Patrick Mahomes ran the Chiefs offense with surgical efficiency in limited action, connecting with top targets and hitting a TD on eight completions for 143 yards. Travis Kelce flashed speed and chemistry while Isiah Pacheco underscored his reliable early-season role in the ground game. On defense, Chris Jones and Charles Omenihu supplied pressure with a half-sack combined effort, and Harrison Butker anchored a clean special-teams showing. Chicago Bears provided the environment for depth evaluation as KC’s roster shined in spots heading into the regular season.

Stock gains centered on Mahomes, Kelce, Fulton, and a few ancillary depth pieces; stock downs highlighted Ajani Carter’s rough finish after a solid camp run. The performance offers a blueprint for fantasy expectations: the core playmakers look dialed-in, the pass rush appears ready, and the special teams unit remains a dependable weekly edge. This week’s narrative reinforces KC’s upside with a clear path to high-scoring outputs once Week 1 arrives.

Chiefs prep for the preseason finale vs. Chicago with a growing list of injuries and a clear shift in how starters will be used in Week 3. Reid aims to balance timing and health, giving starters some reps while protecting key veterans ahead of Week 1 in Brazil against the Chargers.

Out for Friday are Briningstool, Cochrane, Driskell, Edwards, Nazeeh Johnson, Omarr Norman-Lott and Jalen Royals, with Fulton a potential returnee. Brown remains day-to-day after a foot/ankle issue. The injury chart tightens depth at TE, CB, and on the o-line, while the club emphasizes rhythm and proximity to the season opener.

Fantasy implications center on who steps up for Week 1 when Brown’s status is uncertain and CB depth is in flux. The plan prioritizes timing and execution, suggesting late-round flier opportunities at wideout and tight end, plus a watchful eye on back-end defensive roles as the opener in Brazil approaches.

Kansas City’s cornerback room is trending toward youth and versatility as Nohl Williams arrives with a high-end ball-hawking résumé. Williams, a Cal product with seven interceptions last season and consensus All-American honors, is in line to push for a spot in the Chiefs’ immediate rotation behind Trent McDuffie and Kristian Fulton. Williams’ special-teams value could unlock early playing time, even if he isn’t the starter Week 1.

McDuffie and Fulton enter as starters, giving Kansas City a stable outside pairing, while veteran Jaylen Watson competes for reps. The Chiefs are banking on Williams’ résumé and experience to translate quickly, potentially elevating the entire CB depth chart in 2025. It’s a development-driven storyline with real fantasy intrigue around edge-case depth roles and weekly upside in KC’s pass game defense.

The Chiefs’ secondary rebuild centers on upside and competition, with Williams representing the low-risk, high-reward rookie floor. This is less about a slam-dunk starter and more about a young corner absorbing coaching, contributing on special teams, and carving out a role as Kansas City aims to rebound in 2025 offensively and defensively.

The Chiefs’ Week 1 preseason in Kansas City vs. Arizona features a notable inactive list, with Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown among Chiefs’ inactives and Cardinals veterans Valentin Senn, Will Hernandez, Quez Watkins, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Walter Nolen, and BJ Ojulari also not slated to play. In preseason, teams don’t formally declare inactives the way they do in the regular season; players simply aren’t expected to participate, and rosters can shift up until kickoff.

For fantasy-minded fans, the absences open shallow depth chart opportunities and highlight which young or backups could see extra reps. Chiefs’ pass-catching options could shift upward behind Rice, while the Cardinals will lean on other receivers and depth pieces to fill gaps. This game will give a brisk read on how both teams deploy their non-starting units and which players might warrant late-round attention or DFS exposure in the near term.

Bottom line: eye the backups who seize snaps when the stars sit. In these early exhibitions, what happens in these first drives often signals who gains a louder role once the regular season rolls around. The preseason nature of the inactives means the real fantasy impact will emerge in subsequent games as coaches reveal more of their rotation and injury slate evolves.

The Kansas City Chiefs have strengthened their cornerback lineup this offseason, signing Kristian Fulton and drafting Nohl Williams in the third round. These strategic additions enable the team to utilize Trent McDuffie in a slot position, enhancing his playmaking potential. The Chiefs' decisions reflect a keen focus on optimizing their defensive strategies to bolster their Super Bowl aspirations in the upcoming season.

Fulton's experience and Williams' draft potential are set to create more depth and flexibility within Kansas City's secondary. With these changes, the Chiefs can leverage McDuffie's skills more efficiently, potentially increasing turnovers and defensive effectiveness. This could greatly impact their overall performance as they strive for another championship this season.