The Chiefs made upgrades to their passing game in the offseason, but what was true during their latest Super Bowl run remained true in Week 1: there's Rashee Rice, and then there's every other wide receiver.
Rice was Mahomes' go-to target in Thursday's season-opening win over the Ravens, proving to be a massive challenge for Baltimore's secondary and easily leading Kansas City in receiving yards.
It's exactly the start Rice was looking for as he tries to put a tumultuous offseason behind him. The second-year player is still facing a handful of felony charges stemming from a hit-and-run crash in the spring, and he was also investigated for allegedly punching a photographer two months later.
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Rice isn't expected to be suspended until the hit-and-run case is resolved, and Mahomes was clearly happy to have his teammate available to start the season.
Here's a look at Rice's stats from the Chiefs' win over the Ravens, as well as his fantasy outlook going forward.
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Rashee Rice stats vs. Ravens
Rice erupted for 103 yards on seven catches in Thursday's victory over the Ravens, earning five more targets than any other Chiefs pass-catcher.
The impressive performance came on a much quieter night for Kelce, who started slowly and was held to 34 yards on three catches. Whether that becomes a trend for an older Kelce, now in his 12th season, remains to be seen, but it's clear Rice now has a prominent place in Andy Reid's offense.
When Mahomes was struggling to find a wide receiver to trust next to Kelce last season, it was Rice who emerged as a reliable target down the stretch. That connection carried over into the playoffs, with the SMU product posting a pair of 100-yard games and adding a third in the wild-card round.
Rice caught six passes in Super Bowl 58 but only finished with 39 yards. He was much more efficient against the Ravens on Thursday, often burning Baltimore's defense with passes down the seam from Mahomes
Rice's big night wasn't bad news for rookie Xavier Worthy, as the first-round pick still impressed with 68 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on only three touches. The return of Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, out with a shoulder injury, could change the dynamic for both Rice and Brown, however.
Here's what you need to know about Rice's fantasy outlook with Brown returning soon.
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Rashee Rice fantasy outlook
Gaining 103 yards on seven catches made for a nice Week 1 fantasy showing for Rice, even if he didn't find the end zone.
Rice's fantasy owners likely weren't thrilled to see the Chiefs lean on the running game so much in or near the red zone, but Rice scored six touchdowns in his past 12 games in 2023 and touchdowns are inevitable in an offense led by Mahomes.
Brown's impending return will put one more hand in the pot in the Chiefs' passing game, but Mahomes clearly trusts Rice and isn't likely to shy away from the second-year receiver any time soon even with the added competition for targets.
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Worthy's development is worth watching as much as Brown's return. The rookie was a bit of a gadget player in his debut, getting a touch out of the backfield, but he was so explosive when he did touch the ball that the Chiefs might feel compelled to find more ways to get it to him.
The best news for Rice's fantasy owners is continued reporting that he won't be suspended in 2024 as the NFL waits for his hit-and-run case to play out. A potential suspension knocked him down some fantasy draft boards, but the issue appears to be tabled to 2025. At this point, he's a solid hold (and starter) in fantasy leagues, at least until Brown is back.
