Electricity is a funny thing. It can be supplied in jolts or as a steady power source. Nothing about Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice’s rookie season suggested that he would be a splash play threat going forward, especially following the team’s signing of deep-threat du jour Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in free agency.
However, Rashee Rice’s rookie season suggests the type of player any dynasty owner is looking to plug into their team. Coming off of a 79 reception, 938 yard and seven touchdown rookie year, Rice provides the exact type of high-floor player that dynasty owners crave having within their teams. He’s steady fantasy power personified, and he’s a player that all owners should try to include in their portfolios for the 2024 season. Let’s dive into it and talk about 2024 Dynasty Target: Rashee Rice!
Player Overview
Rice enters the 2024 season with an offense that features football’s best quarterback, an upgraded receiver room after Brown’s signing, a running game that should continue to develop and a steady coaching situation. Putting it plainly, every change that has occurred this offseason only makes Rice’s fantasy profile more attractive than it was heading into the offseason.
His team-friendly deal makes it easy for the Chiefs to continue to build around the core of their roster, and Mahomes’ willingness to restructure only adds to the stability of the Kansas City offense.
The question becomes Brown’s usage. He’s an elite field stretcher but is far too talented to be used only within the role previously occupied by Marques Valdez-Scantling.
The addition of Brown somewhat caps Rice’s upside in 2024. However, being the third option in a pass-happy offense should allow him to emerge as a potential high-end WR2 this season.
Player Summary
The exciting part about Rice heading into 2024 is simple. He will see more snaps, which should lead to more targets, receptions and yards.
Rice played only 58.6 percent of Kansas City’s snaps last season but boasted a 27.4 percent target rate (12th among wide receivers).
His somewhat low 17.9 percent target share should see an increase this season. As of now, we have no idea what tight end Travis Kelce will look like, what Brown’s role will be or how the Chiefs will plan to utilize Isiah Pacheco.
What we do know is that Rice will likely not see an increase in his use downfield. Only five of Rice’s 102 targets were deep targets last season, and his 491 total air yards were 84th among wide receivers.
So, his high target potential, coupled with his quick usage, should provide plenty of opportunities for yards after the catch. This makes Rice an even more attractive target in half- and full-PPR formats.
He’s also got a high degree of red zone trust with Mahomes. He had a 24.4 percent target share inside the red zone last season.
His floor is supplemented by his elite target separation of 2.49 yards per target, the best in the league. That, along with his 63 percent win rate against zone coverage in a league that increasingly uses that style of coverage, means one thing: Rice is a safe option to pursue in the third and fourth rounds of your dynasty drafts.
Trade Value
Rice’s trade value is an interesting exercise. In Superflex formats, older players like Deshaun Watson, Cooper Kupp, Devante Adams, and Trey McBride are being taken around him. However, with his age and potential usage, I believe that the only viable trade among those for long-term sustainability for roster builds is McBride and a late-first-round pick.
Individually, his trade value in Superflex formats has you giving up Rice plus to make a deal work.
He can acquire the 1.09 with ease in most cases. However, to tier up to a player like D.K. Metcalf would require you to offer Rice and a mid-3rd.
To sum up, Rice’s trade value easily offers the opportunity to pivot into a rebuild or into a win-now situation.
Thanks for checking in on our 2024 Dynasty Target Rashee Rice. For more 2024 Dynasty Target player information, click here!
