The NFL preseason is over and the regular season is just one week away, which means it’s time for fantasy football drafts. Many NFL fans are cramming ahead of their drafts and checking in on the status of various players around the league, including Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice.
In April, Rice made headlines after driving 119 miles per hour in Dallas and causing a multi-car collision that injured at least four people. His Lamborghini collided with six other vehicles, and he’s facing at least six felony counts for his role in the crash. Will Rice be suspended by the NFL, and should managers avoid the Chiefs WR in fantasy drafts?
What’s The Latest on Rashee Rice’s Potential Suspension?
Since this incident occurred, fans have wondered if Rice will be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, which would mean he can’t practice or play in games. However, on Thursday, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said that Rice likely won’t be added to the list.
“We don’t anticipate he’ll be placed on (the) commissioner’s exempt (list) unless there’s a material change in the case,” McCarthy told reporters.
The NFL is waiting for the legal process to play out before determining whether to suspend Rice.
After the Chiefs drafted wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport weighed in on this situation.
“Really, this depends on how quickly the legal process plays out,” Rapoport said. “He’s been charged with, I believe, six charges. If his case wraps up, then there is potential the NFL could issue its discipline and he would likely be suspended. If the case is still ongoing, as we’ve seen with several others, then likely he’d be eligible to play this season [and] discipline would be handled the following season. So the timing is really the issue, not whether or not he’ll actually be suspended.”
MORE: PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings
It’s unclear if a date has been set for Rice’s criminal trial. If so, it hasn’t been made public. It certainly seems that Rice will be able to suit up for the Chiefs to start the season, but this will continue to hang over his head until it has been resolved legally.
While a suspension at some point seems likely, it’s looking more and more like Rice would be suspended for a portion of the 2025 NFL season rather than this season.
Rashee Rice’s Fantasy Outlook
After a slow start, Rice emerged as a key fantasy contributor as a rookie, finishing as the WR27 in full-PPR formats with 79 receptions, 938 yards, and seven touchdowns. From Weeks 8 to 17, he was the WR16, averaging 15.4 fantasy points per game.
Rice’s involvement in the red zone was significant, with more red-zone targets than Travis Kelce over the back half of the season. This suggests trust from Patrick Mahomes in crucial scoring situations. Rice excelled after the catch, ranking third among all receivers with 654 yards after the catch. His role in the slot and underneath routes maximized his run-after-catch skills.
The addition of Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy introduces more competition for targets. Worthy’s ability to play both vertically and underneath could impact Rice’s target share in 2024.
Rice is currently being drafted as the WR36 at No. 82 overall. His ADP has taken a hit since managers are worried about potential league discipline. If he avoids suspension, Rice could be a steal with WR1 upside in the seventh round.