. Walker will get the chance to put last week behind him against the Broncos this Sunday. Walker gashed the Denver defense for 173 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1 as he made his debut in Kansas City. The superstar back has been on quite the hot streak before running into Seattle, so one bad game should not stop fantasy managers from plugging him right back into lineups. Walker is ranked RB3 in our RotoBaller Week 8 PPR rankings, making him a top-tier RB1 yet again.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Patrick Mahomes Ready To Bounce Back In Week 8
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the Denver Broncos on the road in Week 8. Mahomes was listed with a knee injury again, but it is the same injury he sustained last season so his presence on the report is merely a formality. Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs offense had a disastrous Week 7, as they could get nothing going against the Seattle Seahawks defense. The Chiefs superstar completed just 19 of 33 pass attempts (58%) for 165 yards and an interception in the 3-20 loss last week. The veteran QB now has back-to-back games with zero passing touchdowns and an interception, highlighting a major issue with the Kansas City passing attack. Outside of Travis Kelce, Mahomes lacks a reliable pass-catching option, but help may be on the way. With Rashee Rice listed as questionable for Sunday's contest, Mahomes could get a top target back from injury. Mahomes will definitely need all the help he can get facing the Denver Broncos on the road this weekend. The Chiefs blew out the Broncos 31-10 back in Week 1 on the back of an incredible Kenneth Walker performance, but the Broncos are an improved unit since then. This weekend will be an important get-right spot for Mahomes facing a division rival and hopefully he can rise to the occasion. Mahomes is ranked QB16 in our RotoBaller Week 8 rankings, making him a mid-range QB2 this Sunday. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on how Mahomes performs in this matchup because if he underperforms again, it may be best to leave him on the bench moving forward.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rashee Rice Cleared to Return Against Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) will return on Sunday against the division-rival Denver Broncos in Week 8, according to Harold R. Kuntz of FOX 4 KC. Rice suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 4 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, and despite having the team's Week 5 bye to rest up, he still missed KC's last two games. The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 from SMU returned to limited practices this week, though, and has now been given the green light to return this weekend in an important divisional clash in the Mile High City. In the win over Denver in the season opener, Rice caught both of his targets for 19 yards and a touchdown. He had two 80-plus-yard performances in Weeks 2 and 3 before getting hurt in Week 4. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Rice can rebound in his return against the Broncos, but another dud is possible with a potential matchup against Broncos top cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Rice is best deployed as a WR3/flex in a tough matchup in his return to action in Week 8.
Source: FOX 4 KC - Harold R. Kuntz
Source: FOX 4 KC - Harold R. Kuntz
Xavier Worthy's Expanded Role Fails to Deliver Consistent Production
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy followed his seven-catch, 73-yard performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 with just three receptions for 11 yards on six targets against Seattle in Week 7. Both games came with Rashee Rice sidelined, giving Worthy an opportunity to operate as Kansas City's primary receiver. He played 87% of the offensive snaps against the Seahawks but struggled to turn that involvement into production. Through six games, Worthy has caught 24 passes for 217 yards and one touchdown, averaging 9.0 yards per reception after posting 12.7 last season. His rushing involvement has also disappeared, with no carries in 2026 after recording 11 attempts for 87 yards last year. Rice returned to limited practice Wednesday and Thursday, raising the possibility of additional target competition if he plays in Week 8. Worthy sits at WR49 in RotoBaller's Week 8 half-PPR rankings ahead of Sunday's matchup with Denver, leaving him primarily a deep-league flex consideration despite his substantial playing time.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashee Rice Stays Limited on Thursday
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Rice has put in a pair of limited practices this week as he attempts to return to game action in Week 8 against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday in Week 8 for the first time since he injured his hamstring in the Week 4 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs had their bye in Week 5, but Rice has still missed the last two games as he recovers from his hamstring injury. With two limited showings so far this week, the 26-year-old could be removed from the injury report entirely if he can upgrade to a full practice on Friday. Coming off an extended absence and while disappointing in his four games played so far in 2026, fantasy managers will find it hard to get excited about playing him this weekend against a Broncos defense that is getting star cornerback Patrick Surtain II back from an ankle injury. After having an offseason knee procedure, Rice has gotten off to a slow start and has just 13 catches on 17 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown in his first four contests in 2026.
Source: Kansas City Chiefs
Source: Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce Limited on Thursday With Ankle Injury
Kansas City Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce (ankle) was included on the injury report on Thursday and was listed as a limited participant in practice on Thursday. Kelce was most likely rested by the Chiefs on Thursday after being a full-go on Wednesday, but his status bears watching heading into Friday as the team prepares to face the division-rival Denver Broncos in Week 8 on Sunday. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer should be active this weekend after catching four of his eight targets for 44 yards in the team's Sunday night loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Kelce scored in back-to-back weeks for the Chiefs in Weeks 2 and 3, but he has not found the end zone since then while clearing 50 receiving yards just once. In the season-opening win over Denver, he had three catches on five targets for 71 yards. He has had plenty of big games in his career against the Broncos and should be considered at least a low-end TE1 option for fantasy managers in Week 8.
Source: Kansas City Chiefs
Source: Kansas City Chiefs
