WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Tyquan Thornton added, Mason Rudolph dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+4 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Tyquan Thornton. Drops: Mason Rudolph
Tyquan Thornton
WR · KC · 25 yrs · exp 4 · Baylor
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
1,760
Rank
#313
Pos rank
#110
7d trend
-1.0% (7d vs prior)
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Jul 24, 2026 · 1,760
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
WR · KC
analyst
Tyquan Thornton - Starter in three-wide sets
sleeper-rotowire+4 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Thornton is locked in as a top-three wide receiver for the Chiefs alongside Rashee Rice (knee) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder), Joshua Brisco of SI.com reports. Thornton was one of five receivers to play at least 33 percent of the team's offensive snaps in 2025, joining Rice, Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown. The last two of those receivers are no longer on the roster, leaving unproven options such as Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen competing for depth roles behind Rice, Worthy and Thornton
analyst
Tyquan Thornton Considered a Starter in Three-Wide Sets
Tyquan Thornton is expected to be a starter in three-wide sets for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, playing alongside Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. After a 2025 season cut short by injury, Thornton is poised for increased snaps due to departures of other receivers. However, his weekly fantasy value may still be limited by the Chiefs' offense and the presence of Rice and Worthy. He is currently ranked as the No. 114 fantasy WR
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 ...]
general
Let’s Argue: Can the Chiefs be top 10 in offense and defense in 2026?
In our “Let’s Argue” series, Mark Gunnels considers the hot takes, wacky predictions and unpopular opinions of Kansas City Chiefs fans from all over the world. I don’t think this is far-fetched at all. With Walker in the fold, Mahomes has his best running game since the early years of running back Kareem Hunt . That should make the offense much more balanced and efficient. Defensively, if draft picks like cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods make the impact the Chiefs expect, there’s no reason this unit can’t finish in the top 10, too. The talent is there on both sides of the ball. “I think it is a retool kind of year. They could still be in the playoffs, but I don’t think it is a Super Bowl year. If they mostly nailed the draft picks, they might surprise.” This user unfortunately deleted their post on X, but hot takes live forever! I don’t think “retool” exists when Patrick Mahomes is your quarterback. The Chiefs just missed the playoffs, and the standard in Kansas City has never been simply getting back to the postseason; it’s competing for a Lombardi Trophy. Even with Mahomes coming off a torn ACL, this organization has earned the benefit of the doubt. As long as No. 15 is under center, the expectation is Super Bowl contention, not a transition year. Anything less would be lowering the bar for one of the NFL’s premier franchises. I don’t see it. Running back Kenneth Walker’s arrival should force defenses to respect the run again, creating more favorable looks for the passing game. Plus, I think Chiefs fans are selling this receiving corps short. Rashee Rice was on track to nearly 1,500 yards if not for the six-game suspension. Xavier Worthy played through a shoulder injury all season. Tyquan Thornton emerged as a legitimate deep threat. No. 87, Travis Kelce , is still playing tight end in Kansas City. This group has plenty of firepower. Stay tuned for more of Mark’s opinion on your hot takes!
general
Chiefs News: Kader Kohou is not guaranteed a roster spot
Kader Kohou, a recent free-agent signing by the Kansas City Chiefs, is facing an uncertain future with the team. The addition of draft pick Jadon Canady and veteran L'Jarius Sneed in the secondary, coupled with Kohou's limited special teams experience and lack of demonstrated defensive impact, suggests he may be squeezed off the roster if he doesn't perform exceptionally well in training camp
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Tyquan Thornton added, Dont'e Thornton dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+4 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Tyquan Thornton. Drops: Dont'e Thornton
general
Ranking the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 5-1
Who are the most important Patriots players for 2026? Phil Perry wraps up his rankings with his top five
general
ESPN names under-the-radar & surprise Chiefs players this offseason
