WR · KC
transaction
FA: Jalen Royals dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Jalen Royals
Jalen Royals
WR · KC · 23 yrs · exp 1 · Utah State
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
1,810
Rank
#283
Pos rank
#111
7d trend
—
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Sep 7, 2026 · 1,810
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
analyst
2026 Risers & Fallers | What We Learned from Training Camp
Players trending up and down in training camp ahead of the 2026 NFL season
WR · KC
transaction
FA: Jalen Royals dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Jalen Royals
analyst
Cyrus Allen Draws Team-High Targets on Saturday, Continues to See Fantasy Stock Soar
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen caught two of his five targets for 20 yards during Saturday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. It wasn't the greatest statistical performance, but Allen's five targets led the entire Chiefs team, suggesting that he'll be able to carve out a significant role this season. Allen drew the start alongside Jalen Royals and Tyquan Thornton on Saturday, so it seems like those three receivers are competing for the No. 3 role behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The rookie appears to have an early leg up on the competition, and while there are still two more preseason games to be played, Allen is a quick riser in dynasty fantasy football leagues. The fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati currently ranks as the WR86 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings
WR · KC
transaction
FA: Jalen Royals dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Jalen Royals
general
Fantasy Football Sleepers, Busts & Predictions: 2026 Kansas City Chiefs
Only one team has gone longer since its last 1,000-yard receiver than the Kansas City Chiefs , who last had someone crack 1,000 yards when Travis Kelce got there in 2022. (The Packers haven’t gotten there since Davante Adams in 2021.) No team has gone longer since its last 1,000-yard rusher than the Chiefs, who last had someone pass the threshold when Kareem Hunt did it in 2017. (The Chargers and Saints also had their last 1,000-yard rusher in 2017.) The easy thing to say is that everything disintegrated for Kansas City last year, with the team going from three straight Super Bowl appearances to a 6-11 finish. And of course in a lot of ways that’s true. But also, the team hasn’t actually been an offensive dynamo for a few years now, and it’s been Patrick Mahomes and a very good defense that have carried the team. Now heading into 2026, the team has a flashy new running back, a wide receiver who is healty and eligible, and potential. But does that mean a rebound 2026? Kansas City’s top pass catchers are (in some order) a tight end who turns 37 in October, a wide receiver who it seems is one off-field misstep away from being out of football, and a former first-rounder who only scored one touchdown and 532 yards last year despite playing as the team’s borderline WR1 much of the year. After those three (Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy , in order), the next options are guys like Tyquan Thornton , fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, backup tight end Noah Gray and Jalen Royals. In short, this team is not flush with pass-catching options, and if Patrick Mahomes can return healthy, someone’s going to have to step up, especially if Kelce really is over the age cliff and/or Rice can’t get his head on right. Royals did essentially nothing as a fourth-round rookie last year, not even seeing a target until he had 2 receptions for 4 yards on 3 targets in Week 18. But he had 1,080 yards and a MWC-leading 15 touchdowns at Utah State in 2023, and he followed that up with 834 yards and 6 scores in seven games in 2024. He’s got the makeup to be a power slot, and if he can develop a la guys like Parker Washington or Jauan Jennings in recent years, it’ll happen this year. This is obviously just a deep-league play, but if you’re diving deep, a late-rounder on Jalen Royals isn’t a bad idea. Truth be told, I like Rice on the football field , and yes I needed that emphasis. I think there’s a very realistic world where he performs similarly to the back half of his rookie year, when he was the WR9 in PPR points per game from Week 12 to the end of the season. But that’s the kicker. The best stretch you can find for Rice is him averaging 86.3 yards per game down the stretch of 2023, putting up WR9 numbers … and yet he’s the WR11 in drafts this year? That’s just a wild overdraft for a guy whose realistic ceiling isn’t much above that. And all of that is even before we discuss the fact that his star quarterback tore his ACL late last year, and while reports on Patrick Mahomes’ recovery are good, you never know until you see him on the field. His backup is Justin Fields , and if you’re counting on Justin Fields to make your wide receiver productive, you might be in for a bad time. And all of that is even before we discuss anything about Rice’s off-the-field situations. As of right now, it definitely doesn’t look like Rice is in line for any further suspension based on his probation violation earlier this summer. But he’s run into enough issues so far in his career that pretty much anything that were to happen between now and the season could have him on the sidelines for who knows how long. Should you avoid drafting Rice altogether because of off-the-field concerns? No, probably not. But it’s just another point of concern on a guy with a lot of them who is still somehow being drafted as if he’s a top-12 fantasy wide receiver, and I just don’t see it. Betting against Patrick Mahomes feels like a fool’s errand, but the situation in Kansas City has th [... truncated ...]
