After an eventful offseason, the Rashee Rice suspension ruling has come to a close. The Athletic's Dianna Russini has reported that the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has accepted a six-game suspension that will start Week 1.
Rice will now be available in Week 7, when the Chiefs will take on the Las Vegas Raiders.
This ruling addresses Rice's role in a March 2024 multiple-vehicle crash in Dallas. Previously, Rice reportedly had a disciplinary hearing with the NFL scheduled for Sept. 30. It was believed that Rice would not serve his suspension until after that meeting.
Legal complications aside, fantasy football players now have a clear timetable on Rice's availability heading into the 2025 season. Does this mean he's now worth drafting? Keep reading for our advice on Rice's stock and the Chiefs' offensive future.
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Rashee Rice suspended 6 games: Should I draft him in fantasy?
Absolutely, this is fortunate news for his availability a fantasy football standpoint. Six games is quite a lot, but Rice will slot right in as a WR1 on any fantasy roster from Week 7 on.
The main concern lied with the fact that if Rice was suspended after his original hearing date, he would miss vital weeks to your fantasy season. If Rice were suspended for more games from that midseason point, he could’ve missed the fantasy playoffs.
One drawback: Rice will not be on suspension during the Chiefs' Week 10 bye, which docks him an extra game this season.
When on the field, however, Rice is a league-winner, and his fantasy investors will get him for the entire back half of the season now.
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How Rice suspension affects Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes fantasy values
Travis Kelce might see a huge uptick in target volume that resembled his workload during Rice's 2024 absence due to a major knee injury: During Weeks 5-17, Kelce averaged 9.3 targets, 6.8 receptions, and 55.4 receiving yards per week but scored jut 3 TDs.
As far as the WRs and pass catchers on this team goes, this dings their value. You’ll get decent target share for those first six weeks of the season, but once Rice comes back it’s his receiving room again.
Patrick Mahomes won’t be affected all that much. After all, he should not be a guy your targeting in fantasy football drafts anyway.
However, Mahomes will gain more value once Rice returns in Week 7.
In redraft leagues, try trading away Mahomes, Kelce, or deep threat Xavier Worthy if he has a huge start to 2025.
For those looking to replace Rice in their fantasy lineups during his absence, Hollywood Brown (ankle/foot) could offer some spike weeks early on as a WR3/flex, depending on matchups.
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