Folks don't need us to tell them how much star wide receiver Rashee Rice means to the Kansas City Chiefs. Everyone has seen what they looked like with and without him since the devastating knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign just four games in.
Rice didn't miss a beat in his highly anticipated return to action in Kansas City's 31-0 Week 7 shellacking of the Las Vegas Raiders. He instantly and seamlessly reclaimed the role of all-world quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top weapon to the tune of seven receptions, 42 yards and two touchdowns.
The standard box score numbers and good ol' eye test support that Rice looked no worse for against the Raiders. Nevertheless, one advanced stat courtesy of Adam Levitan of Establish The Run properly encapsulates the value third-year pro to the Chiefs when healthy and available.
One budding trend shows what Rashee Rice means to Chiefs
After running 19 routes in the Chiefs' blowout victory over the Raiders, Rice is now tied for 11th in the league in inside-the-10 targets. Yes, you read that correctly. It's a truly remarkable data point that speaks to him picking up right where he left off before getting hurt last September.
For context, here's a list of players with fewer goal-to-go looks this season:
Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)
Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)
Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos)
Tucker Kraft (Green Bay Packers)
Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions)
Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Note: Stats provided viaFantasyPros(account required).
It took a single contest for Rice to surpass his Kansas City comrade, Travis Kelce, as the team's preferred option deep in enemy territory. That alone should speak to the mind-melding connection Mahomes once had with the latter ostensibly shifting to the former's brain. Chiefs Kingdom understands the importance of having their most dependable pass-catcher, especially in the most crucial area of the field.
Finishing off drives when they get in close hasn't necessarily been issue for Kansas City, though it is an area for improvement. The Chiefs were tied for 13th in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage through six games in 2025 before Rice entered the lineup. Immediately entrusting him to address the matter shows that Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid have complete faith in him in scoring position.
Kansas City became the betting favorite to win Super Bowl LX as Rice was reinstated following a six-game suspension. That hardly feels like a coincidence with the benefit of hindsight, and the proof is in the pudding.