Jalen Royals
Wide Receiver
Jalen Royals News
Jalen Royals Playing More, but Targets Remain Scarce
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals has played 83 offensive snaps over his past two games, yet only six passes have come his way. He went without a catch on two targets while playing 38 snaps against Las Vegas in Week 4, then caught two of four targets for 24 yards across 45 snaps in Sunday's 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. That's a big jump in playing time for the second-year receiver, who logged just 22 offensive snaps combined in Weeks 2 and 3. With only 1% of leagues rostering him, Royals is worth a speculative stash in 12-team formats, though his production doesn't justify starting him against Seattle in Week 7. Rashee Rice (hamstring) missed Sunday's game and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) remains sidelined, which opens up opportunities in Kansas City's receiving corps. Still, Xavier Worthy drew seven targets against Los Angeles, and Andrew Armstrong played 42 snaps after being elevated from the practice squad, so Royals faces plenty of competition for meaningful receiving work.
Oct 20, 2026 8:04 AM EST
Jalen Royals Could Be A Factor In Week 6
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals could step into a larger role against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6. Royals could act as the team's WR2 with Rashee Rice ruled out with a hamstring injury and Tyquan Thornton out with a dislocated ankle. The young wideout will likely compete with rookie receiver Cyrus Allen for targets in the thin Chiefs wide receiver room. Royals has done little to suggest his ability to handle a larger workload, catching just three passes for 17 yards and a touchdown this season, but the Chiefs offense is losing pass catchers by the day at this point. The Los Angeles defense also offers a matchup that does not put fear in the hearts of opposing offenses. The winless Chargers should be a walk in the park for the Chiefs this Sunday. Royals should be viewed as a desperation flex option in deeper leagues this weekend. Fantasy managers may want to take a wait-and-see approach with Royals instead of plugging him into lineups right away.
Oct 16, 2026 12:21 PM EST
Jalen Royals is Moving up the Depth Chart
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals hasn't seen much action early in the season, but is expected to see an expanded role going forward. Fellow wideout Tyquan Thornton (ankle) is looking at a 3-4 month absence after suffering an injury during Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The expectation is that Royals will move into the third spot on the depth chart following the Week 5 bye. So far this season, Royals has recorded three receptions for 17 yards and one touchdown in four games. He could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues or dynasty formats with Thornton out for the foreseeable future.
Oct 6, 2026 5:56 PM EST
Jalen Royals Scores In Week 2 Victory
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals caught two passes for six yards and a touchdown in the 33-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Royals caught his first two passes of the season in this contest with his touchdown coming on a one-yard pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter. The 23-year-old was a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, but has had a hard time standing out in a lackluster Chiefs wide receiver room. Royals will attempt to step up again next week against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins defense is far from a tough matchup, so there may be a ton of points to go around for the Kansas City skill players. Royals is too uninvolved in the offense to be considered a viable fantasy option. Fantasy managers could look at Royals as a bench stash ahead of Week 3 on the off chance that his role in the offense increases.
Sep 20, 2026 10:07 PM EST
Jalen Royals Helps His Case for an Expanded Role in Year 2
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals was a buzzy name throughout his first training camp with the team, and while that resulted in only two total catches as a rookie, there is still room for him to carve out a role in a receiver room in need of playmakers. While the camp hype crown has since been passed to 2026 fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, it was Royals who led the team in targets, receptions, and yards in Saturday night's preseason loss to the Buccaneers. In a game where Chiefs backup quarterbacks Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun combined for only 130 passing yards, Royals accounted for more than a third of that total, catching all six of his targets for 51 yards. While the buzz around Allen appears warranted, Kansas City will be in search of contributions from all its young pass catchers. Royals could find early-season involvement as Rashee Rice continues to work his way back from offseason clean-up surgery to his right knee, while at the same time, 11-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce will turn 37 before the first month of the regular season has concluded.
Aug 23, 2026 6:46 AM EST
Jalen Royals Continues to Draw Targets in Training Camp
Kansas City Chiefs second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals continues to draw targets from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in training camp this summer, and he hauled in a touchdown pass deep down the field in practice on Monday, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Royals made a minimal impact last year as a rookie after he was selected in the fourth round out of Utah State, catching just two of three targets for four yards in seven games played for the Chiefs. However, the 23-year-old has made some noise in camp this summer with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and rookie Cyrus Allen recently missing practice time due to injuries. It's something to watch as the summer progresses, but as long as all of the Chiefs' pass-catchers are ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, Royals will be in a depth role without enough playing time to matter in most fantasy football leagues. With Allen also impressing in camp, Royals could be the WR5 heading into Week 1 behind Rice, Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, and Allen. At best, Royals is a stash in dynasty/keeper leagues for his long-term upside and athleticism at the WR position.
