Kansas City’s defense is being sculpted for Week 1 with a wary eye on cuts. Four safeties stay in the fold, and the linebacker corps may swell to six, while the interior line could see a targeted upgrade. The plan hinges on depth and special-teams value, with practice-squad flexibility looming as trades and IR moves realign the roster. Nazeeh Johnson’s health and the versatility of the back end drive how the Chiefs approach Week 1.

With Bolton and Tranquill anchoring the linebacker unit, Cam Jones and Nazeeh Johnson offering hybrid versatility, and a defensive-tackle upgrade in play, the Chiefs’ defense could swing fantasy upside. The offense remains elite, but the defense’s ability to stay ahead of opposing ground games and generate stops will be the difference-maker all season.

Rashee Rice’s looming four-game suspension reshapes Kansas City’s early-season plan, forcing the Chiefs to lean on Ja ylen Royals, Xavier Worthy, and a raft of veterans and rookies to fill a thinner WR room. The timeline—Brazil vs. Chargers in Week 1, plus Eagles, Giants, and Ravens on the docket—creates a unique Week 1-4 evaluation window for rookies like Royals and for veterans to prove they can blend into Andy Reid’s system without the splash splash of Rice. Meanwhile, KC’s backfield figures to lean on Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, with Elijah Mitchell and Bashard Smith in the mix if the team shop for depth. Preseason Week 2 vs Seattle offered clarity: starters sit, backups play, and the offensive line continuity becomes paramount for the regular season’s opening runs. The defense can’t overlook Byron Murphy II and Tory Horton on the Seattle side, while Nazeeh Johnson and Joshua Williams battle for rotation roles as young corners.

Longer arc: the Chiefs’ offensive installs and Jaylen Royals’ learning curve could determine whether Kansas City starts hot or stumbles through early tests. The Rice saga also casts light on the NFL’s disciplinary process, the potential for a pre-season settlement, and how teams navigate suspensions without derailing playoff trajectories. Fantasy angles center on immediate WR volatility, the RB group’s workload split, and the rookie path to significant snaps with Rice out of the lineup.

Packers preseason film produced a mix of bright spots and sharp learning curves, with several youngsters flashing itself as real fantasy angles next season. Amar Johnson and Jordan Morgan stood out on offense, both delivering positives on the ground and technique, while Matthew Golden piled up clean catches and playmaking flashes. On the line, Jordan Morgan showed growth at left tackle and Shawn Ryan looked like a versatile inside option, giving Green Bay hopeful depth that could push for Week 1 snaps. Donovan Jennings also earned favorable mention for his physicality, despite some consistency questions.

Defensively, Kingsley Nigbari, Tyron Hopper, Kalin King, Jared Bartlett, and Carrington Valentine carried the day with consistency and disruptiveness, stressing the potential for a deeper, talented unit that could contribute beyond the starters. Nazir Stackhouse faced tougher, double-team battles and faded a bit, underscoring the ongoing maturation process for interior run-stoppers. Offense or defense, the episode highlights a cache of players who can influence the 53-man roster and fantasy rosters if their trajectories continue this way.

Anthony Belton offered a glimpse of future technique progress but needs polish; Kobe Wooden and Brinsen Brinsen showed upside at tackle/edge. The overarching takeaway: the preseason is about evaluating players, health, and development, with Johnson and Morgan offering the most immediate fantasy upside and the Packers’ depth chart providing intriguing later-round targets in dynasty formats.