Who Should I Start? Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rashee Rice

Friday, May 8, 8:02 AM

The Athletic's Jesse Newell suggests that wide receiver Rashee Rice needs to prove himself more both on and off the field before the Kansas City Chiefs realistically consider approaching him about a long-term contract extension. Newell writes that there is "a long way to go between that potential reality and where things sit now." The 26-year-old former second-rounder (55th overall) in 2023 out of SMU is in the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, but he needs to "prove he can go a calendar year without ending up in negative offseason headlines." Rice has played in just 12 regular-season games since the start of 2024 due to suspensions after posting a 79-938-7 line in 16 games in his rookie campaign with KC. Despite his off-the-field issues, Rice is clearly the Chiefs' WR1 going into the upcoming season, and he should be treated as a WR1 in fantasy football as well. In just eight starts in 2025, he caught 53 of his 78 targets for 571 yards and five touchdowns, and he's scored 14 times in his 28 NFL games over his first three seasons. Rice's after-the-catch abilities are as good as any wideout in the league.