Aug 10, 2026 3:08 PM EST
Jalen Royals Facing Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Kansas City?
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals missed the first two games of the 2025 season with a knee injury. He's been active in each of the team's last three games, but Royals has not yet been targeted by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 22-year-old appears buried on Kansas City's wide receiver depth chart behind Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Royals could fall down the depth chart even further in Week 7 when top Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice is eligible to return from suspension. Royals maintains some appeal in dynasty leagues, but he should remain off the radar of redraft fantasy managers for the time being.
Oct 8, 2025 11:09 AM EST
Jalen Royals Active for Week 3 Against Giants
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 3 contest against the New York Giants. The rookie had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after logging a full practice on Friday. He'll make his pro debut on Sunday night after missing the first two games of the season. Royals could provide a boost to a wide receiver room that is currently without Rashee Rice (suspension) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder). However, the fourth-round pick will likely still find himself behind established receivers like Marquise Brown, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Sep 21, 2025 7:44 PM EST
Jalen Royals Questionable to Play in Week 3
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) is officially listed as questionable for his team's Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants. Royals has missed Kansas City's first two games of 2025 as he battles knee tendinitis, but he was able to log full practices on both Thursday and Friday heading into Week 3. A fourth-round pick out of Utah State, Royals was reportedly opening some eyes in camp before his knee started acting up. His role in the Chiefs' offense is unknown and may depend on the status of Xavier Worthy (shoulder), who is also questionable to play in Week 3 due to a torn labrum. Even if he's able to play, Royals would likely be behind Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton in the short term. However, the rookie could work into a bigger role as the season progresses. Royals is a name to monitor as a potential stash candidate in deep leagues.
Sep 19, 2025 3:38 PM EST
Jalen Royals Practices in Full on Thursday
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) was able to upgrade to a full practice for the first time this year on Thursday after he was listed as limited in the first Week 3 practice on Wednesday, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. Royals missed the first two games of his rookie season with a knee injury, but his full practice on Thursday suggests he'll be active in Week 3 against the New York Giants as the Chiefs look for their first win of the year. How big a role the 22-year-old fourth-rounder has in KC's offense will depend on the status of Xavier Worthy, who is attempting to play through a torn labrum in his shoulder that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. However, even if Royals is active and Worthy misses a second straight game, the rookie wideout will probably be no better than the WR4 behind Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton.
Sep 18, 2025 6:00 PM EST
Jalen Royals Will Not Play in Week 2
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) will miss his second consecutive game in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles. With top Chiefs wide receivers Rashee Rice (suspension) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) both currently sidelined, Royals' injury is causing him to miss a golden opportunity to establish a role in the Kansas City offense. Without Royals in the mix, Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton appear set to anchor the team's wide receiver corps in Week 2.
Sep 12, 2025 3:19 PM EST
Jalen Royals Still Sidelined at Practice
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) missed another practice on Thursday, putting his availability for Sunday's Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles in serious doubt. The fourth-round pick impressed throughout the preseason and was expected to carve out an early role in the Chiefs' passing attack, but lingering knee tendinitis has delayed his NFL debut. Royals' absence leaves Kansas City relying heavily on Marquise Brown, who operated as the clear No. 1 option in Week 1. Fantasy managers should view Brown as a viable low-end WR2 or strong flex play, while veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce remain key targets for Patrick Mahomes. Until Royals is healthy enough to return, Kansas City's offense will continue to funnel through its established playmakers.
Sep 11, 2025 2:17 PM EST
Jalen Royals Questionable After DNP Wednesday
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) missed Wednesday's practice, putting his status for the Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles in doubt. Andy Reid said Royals is "doing better" and "making progress," but the fourth-round pick could miss another week while he ramps up. In his absence, expect the Chiefs to keep funneling targets to Marquise Brown, who turned a team-high 16 targets into 10 catches for 99 yards in Week 1, with Travis Kelce working the middle. Against an Eagles secondary built to limit explosives, Kansas City may lean more on the run game to stay on schedule and protect possessions.
