Huddle Up: Analysts tend to be a bit hyperbolic in May, but Riddick is not far off on some of the qualities the two backs bring to the table. Smith was a receiver for most of his college career at Miami (Fla.) before transferring to SMU and transitioning to running back in 2024. While Smith lacks Kamara's trademark contact balance and it remains to be seen if Smith can handle a heavy workload at the NFL level, there is little doubt the two are similar in their ability to contribute in the passing game and break big runs. With most of his competition this season set to become free agents, Smith will have a head start on emerging as Kansas City's lead back in 2026 if he shows well this summer and fall.

Huddle Up: Rice is recovering from knee surgery and it is uncertain if he will be able to fully participate in organized team activities. If he is completely healthy at the start of the regular season, Royals' best bet to see consistent game action might be as a punt returner instead. Royals can probably be avoided in most standard fantasy leagues for now but he could be an in-season waiver wire option if he plays well early on.

Huddle Up: Mahomes ranked second in the league with 65 hits in 2023, which serves as clear evidence that Kansas City needs to continue investing in its offensive line. The Chiefs cannot say that they have improved much in that regard this offseason after trading standout guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, keeping Jawaan Taylor at right tackle and signing the mostly unproven Jaylon Moore to man the left tackle spot. Kansas City desperately needs first-round draft choice Josh Simmons to play well as soon as possible and Kingsley Suamataia to do his best impression of Thuney at left guard if the Chiefs want to keep Mahomes from getting beat up again in 2025.

Huddle Up: Royals probably will not have a big role right away in the passing game but could earn more work as the season goes on. He probably can be avoided in most standard fantasy leagues but could be a waiver wire pickup during the season if he plays well.

Huddle Up: Mahomes is coming off a career low in passing yards, and his 26 touchdown passes were tied for his fewest in a season. His dip in production hasn't exactly stopped the Chiefs from winning, but a more aggressive approach would be welcomed by fantasy owners.

Huddle Up: Rice seems to be making good progress in his recovery and appears to be on track for the start of the regular season. Fantasy players should monitor the situation because Rice is a weekly starting option in all leagues when healthy.

Huddle Up: Pacheco was limited to only seven regular season games in 2024 and finished with 310 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He was quiet in three playoff games as well but should be healthy for the start of the 2025 season. He can be a No. 2 running back or flex option in fantasy leagues.

Huddle Up: Rice could still face a suspension from the league for last summer's off-field behavior at some point, but fantasy managers will be happy to know that the knee is unlikely to be an issue this summer. At the time of his injury in Week 4, Rice was leading the league in receptions (through three weeks) and ranked second in receiving yards, so his healthy return will be a big deal. Even if he ends up missing the first month of the season due to suspension, it will be difficult for managers to let Rice slip out of the fourth round in fantasy drafts.

Huddle Up: The most likely reason Hunt was of interest was the presence of the running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who spent two seasons with Hunt earlier in his career. Another major reason for the interest in Hunt is that he would have brought a physical between-the-tackles complement to a backfield that has D'Andre Swift and little else. The problem is that Hunt would have a minimal upgrade - at best - over Roschon Johnson. Expect Chicago to invest in a physical running back in next month's draft, with North Carolina's Omarion Hampton and Iowa's Kaleb Johnson likely to be of the most interest to new head coach Ben Johnson.

Huddle Up: Hunt was a serviceable fill-in for Isiah Pacheco for most of the time the latter was out with a leg injury in 2024, but the former was one of the more inefficient backs in the league. The contract length and value suggest Hunt will have to fight for a roster spot this summer, especially after the team added Elijah Mitchell in free agency. Hunt may hold some fantasy value at some point in 2025, but it would likely result from Pacheco and/or Mitchell missing significant time due to injury.

Huddle Up: Mahomes is coming off one of his worst statistical years in 2024 as he finished as the QB11 in fantasy. He absolutely should be better than that, but it's likely that his best fantasy days are behind him. He'll be a better pick in the QB5-QB7 range if he falls that far.

Huddle Up: Though Worthy is seemingly off the hook, there is still an investigation taking place. This will bear monitoring throughout the offseason but after Worthy showed some real flashes down the stretch of his rookie season, there's upside as a WR3 option as long as he avoids legal trouble.

