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When should I draft Rashee Rice in 2024 fantasy football drafts? Taking a look at the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver's fantasy outlook amid suspension concerns.
A young, breakout wide receiver attached to the best quarterback in the NFL? It seems like an early pick in fantasy football.
First came off-the-field troubles, then came target competition. Suddenly, Rashee Rice could be found in the middle rounds of 2024 drafts. The cost of drafting Rice may be rising.
Below, we dive into Rice's fantasy football outlook and determine where you should select the Kansas City receiver in 2024 drafts.
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Rashee Rice 2024 Fantasy Outlook
Travis Kelce was the clear top target for Kansas City entering the 2023 season, and the search was on for who the best wide receiver would be. Some (foolishly so) zeroed in on Skyy Moore in fantasy drafts. The potential and allure of Kadarius Toney attracted other fantasy managers. Second-round rookie Rice was the correct choice, but you wouldn't have known it immediately.
Rice took approximately half of the season to adjust to the NFL game and become a full-time player for the Chiefs. The former SMU Mustang didn't play more than 60% of the snaps until Week 8. In total, he was on the field for 58% of snaps. His season-ending stat line was 79 catches, 938 yards, and seven TDs in 16 games. His 13.3 PPR fantasy points per game through 17 weeks was good for the WR27. On a smaller scale, from Weeks 12 through 17, he was the WR4.
The title for most receptions by a rookie in the playoffs (26) now goes to @RiceRashee11 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UWn1tqX34l
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2024
Rice's average depth of target was 4.8 yards, and he saw just five deep targets. So, how did he end up with a top-10 yards per route run (2.52)? Rice ranked third in total yards after the catch (654). A similar, short-area role can be expected in 2024, especially with the additions of Marquise Brown and first-round rookie Xavier Worthy. Both speedsters, if healthy, will keep opposing defenses concerned with an over-the-top play while Rice and Kelce feast underneath.
Which Round Should You Draft Rashee Rice In Fantasy Football?
With every passing day, it seems less likely that Rice will be hit with a suspension for his involvement in a high-speed, multi-car crash in Dallas in March. The worry of Rice missing games tanked his ADP.
Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in the preseason, and coach Andy Reid expects him to miss time. The concerns about Rice (potential suspension and target competition) have faded.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid said WR Hollywood Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation, which he compared to Tyreek Hill's injury from 2019 (also against the Jaguars).
Said he'll potentially miss some time. Hill missed 4 games in '19.
— Jordan Foote (@footenoted) August 11, 2024
In PPR formats, fantasy managers can feel comfortable drafting Rice in the back half of the fifth round, although ADP tells us that he can be secured a round or two later. In half and non-PPR formats, the sixth round is preferred. It's always a smart strategy to select the top wide receiver on one of the best offenses in football, and right now, he's available for cheap.
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