Sep 10, 2025 2:46 PM EST
Jalen Royals Ruled Out Against Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. The fourth-round pick has been sidelined for multiple weeks with knee tendinitis and did not travel with the team to Brazil on Wednesday. Royals was expected to provide depth behind third-year starter Rashee Rice, who is suspended for the first six games. With both Royals and Rice unavailable, veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster is positioned to take on a larger role. Smith-Schuster, who rejoined the Chiefs in 2024 after Rice suffered a season-ending LCL injury, has an opportunity to stabilize the passing game early in the year. Royals' next opportunity to make his NFL debut is against the Philadelphia Eagles. - Nathan Harvey
Sep 3, 2025 8:59 AM EST
Jalen Royals Held Out on Tuesday
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) was the only Chiefs player not to practice on Tuesday, according to head coach Andy Reid. This shouldn't be much of a surprise, as Reid said just last week that Royals wasn't expected to be available to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener in Brazil on Friday against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers as he continues to work his way through knee tendinitis. The 22-year-old is a worthy dynasty/keeper league stash in KC's offense, but fantasy managers in most single-year formats can leave Royals to the waiver wire to open the year. It remains to be seen if he'll be ready to make his NFL debut in Week 2 in a rematch of the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. With Rashee Rice opening the year serving a suspension, Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster should be the team's top three wideouts.
Sep 2, 2025 3:23 PM EST
Jalen Royals Misses Practice Again On Sunday
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) sat out of practice on Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid told the media that the rookie was the only active roster player sidelined. The fourth-round pick is battling knee tendinitis, and his professional debut for Week 1 is in doubt. Royals entered training camp with the opportunity to earn an early-season role with the looming suspension for Rashee Rice. Royals' short-term, redraft outlook is diminishing, but he remains an intriguing long-term option in dynasty formats. Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown (ankle), who has returned to practice, are slated to be the top wideouts for Kansas City when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on Friday.
Aug 31, 2025 7:25 PM EST
Jalen Royals Unlikely to Play in Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) is unlikely to suit up for Week 1 as he works his way back from injury. The fourth-round pick from Utah State entered camp competing with Marquise Brown and others for a role in one of the league's deepest receiver groups. Royals' strengths lie in his route savvy, body control, and ability to fight through contact, making him a tough cover when healthy. While his short-term redraft outlook is limited, he remains an intriguing dynasty stash given Kansas City's long-term need for young playmakers to emerge around Patrick Mahomes.
Aug 29, 2025 1:19 PM EST
Jalen Royals One to Watch Early in the Season
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) is currently banged up and missed practice on Tuesday, but FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz says he's a name to watch during Rashee Rice's six-game suspension to begin the 2025 season. Wideout Tyquan Thornton is another name to watch after he had an exceptional training camp to earn himself a 53-man roster spot. Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown and tight end Travis Kelce should be quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top aerial targets through the first six games with Rice suspended, but both Royals and Thornton could also get involved. The 22-year-old Royals is currently battling knee tendinitis that caused him to miss the preseason finale, and his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 5, is in question. JuJu Smith-Schuster is another receiver who could benefit from Rice's suspension.
Aug 27, 2025 1:05 PM EST
Jalen Royals Misses Practice on Tuesday
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) did not practice on Tuesday, per Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. Royals has now been out for over a week as he battles knee tendinitis. A fourth-round pick out of Utah State, Royals was reportedly turning some heads in training camp before getting injured. He's likely to start the season in a reserve role, but he could eventually be called upon for more if Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice is hit with a suspension at some point this season. Royals is not worthy of a draft pick in the majority of redraft fantasy leagues, but he's a name to monitor on the waiver wire.
Aug 26, 2025 8:29 PM EST
Jalen Royals Dealing with Knee Tendinitis
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) will not practice Monday due to knee tendinitis. The fourth-round pick is expected to begin the season in a reserve role but could earn more opportunities as the year progresses. With Marquise Brown also battling injuries this preseason, Royals may be positioned for an increased role if he can stay healthy. The Chiefs' offense ranked just 16th in total yards last season and is searching for playmakers to complement Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. Royals is best left on waivers in redraft but is worth a mid-round dynasty stash.
Aug 18, 2025 2:35 PM EST
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