RADIO
Cyrus Allen a Top Waiver-Wire Stash Heading Into Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs fifth-round rookie wide receiver out of Cincinnati, Cyrus Allen, burst onto the scene throughout training camp and generated a lot of positive buzz and praise from Chiefs players and the coaching staff. However, he had a bit of a quiet preseason, catching six of his 12 targets for only 39 yards. Additionally, Allen was labeled as a reserve on the depth chart on Tuesday behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton. While it may take an injury for Allen to immediately provide WR3 or flex appeal, the positivity he gained throughout training camp garners a bench spot for fantasy managers taking a late-round flier or looking to fill a bench spot off the waiver wire. Allen has a more diverse route tree than Thornton, who is known as a deep-ball specialist. Allen remains a top waiver-wire stash heading into week one based on his training camp buzz and the potential to be getting passes from Patrick Mahomes. RotoBaller ranks Allen as the WR82 off the board and the 213th player overall.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Worthy Could Become Top Waiver-Wire Target
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy enters the 2026 season in a strong position. After a shoulder injury, Worthy struggled, hauling in 42 of 73 targets for 532 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. He suffered the injury on the first drive of the 2025 season, and it was reportedly "serious" and should have required season-ending surgery. Now that he and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes are healthy, Worthy hopes to regain form in 2026. With Eric Bieniemy back in Kansas City, Worthy hopes to be the new "Tyreek Hill" in this offense. With Rashee Rice not looking great in training camp, Worthy could be the lead receiver in 2026. He faces a tough Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos, but a big game on Monday night will make him a top addition on the waiver wire next week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
How Concerned Should Fantasy Managers Be About Rashee Rice?
After an encouraging rookie season in 2023, injuries and off-field issues have limited Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice to just 12 games over the last two seasons. After serving a six-game suspension to begin 2025, Rice recorded 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 78 targets across eight games. However, Rice finished the year on Injured Reserve due to a concussion. He hasn't exactly had the greatest offseason leading into 2026, as he spent time in jail due to a failed drug test and also underwent knee surgery. If Rice can stay on the field in 2026, he carries top-12 fantasy wide receiver upside in PPR-scoring formats. However, Rice's persistent injury concerns and the ever-present risk posed by his off-field issues make him an extremely risky selection for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Worthy Still Has a Path Back to Rookie Form
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy still has a believable path back to the player fantasy managers saw as a rookie. He caught 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, then added 104 rushing yards and three more scores. Last season never really got going. Worthy dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum on the third snap of Week 1, missed two games and played through the injury before having surgery in January. He finished with 42 catches for 532 yards and one touchdown. This summer brought another scare when Worthy sprained the same shoulder on Aug. 1, but he returned to practice nine days later and was back working with the offense later in camp. He remains a starter opposite Rashee Rice on Kansas City's current depth chart. Rice and Travis Kelce will keep the target ceiling in check, and the shoulder history can't be ignored. Still, Worthy's WR45 ranking leaves room for a rebound if better health brings back some of the explosiveness and touchdown production from his rookie year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cyrus Allen Earning Plenty of Trust From Quarterback
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has quickly earned the trust of his quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes. "Even when there were a couple routes he ran the wrong thing and lined up the wrong way in the game, the quarterback still threw the ball to him," head coach Andy Reid told Jesse Newell of The Athletic. "You go, 'All right. There's a certain trust there.' And he'll work through all the other stuff." Mahomes recently dubbed Allen one of the team's biggest camp standouts, and Newell noted that the team's quarterbacks have all been very comfortable throwing him the ball even when he's covered. That level of trust should go a long way in the regular season. Even though Allen is set to open the year behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy on the depth chart, he could work his way onto the fantasy radar by midseason, especially if Rice or Worthy get injured. Having Mahomes throwing him the football should only boost his stock in redraft and dynasty formats. Allen currently has an ADP of 186.5, which corresponds to the 16th round of drafts and makes him the 68th receiver off the board.
