The Kansas City Chiefs will be making their 2025 debut on Friday night with an AFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. Wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown and running back Isiah Pacheco will all be on the field for the season-opening contest.
Pacheco battled injury in 2024, limiting him to just seven games. Upon his return, Pacheco did not dominate touches, as veteran Kareem Hunt was very much involved. Pacheco then played sparingly in the postseason.
At wide receiver, Worthy and Brown will be relied upon heavily in 2025, especially over the first six games when the Chiefs won't have Rashee Rice, who was suspended.
So, which players out of Brown, Worthy and Pacheco should be in your fantasy football lineups in Week 1? Let's find out.
Start or sit: Xavier Worthy
The Chiefs are down two wide receivers for Week 1, with Rashee Rice suspended and rookie Jalen Royals ruled out. Worthy was already set to have a big role in the offense, but Kansas City might need to lean on him even more.
Worthy had an up-and-down rookie campaign overall, but he exploded over the Chiefs' final two postseason games with 14 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns, which could be a precursor to a breakout sophomore season.
The Chargers had the No. 7 pass defense in the NFL in 2024 and that's an obvious concern for this matchup. However, Worthy is a Swiss-Army knife that can get involved in multiple ways, including as a rusher.
Consider Worthy a solid flex option with upside for Week 1.
Verdict: Start
Start or sit: Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco is going to split work with Kareem Hunt once again this year, which is sure to create a frustrating situation all season long.
Pacheco is listed as the starter on the team's depth chart, but he also took a back seat to Hunt in the 2024 postseason after splitting work almost evenly with the veteran prior to the playoffs.
It's anyone's guess how this situation shakes out, so you're better off leaving Pacheco on the bench in Week 1.
Verdict: Sit
Start or sit: Marquise Brown
With Rashee Rice not in the lineup, Brown starts the 2025 season as Kansas City's No. 1 wide receiver, but that's more a result of his experience than anything else.
The truth is, Brown has yet to have a big game in his five (including playoffs) with the Chiefs. We need to see something before putting him in our lineups.
Verdict: Sit
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