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, Raheim Sanders dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: Raheim Sanders
WR · KC
outlook
2026 Season Outlook
sleeper-outlook+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Royals, a 2025 fourth-round pick, had his debut delayed until Week 3 by a knee issue and never found a rhythm, totaling two catches for four yards on three targets across seven games. Entering Year 2, he's likely no better than the No. 4 option behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton. Kansas City's proclivity for multi-TE formations represents another barrier to opportunities for Royals, though his frame, athletic tools and history of production at Utah State lend credence to the notion that Royals still boasts developmental upside. With Patrick Mahomes rehabbing an ACL tear, Royals may also have limited chances to build chemistry with the starter
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, Darren Waller dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: Darren Waller
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, Le'Veon Moss dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: Le'Veon Moss
general
Chiefs News 5/29: Jalen Royals and Jared Wiley early standouts at OTAs
Six observations from Day 3 of Chiefs OTAs: Mahomes, Worthy & top standouts | Kansas City Star With Rashee Rice unable to attend OTAs, Royals is seeing more time with Justin Fields during 11-on-11s and Mahomes during 7-on-7s. By my view, Thursday’s workout was a very early sign he may be putting a forgettable rookie season behind him. During a 7-on-7 period with Mahomes, Royals torqued and fully extended his body to come back and make the catch, drawing a rise from the quarterback. “It gives Jalen some great reps,” Reid said of the second-year receiver. “He looks strong out here and running well and that whole deal. It’s great for him. It’s great for him and the quarterbacks to see what he’s all about on repeated reps.” Without Kelce, the tight ends had more drops Thursday than you’d like to see, but I thought Jared Wiley moved the best he has since November 2024, when he tore his ACL at practice. Granted, without pads, Wiley looked much closer to that form than he had all last season. Power Ranking the NFL’s Top 2026 Comeback Candidates as Patrick Mahomes Returns to Field | Bleacher Report 1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs There’s no guarantee Mahomes will win Comeback Player of the Year just by being healthy for most or all of the 2026 season. Since winning his second league MVP in 2022, his passing numbers have steadily declined toward average. The Chiefs also have serious questions at wide receiver—especially with Rashee Rice recovering from knee surgery and unavailable for OTAs and minicamp while serving a 30-day jail term tied to a probation violation. However, there is a good chance Mahomes will play for most, if not all, of 2026. “He’s way ahead of schedule,” GM Brett Veach told SiriusXM Radio in early May (h/t NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). If Mahomes does play the majority of the season, and if he helps Kansas City return to the top of the AFC hierarchy, it’s hard to envision another player passing him for CPOY. Mahomes remains one of the league’s most electric offensive playmakers when at his best, and he’s facing real adversity for the first time in his career. The 30-year-old has never missed significant time with an injury and has never entered the regular season with Kansas City as an underdog. Seeing one of the league’s brightest stars overcome the biggest challenges of his pro career could easily become one of the defining storylines of 2026. Which NFL players have the most money at stake in 2026? | NFL.com Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs Rice has put himself in a bad situation by continually making poor decisions. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Chiefs don’t yet know if they can trust him. That’s a very discouraging sign for such a talented player. Since about midway through his rookie season, Rice has played like a No. 1 receiver. The problem has been the lack of playing. He’s been set back by injuries and, more concerningly, by a suspension. His recent drug-test failure was as much of a maturity test that Rice failed, compounding his issues. Even as another possible suspension looms, with a threat of lost millions, this still represents the ultimate opportunity for Rice to rewrite his story. This coming season carries even more weight with the Chiefs coming off their first losing campaign in more than a decade and Patrick Mahomes working his way back from an ACL injury. A trustworthy Rice would fix a lot of Kansas City’s problems. The character questions surrounding Rice wouldn’t vanish with a strong campaign, but that — along with some accountability — surely would help his chances of earning a long-term deal befitting of his immense talent. The way wide receiver contracts have blown up, that could mean a salary averaging north of $30 million. Or it could be a story of missed opportunity for Rice if he runs afoul again this season. The future is in his hands. Watch out for these 5 Kansas City Chiefs UDFAs who can steal some of the spotlight from veter [... truncated ...]
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, Chris Brooks dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: Chris Brooks
WR · KC
WR · KC
analyst
Jalen Royals receives first-team reps Thursday
Chiefs HC Andy Reid on WR Jalen Royals getting first-team reps: "With Rashee not here, it gives Jalen some great reps at the wide receiver position. He looks strong out here. Running well. It's great for him. It's great for him and the quarterbacks to see what he's all about."
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, George Holani dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: George Holani
analyst
Has Xavier Worthy Become a Post-Hype Dynasty Sleeper?