Source: Jesse Newell
Source: Jesse Newell
Cyrus Allen Plays into the Second Half in Chiefs' Preseason Finale
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen had a quiet game in his team's preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, recording one catch for 12 yards on two targets. A fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, Allen recorded 51 catches for 674 yards and 13 touchdowns across 13 games for the Bearcats in 2025. The 23-year-old has also consistently drawn positive reviews for his work in training camp so far this summer, and he entered Friday night as Kansas City's leading target-earner in the preseason. However, Allen's usage against Seattle suggests that he may not be in line for a significant role in the Chiefs' offense early in his rookie season. Between Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City likely has its starting wide receiver trio set to begin the year. Allen could still be worth targeting as a late-round stash candidate in deep leagues, but fantasy managers may not want to expect high-end production early on.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rashee Rice Being Drafted as a WR1 in Fantasy Football Drafts
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice currently has an ADP of 27.4 in the latest fantasy football drafts. That price tag corresponds to an early third-round pick and makes him the 11th receiver off the board. Rice is a talented player catching passes from Patrick Mahomes, so we understand the appeal in snagging him as a WR1. However, he also doesn't have much of a track record yet, as injuries and off-field issues limited him to just 12 games over the last two seasons. On a more positive note, he is averaging 18.0 fantasy points per game during those two years. The big question for fantasy managers is whether Rice, who certainly carries some risk and uncertainty, should continue to be drafted as a WR1 ahead of receivers like Chris Olave and Malik Nabers. The latest expert rankings are a little less bullish than the ADP, as he currently ranks as RotoBaller's WR17 in half-PPR leagues for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Worthy's Redraft Value in Question Amidst Shaky Summer
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is coming off an underwhelming 2025 campaign in which he recorded 42 catches for 532 yards and a touchdown on 73 targets across 14 games. Worthy suffered a shoulder injury in Week 1 that he played through for much of the season, which may have been one of the reasons why his production was subpar. Unfortunately for Worthy, he suffered another shoulder injury early in training camp that has limited him throughout the summer. While the current shoulder issue is not expected to cause Worthy to miss regular-season time, it's still a bit of a red flag. Worthy may also see a somewhat diminished role in the Chiefs' offense in 2026 if the team can get more out of top wide receiver Rashee Rice, who missed nine games in 2025. Worthy still carries some upside due to his elite speed as he enters his third NFL season, but he should be viewed as a mid-tier WR4/flex option entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Royals Helps His Case for an Expanded Role in Year 2
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals was a buzzy name throughout his first training camp with the team, and while that resulted in only two total catches as a rookie, there is still room for him to carve out a role in a receiver room in need of playmakers. While the camp hype crown has since been passed to 2026 fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, it was Royals who led the team in targets, receptions, and yards in Saturday night's preseason loss to the Buccaneers. In a game where Chiefs backup quarterbacks Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun combined for only 130 passing yards, Royals accounted for more than a third of that total, catching all six of his targets for 51 yards. While the buzz around Allen appears warranted, Kansas City will be in search of contributions from all its young pass catchers. Royals could find early-season involvement as Rashee Rice continues to work his way back from offseason clean-up surgery to his right knee, while at the same time, 11-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce will turn 37 before the first month of the regular season has concluded.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cyrus Allen the Most-Targeted Chiefs Receiver In Preseason
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has been creating a lot of buzz in training camp, and that hype has translated into usage. Allen has earned 10 targets through the team's first two preseason games, making him the most targeted Kansas City skill position player in the preseason. The rookie turned his five targets this week into three catches for seven yards in the 15-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Allen has been one of the buzziest names of the offseason and could get his opportunity to play into a bigger role this season. Given the injury history and legal issues, Rashee Rice could miss time this season, which could pave the way for Allen to be more involved. If Rice is forced to miss time this season, the rookie could push past Xavier Worthy as the WR1 of the offense. Allen will get another opportunity to prove himself next week against the Seattle Seahawks in the third and final preseason game.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Cyrus Allen Gaining the Trust of His Quarterback
