Cam Heyward returned to Steelers practice in pads after weeks of holding in while seeking a renegotiated contract with a raise. He appeared in individual drills and then joined a media-free padded team session, signaling a step toward football readiness. The contract talks have shown little movement since Aug. 7, even as Heyward dedicated himself to proving value after a strong 2024 season that earned first-team All-Pro honors. Pittsburgh’s leverage hinges on market benchmarks and Heyward’s age and durability.

Context matters: Kansas City’s Chris Jones ranks as the marquee interior defender with about $31.75 million per year, while Heyward sits at $14.5 million on his current deal. ESPN noted Heyward’s plan to return to negotiations after an All-Pro year, highlighting the tension between production and cap reality. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Heyward’s pad work, with Week 1 looming against the Jets, making conditioning and leverage pivotal as camps close.

As the preseason dwindles, the Steelers balance cap constraints with a veteran anchor who still commands respect on every snap. The Jets game adds urgency to the storyline: can Heyward sustain elite impact and justify a raise, or will the team recalibrate around younger talent in a crowded DL?

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs enter 2025 with a singular objective: reclaim the NFL summit after falling one win shy of a third straight Super Bowl. The offense still pivots on Mahomes, with Kelce repeatedly delivering elite fantasy returns and Jones anchoring a formidable front. Kansas City opens in Sao Paulo against the Chargers, a marquee test that could shape early-season momentum. Fantasy managers should treat Mahomes as a non-negotiable top pick, expect Kelce to stay at the position’s pinnacle, and monitor Jones for disruptive potential and sack upside as KC eyes another postseason push.

Beyond the star trio, the Chiefs’ fantasy ledger hinges on matchup-driven volume and red-zone efficiency, with the AFC’s usual suspects—Eagles, Bills, Texans, and Chargers—presenting stern tests. Travel, fatigue, and personnel tweaks will matter week to week, but the chart remains clear: high-ceiling ceilings from Mahomes, sustained TE dominance from Kelce, and defensive pressure from Jones will define KC’s fantasy ceiling in a tough, competitive landscape.

Kansas City enters 2025 with a defense-first identity, hoping to carry the load as the offense seeks more explosive plays. The unit ranked second in defensive grade last season behind the Eagles, led by Chris Jones, Nick Bolton, and Trent McDuffie, with Steve Spagnuolo again orchestrating pressure schemes. Mahomes still wins in close games, but his target depth dipped to 7.0 yards on average, hinting at a more conservative approach and a prime chance for Rashee Rice to break out if KC can improve its tackle play and left guard. Creed Humphrey anchors a strong interior, and Josh Simmons—healthy or not—will be pivotal at left tackle as first-round buzz centers on his NFL adjustment. Expect Rice to be a steady fantasy contributor with upside if explosiveness returns to the passing game, while the defense remains a fantasy backbone.

Key fantasy angles: Rice’s trajectory hinges on the O-line’s upgrade and the efficiency of Mahomes’ delivering weapons. If the line stabilizes and Simmons acclimates, Rice could approach top-tier WR volatility, especially with Mahomes’ penchant for clutch production. Chris Jones remains a high-end DL option whose pressure count should keep KC’s defense elite. Humphrey’s durability and Bolton’s linebacker play add insurance for fantasy defenses and the Chiefs’ overall floor. In short, KC remains a top fantasy asset mix: Rice as a breakout candidate, Mahomes as a steady QB1, and Jones/ Bolton/McDuffie anchoring a stifling group that should maintain elite week-to-week upside.

Kansas City’s preseason Week 2 trip to Seattle exposed a mix of upside and issues for fantasy managers. With Mahomes and several starters resting, Gardner Minshew steered the offense with quiet decisiveness, while Robert Tonyan grabbed attention with a veteran-friendly red-zone showing that could push him toward the final 53. The short-yardage woes persisted despite big-money O-line assets, and the run defense looked porous without Chris Jones, Nick Bolton, or Trent McDuffie on the field, yielding 170+ rushing yards in the first half. Carson Steele flashed some goal-line pop, hinting at a deeper committee role if the Chiefs need a sure-fire short-yardage option. On the other sideline, Seattle’s attack chipped away with tempo and playmaking, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba the clear spark-show in the early going. In total, KC’s resting veterans highlighted a fantasy truth: Tonyan’s presence should bolster red-zone opportunities, while the defense’s depth and the backup QB group will drive Week-to-week risk and upside in the early-season outlook.

Kansas City’s rookie Omarr Norman-Lott exited the Chiefs’ preseason tilt with Seattle after an ankle issue, status labeled questionable. With Norman-Lott on the sideline, the Chiefs lean on Fabien Lovett Sr. and Marlon Tuipulotu to man the interior ahead of Chris Jones. The update underscores KC’s defensive-line depth battles early in camp and signals how interior rotation could swing in the short term depending on Norman-Lott’s timeline.

Fantasy angles center on how these depth moves affect run defense and interior pressure. Jones remains a core asset, but immediate depth shifts could influence snap shares for Lovett Sr. and Tuipulotu if Norman-Lott misses time. Seattle’s offense provided a test of the Chiefs’ middle, making every rep valuable as KC evaluates rotation in the weeks ahead.