Huddle Up: Brown flashed a little down the stretch after missing most of the year and will give KC a veteran presence who still can get deep, which could come in extra handy should the recent legal accusations against WR Xavier Worthy prove damaging to his 2025 on-field offerings. At best, however, Brown is a late-round flier.

Huddle Up: Pacheco was sidelined for much of 2024 due to a fractured fibula and also missed time later in the year because of a rib injury, both of which greatly affected his performance. In eight combined regular-season and postseason games following fibula surgery, Pacheco only rushed for more than 50 yards once. Despite all of this, he could still be viewed as a starting option in most 2025 fantasy leagues because he is likely to receive the bulk of the carries in the Kansas City backfield.

Huddle Up: It remains to be seen how much the 35-year-old Kelce (36 in October) has left coming off his worst season as a pro (career-low 823 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns). With that said, Kelce's bad year is a great year for most tight ends, so it would not be a surprise if he remains a top-five fantasy tight end in 2025. The expectations for him just need to be considerably lowered from the lofty 90-catch, 1,000-yard standard he set earlier in his career.

Huddle Up: In 10 games during the 2024 campaign, Minshew threw for 2,013 yards and had nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions before sustaining a broken collarbone in late November which prematurely ended his season. Regardless of where he winds up in 2025, he is unlikely to win a starting job and can be left undrafted in fantasy leagues.

Huddle Up: If Kelce is still on the Chiefs' active roster on March 15, he would automatically receive a roster bonus of $11.5 million, so the team would like a final decision before that date. This would allow Kansas City to make alternate plans if he retires, although they would be sacrificing the first few days of NFL free agency, which opens on March 10. Kelce would be considered a TE1 option in all fantasy formats if he decides to continue his playing career.

Huddle Up: Fantasy players will need to monitor the situation over the next few weeks to see if Kelce will continue his playing career. He was a big part of the passing game again this season and will be a No. 1 fantasy tight end in 2025 if he plays.

Huddle Up: Despite a down year, he was still the TE5 in PPR leagues last season. That's about the range to expect to take him next year if he returns.

Huddle Up: Kelce has been one of the top tight ends in the NFL for a while but is 35 years old and could decide on retirement soon. Fantasy players should keep an eye on the situation over the next few weeks to see if Kelce will play in 2025.

Huddle Up: There was no chance Mahomes was going to miss the game that will determine if Kansas City can become the first team during the Super Bowl era to win three consecutive titles. Mahomes is also riding an impressive eight-game streak without an interception, which will be put to the test against a Philadelphia defense that has forced 10 turnovers in its three playoff games. With the Chiefs unlikely to establish much of a rushing attack this weekend, the two-time MVP will be asked to carry the offense once again against the league's best defense.

Huddle Up: Rice suffered the knee injury in October, so he should have a good chance to be ready for training camp if he does not suffer any setbacks. He is the main option in the passing game when healthy and should be a weekly starting option in all leagues.

Huddle Up: As far as Super Bowl pools go, Kelce is probably neck and neck with Dallas Goedert as far as tight end selections go. In terms of fantasy drafts next season, he'll be a midrange TE1 after 823 yards and three TDs this regular season.

Huddle Up: The number of RPOs is a huge jump from last year's 56 but otherwise in line with his career norms. What is a bit unusual is that Mahomes only ran once and passed every other time on a RPO during the season. Although teams tend to self-scout during off weeks and break tendencies as a result, the fact Kansas City has been so pass-heavy on its RPOs should make the Philadelphia Eagles feel confident he will keep passing when the teams meet up in the Super Bowl next weekend.

Huddle Up: Mahomes has not been as productive this season as he was in the past but did through three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills earlier in the season. He is not a must-start option but can be used in some leagues.

Huddle Up: Mahomes will be facing the Buffalo Bills for the second time in the AFC Championship game and threw for 196 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the first matchup. He can still be a starting option in fantasy leagues even though he has seen a decrease in his numbers this season.

Huddle Up: Mahomes seems to be dealing with a minor injury and is not in danger of missing the AFC Championship game. He has been held to only one passing touchdown in four of his last six games but can still be a starting option in most leagues.

Huddle Up: Pacheco should receive a majority of the work at running back this week and can be a starting option in all fantasy leagues.

Huddle Up: Mahomes threw for 260 yards and one touchdown against the Texans a few weeks ago and has thrown at least two touchdowns in two of the last three games. He is not posting the same numbers he did in the past but can still be a starting option in most fantasy leagues.