The Kansas City Chiefs will be without wide receiver Rashee Rice and quarterback Patrick Mahomes for their Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Mahomes has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL sustained during the Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Rice, on the other hand, is sidelined because of a concussion he suffered during the same game and did not participate in practice this week, leading to his exclusion on Friday.
With Rice out, there is potential for increased opportunities for fellow wide receiver Xavier Worthy. However, the absence of Mahomes raises concerns regarding the performance of both Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce. Below is our assessment for both players heading into Sunday.
Travis Kelce Start or Sit Advice
While it is uncertain how Gardner Minshew, the backup quarterback, will perform in Mahomes” absence, fantasy playoffs are not the time to bench your star players. Kelce remains a top performer, entering Week 16 ranked as the second-best tight end overall in fantasy football. Minshew may not be elite, but he is certainly more competent than many backup quarterbacks in the league, giving hope that he can effectively utilize Kelce”s talents on Sunday.
The Titans” defense does not pose a significant threat, as they have been somewhat average this season, allowing the 15th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. While it is wise to temper expectations, it is simply not feasible to sit Kelce during this critical playoff period.
Verdict: Start Kelce.
Xavier Worthy Start or Sit Advice
Worthy”s season has been disappointing, currently ranking as the 54th wide receiver in fantasy points per game as of Sunday. Although he has shown marginal improvement over his last four games, he still sits at 47th overall during that span. The Titans do offer a favorable matchup for wide receivers, ranking sixth in the most fantasy points allowed per game to that position in 2025. However, the inconsistency from Worthy this season leaves us hesitant to trust him, especially with a backup quarterback at the helm.
Verdict: Sit Worthy.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights as the season progresses, especially in light of the injury updates affecting key players.