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been a dynasty disappointment after his record-breaking Combine performance and favorable landing spot pushed him into the first round of 2024 rookie drafts. Injuries and inconsistency have limited him to less than 1,200 receiving yards through his first two seasons, but with teammate Rashee Rice again making off-field headlines and tight end Travis Kelce set to turn 37 at the start of the 2026 season, Worthy becomes an intriguing buy candidate with his price tag having fallen dramatically from the consensus WR18 dynasty ranking he took into his rookie year. Rice is currently serving a 30-day jail sentence after violating the probation conditions stemming from his 2024 multi-car collision that caused serious bodily injury. It's unlikely he'll face additional punishment from the NFL after serving a six-game suspension for the initial incident in 2025, but with injuries and the aforementioned suspension limiting him to only 12 games over the past two seasons, there is a potential opportunity for growth in an otherwise lackluster receiver room. Behind Worthy and Rice, Kansas City's depth chart includes Tyquan Thornton, 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals, 2026 fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, and undrafted free agent Jeff Caldwell. Worthy is RotoBaller's WR52 in dynasty leagues, but in an offense that could look drastically different as early as 2027, there is still a bull case to be made for his long-term upside
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, Tyler Huntley dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: Tyler Huntley
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals
general
3 free agents Chiefs could sign to raise the floor of receiving corps
When thinking through the top 5 holes remaining on the Kansas City Chiefs ’ roster last week, Arrowhead Pride analyst Nate Christensen led off the list with the wide receiver position, specifically a wideout who can win on the outside, a “boundary receiver.” It’s a need that highlights the strengths of the team’s current receivers. Rashee Rice has proven to be a worthwhile high-volume weapon at his best from the slot. Xavier Worthy has the game-breaking speed that Kansas City should maximize with catch-and-run, crossing routes out of the slot. Tyquan Thornton is a true boundary receiver, but his strengths as a downfield route runner make him best suited as a fourth complement to the three starters, similar to former Chiefs wideout Justin Watson in 2022-2024. The organization could certainly believe in Thornton’s ascension as a true “starter,” potentially more confident in the coaching staff’s ability to develop his skills to be a bigger factor on other routes, to the sideline and over the middle. The belief in Kansas City’s internal options could also extend to the two most recent draft picks at the position. Last year’s fourth-round pick, Jalen Royals , was a boundary-dominant receiver at Utah State and could showcase that moving forward. This year’s fifth-round pick, Cyrus Allen, is coming off a season playing nearly exclusively in the slot at Cincinnati , so Royals could keep an edge on the newcomer by proving his ability to line up at X-receiver, beat press-man coverage and make plays after the catch on slant routes, out routes and other quick hitters. All that said, if the team values an immediate “starter” that can line up on the boundary and get open against man coverage, there are options in free agency. Before the three free agents who could raise the floor of the Chiefs’ starting rotation in 2026, we’ll eliminate a notable name from consideration: The former offensive weapon for the San Francisco 49ers is still available, and sounds intriguing on the surface, but would be too redundant of the skills Rice brings to the table in Kansas City. The two are unique players in the sense that an offense can’t (or shouldn’t try to) feature both at the same time. Over the last two seasons, playing for the New England Patriots and Houston Texans , Diggs has aligned in the slot on the majority of his snaps, marking the first time since 2016 he was not primarily out wide, according to Pro Football Focus. The transition is likely out of age. If the 32-year-old “lost a step” at all, it would become harder for him to win as the boundary receiver, but he still offers zone-beating savvy and is a strong, reliable receiver in contested situations, whether a jump ball or in stride with a defender draped over him. He will be best in a situation with more snap slots available, and one that values yards-after-catch ability less than the Chiefs. That said, if both sides are interested, he would certainly boost the Chiefs’ pass game instantly. His projected salary is nearly $14 million , per Spotrac. With more than a decade of familiarity as a rival, the all-time Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver proved he still has what a team like Kansas City is looking for in a veteran starter out wide, despite turning 34 years old last month. He was thrown to 122 times while playing all 17 games, catching 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns . He lined up out wide on 59% of pass plays, which bucked the trend of his career as one of the league’s toughest coverage assignments out of the slot. However, it is worth noting that Allen began his career playing predominantly on the boundary. Over his first three years in the NFL, 80% or more of his pass snaps came with him lined up on the outside in each season. He moved to playing primarily in the slot during the prime of his career, but he was less exclusively in the slot than his perception suggests. With his experience as one of the league’s most respected route runners, Allen feels like [... truncated ...]
general
Sunday Sneak Peek: 2 Chiefs represent at 2026 NFLPA ‘Rookie Premiere’
The annual NFLPA Rookie Premiere took place over the last three days, showcasing 42 rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft class, including two Kansas City Chiefs draft picks: running back Emmett Johnson and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier . Our first view of the two newcomers to the Chiefs’ offense came courtesy of the annual gathering for the “next class of marketable stars” in the NFL ; it usually consists of just offensive players from the year’s draft class. Across three days, rookies will participate in trading card photoshoots, autograph signings, jersey unveilings, and a full slate of content creation sessions, while also taking part in business orientation led by union leadership focused on group licensing, personal brand development, and long-term income opportunities. The event brings together the NFL’s top incoming talent with leading brands, licensees, and media partners to build early relationships that extend well beyond the field. Johnson and Nussmeier join a handful of Kansas City ’s draft picks to take part in the summit, following wide receivers Jalen Royals last year, Rashee Rice in 2023, Skyy Moore in 2022, Cornell Powell in 2021, and Mecole Hardman in 2019. In 2020, first-round running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire represented the Chiefs
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Jalen Royals added, Jordan Whittington dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Jalen Royals. Drops: Jordan Whittington
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.