Rice is out, thinning KC’s WR depth behind Brown, Smith-Schuster, and Thornton. The reduced depth heightens the value of the remaining targets and keeps Kelce as the primary engine for KC’s passing game.

Rice is out for six games due to a suspension, creating a sizable void in the Chiefs’ receiving corps.

Rice sits out, shifting focus to other Chiefs weapons and how Philly handles KC’s aerial hierarchy. The absence could open opportunities for Skyy Moore or MVS to flash, while the defense eyes bracketed coverage on Kelce and Lamb-like primary threats.

Rice returns from a suspension to rejoin Kansas City’s passing attack, offering a potential immediate lift for a Chiefs offense that must navigate a tough Week 2 slate. His involvement could stabilize KC’s target distribution and provide a clearer path for fantasy lineups that leaned on his upside last season, especially as his role stabilizes amid absent top receivers.

Rice shows week-to-week explosive potential as a secondary option in Kansas City's high-octane offense. His chemistry with Mahomes provides a clear tournament upside in Week 2 and a plausible path to multiple big plays in a shootout scenario.