Rashee Rice is recovering from a season-ending torn LCL ligament in his right knee after appearing in four games during the 2024 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL season. Although he remains determined to return to form, recent injury setbacks and a possible suspension raise questions about his availability and impact this year.
Assessing the Risks for Fantasy Football Managers
Despite Rice’s comeback efforts with the Kansas City Chiefs, fantasy managers should approach him cautiously. He recently suffered a groin injury that kept him out of practice, while facing a potential suspension linked to a car accident from the 2024 offseason, as reported by Nate Taylor on X. These factors create uncertainty about his participation in upcoming games.
Last season’s stats show Rice secured 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns across four games. While promising, it is unclear if he will build on these numbers given unresolved health and disciplinary concerns.
If Rice receives a suspension similar to Minnesota Vikings’ Jordan Addison, who served a three-game ban to start the season, he could miss critical early matchups. This includes the opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, a Super Bowl LIX rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, and a game at MetLife Stadium versus the New York Giants in Week 3. Rice’s absence during these contests would limit his fantasy value considerably.
Taking into account the groin injury alongside the looming suspension, it may be wise for fantasy players to avoid selecting Rice in the first two rounds of drafts.
Projecting Rashee Rice’s Impact for the 2025 Season
Looking ahead, Rashee Rice holds the 15th position in Sportskeeda’s Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings and is ranked 30th among all NFL players for 2025. Despite the challenges he faces at the start of the year, projections estimate he will accumulate 248.8 fantasy points, with 91.79 receptions, 1,096 receiving yards, and nearly eight touchdowns.
The Chiefs struggled with injuries in their receiving corps last season, affecting players like Marquise Brown and Mecole Hardman as well as Rice, who all spent time on injured reserve. Rice’s eventual return should provide a valuable offensive boost for Kansas City as they aim to rebound after their Super Bowl loss.
Though the Chiefs face stiff competition in the AFC, they remain in contention to advance deep into the playoffs.