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen "appears to be gaining" the trust of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee), per Jesse Newell of The Athletic. A fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Allen recorded 51 catches for 674 yards and 13 touchdowns across 13 games in his final collegiate season at the University of Cincinnati. The 23-year-old has been a buzzy name throughout Chiefs' camp and hauled in two catches for 20 yards on a team-high five targets in Kansas City's first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams last Saturday. The Chiefs appear to have a veteran trio of wideouts ahead of Allen on the depth chart in Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton. However, Kansas City has been searching for reliable receiving talent for the last several seasons. Fantasy managers should not overreact just yet, but Allen could be a name to keep an eye on in deeper leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Cyrus Allen's Fantasy Value Limited by KC's WR1
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen continues to stand out at training camp. Despite being a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Allen has been a frequent topic of conversation throughout camp, making plays and earning work with the first-team offense. However, the path to standalone fantasy value in 2026 remains bleak. Rashee Rice has consistently produced in his three seasons in Kansas City, hauling in 156 of 209 targets for 1,797 yards and 15 touchdowns in 28 games. Although the fourth-year receiver underwent offseason knee surgery and spent time in jail, Rice appears to be finding a groove. During Wednesday's practice, Rice totaled nearly double the targets (7) of the next closest receiver, while Allen had just two targets from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Expectations are high for the rookie receiver, but with Rice expected to be a key contributor on offense, Allen will have a tough time securing enough volume to be a factor in 2026.
Source: Pete Sweeney
Source: Pete Sweeney
Tyquan Thornton Returns From Hamstring Injury
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) is back out at training camp practice on Wednesday in pads after leaving Tuesday's practice early with a hamstring injury, according to Matt McMullen of the team's official website. Thornton was carted to the locker room with a left-hamstring injury, but it turned out to be nothing serious, and he could be available to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If fully healthy for the start of the 2026 regular season, the 26-year-old figures to be KC's WR3 behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, although rookie Cyrus Allen has been pushing for a bigger role with a strong training camp this summer. Even with both Rice and Worthy missing time last year, Thornton only caught 19 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games in his first year with the team. The former second-rounder in 2022 from Baylor can stretch the field and produce big plays, but he is too inconsistent and won't have enough weekly targets to be worth targeting in 12-team fantasy leagues.
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Tyquan Thornton Suffers Strained Hamstring on Tuesday
The Kansas City Chiefs are saying that wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) suffered a strained hamstring in Tuesday's training camp practice, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Thornton had to be carted to the locker room, so he is probably looking at missing some time going forward, although it's unclear if his hamstring strain is serious enough to potentially keep him out of the Week 1 Monday night showdown against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The 26-year-old almost certainly will not be active this Saturday for the preseason contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Thornton misses extensive time, it will give rookie Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals more of an opportunity to earn WR3 duties in KC behind starters Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Thornton, a former second-rounder by the New England Patriots from Baylor, caught 19 of 37 targets for a career-high 438 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2025. If fully healthy, he mostly profiles as an unpredictable boom/bust downfield threat for the Chiefs' offense. It is hard to justify drafting Thornton in 12-team fantasy leagues if both Rice and Worthy are fully healthy.
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Xavier Worthy Limited to 7-on-7 Work Monday
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) remained limited Monday as he works back from a shoulder sprain. Worthy took part in 7-on-7 drills but was held out of 11-on-11 work, according to Pete Sweeney. The injury dates back to August 1, and Worthy missed several practices before returning in a limited capacity on August 10. He has been getting more involved since then, including catching passes during offensive periods last Thursday, but Kansas City still isn't putting him through full-team work. Worthy appeared in 14 games last season while dealing with multiple injuries, finishing with 42 catches for 532 yards and one touchdown. Monday was another step forward, just not a full return. The next notable benchmark will be Worthy getting back into 11-on-11 drills as the Chiefs continue to manage the shoulder.
Source: Pete Sweeney
Source: Pete Sweeney
