The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t as untouchable as they have been in past years. Nonetheless, rookie WR Rashee Rice is starting to grow into a dependable weapon for an offense that needs dependability more than anything else ahead of the AFC playoffs.
Rashee Rice Becoming the Dependable Weapon the Kansas City Chiefs Need
The entire Chiefs passing attack has taken a step back in 2023, and the lack of consistency and chemistry within the pass-catching corps is at the crux of the issue.
In the past, Patrick Mahomes has been able to elevate the unit regardless of the personnel with Travis Kelce at his side. But this year, the Chiefs’ skill group’s lack of top-end talent has caught up to them.
Players like Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Justin Watson, and Noah Gray have all failed to consistently hold up their end on the receiving side. Toney, in particular, hurt the Chiefs’ offense in Week 15 with several drops — one of which was bobbled directly for an interception.
Across the board, drops were an issue once again for Kansas City in Week 15. Even Kelce got in on the action with a red-zone blunder. But amidst the unit’s failings, Rice is the one bright spot as the team moves forward.
Rice — a former SMU Mustang — has steadily grown into his newfound role as one of the Chiefs’ top pass-catching options. And with each passing week, he’s looking a little bit more like the dependable outlet the Chiefs need in their receiving corps.
While other Kansas City receivers were dropping passes and losing 50-50 balls left and right in the team’s win against the New England Patriots, Rice caught nine passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
With this performance, Rice accumulated his fourth straight game with at least seven receptions — a sign that he’s earning more and more trust from Mahomes as a go-to threat.
Rice was at his best when schemed touches as a RAC threat with his size and explosiveness, but he did everything for the Chiefs this week. Whether it was getting open in intermediate zones, or corralling clutch third-down throws to move the chains, Rice proved his reliability.
Rice has been forced to grow up a bit faster than usual as a rookie. But as he accrues more experience, the pressure of that responsibility looks less daunting for the 23-year-old. He was drafted to be a three-level threat for Kansas City, and that’s what he’s become.
Luckily, against the Patriots, the Chiefs’ blunders within the WR room didn’t bury them. But these issues with Toney, Moore, MVS, and others have been prevalent all season, and they’re likely not going away.
MORE: NFL Standings and Playoff Picture Week 15
Mahomes and Rice alone won’t be able to win the AFC. Kansas City will need Kelce to get and stay at 100%, and they’ll need to keep using their running backs as decompressing agents.
Nevertheless, in Rice, the Chiefs have a dynamic weapon who might be able to start the process of refreshing the offense. And he’s hitting his peak at the perfect time, as the Chiefs near a pivotal playoff run.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