We’re over a month away from the Kansas City Chiefs ‘ training camp opening, when fans can finally get their own eyes on this year’s team. Up to that point, Chiefs Kingdom relies on the reporting of credentialed media who observed offseason practices. For ESPN , Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor has shared plenty of notes based on his observations over the last month. Last week, he named an under-the-radar rookie , zoning in on a fan favorite among the undrafted free agents. Who is an under-the-radar rookie to watch in training camp/preseason? Wide receiver Jeff Caldwell. Although he went undrafted, he was the most sought-after prospect that the Chiefs were able to add to their roster. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Caldwell is the biggest receiver on their roster. With a strong training camp and preseason — displaying physicality at the line of scrimmage, impressive contested catches and quality speed — Caldwell might be able to earn a roster spot. Helping make the case for him are the plethora of questions on the depth chart behind the trio of Rashee Rice , Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton . Eerily similar to the way former Chiefs wideout Justyn Ross was described during his own preseason hype, Caldwell has a differentiating size in the receiver room. According to Taylor, he has shown the strong ball-winning skill set that Kansas City rarely features in the pass game, but those talents have felt more necessary in recent seasons as NFL defenses’ pass coverage has tightened. As far as a surprise player, Taylor named a player who went from signing with the team after a minicamp tryout to being in the mix for the starting lineup, according to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid . RT Kahlil Benson While quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from his knee injury, the surprising player who has emerged the most is Benson, an undrafted rookie from Indiana who will be competing in training camp against veteran Jaylon Moore for the starting role. Benson shared repetitions with Moore during the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp. With Benson’s rise up the depth chart, the Chiefs were comfortable earlier this month with trading Wanya Morris to the Atlanta Falcons . — Nate Taylor Unlike Caldwell, who can showcase his skills more easily during non-padded practices, Benson will draw a much more critical eye from coaches and fans once the pads are on in training camp. He is definitely the surprise player of the offseason, but he will need to continue defying expectations day after day in the heat of St. Joseph, Missouri
general
Lingering questions: Goodbye, 11 personnel?
Nearly everyone expected the Los Angeles Rams and Sean McVay to add another receiver this offseason behind Puka Nacua and late-career Davante Adams . Materially speaking, they did not. That’s not to say that LA didn’t have a chance to add another starting-level receiver. They instead opted not to. The Rams could have targeted a mid-tier free agent like Romeo Doubs , Jalen Nailor , Tyquan Thornton , Olamide Zaccheaus , or others. LA focused on defense and special teams by adding Jaylen Watson , Grant Stuard , and a long snapper. Infamously, USC WR Makai Lemon was on the board when LA was on the clock in the first round at 13th overall. The team maintains they attempted to trade back, but ultimately stayed and picked quarterback Ty Simpson . It was immediately evident that the Rams felt compelled to stay aggressive with their future draft picks after selecting their signal caller of the future. They could have traded back into the first round for, say, Omar Cooper. They stayed pat. And to throw fuel on the fire, the Rams drafted Max Klare on day two—marking back-to-back draft classes with tight ends in the second round ( Terrance Ferguson in 2025). Convention is telling us Los Angeles needs a third receiver. The team doesn’t seem concerned at all. If we are reading the tea leaves, are the Rams planning to shift away from their historical usage of 11 personnel under McVay? Is this now primarily a 12 and 13 personnel team? Our first sign of a potential change cam in the playoffs, where the third receiver was on the field 50% less than they were in the regular season : If the Rams are at least in 12 personnel—meaning that (two of) Ferguson, Allen, or Higbee are on the field with Parkinson, then one of the receivers must come off. These complimentary tight ends were on the field more often than the reserve receivers in Whittington, Mumpfield, and Smith. The tight ends also saw more targets. We can conclude the overall usage numbers are roughly the same, but that is still a significant takeaway for what could be in store for the 2026 Rams. This isn’t the same offense we are accustomed to that will operate primarily out of 11 personnel. The third receiver role was devalued by more than 50% in the playoffs, and that is the benchmark we should be using into next season. The Rams could also lean further into their tight end usage now that Ferguson will be more experienced in year two and with the addition of second round draftee Max Klare. This would further diminish the production potential for the receivers after Nacua and Adams. Yes – it seems the Rams have a hole at WR#3. This is no longer the same offense. It doesn’t make sense for the Rams to pay a premium for a third receiver when they could be on the field at least 50% less often in 2026. LA has changed their way of thinking. We need to update our outlook too. Even if the Rams deploy tight ends more often than wide receivers in 2026, I have concerns. Nacua and Adams are no stranger to injuries. We also cannot assume that late-career Adams will produce at the same level he did a season ago. It’s a stark drop off from LA’s top two targets to the likes or Jordan Whittington , Xavier Smith , Konata Mumpfield , and CJ Daniels. And while LA are predominant Super Bowl favorites according to the betting markets, they are certain to trail late at some point this season. It’s difficult to lead a comeback without sufficient firepower on offense. Will the decision to invest more heavily in tight end than receiver come back to bite the team late in games? Do you trust Whittington or Mumpfield to make catches and keep games alive? One fortunate development that should help alleviate these concerns are the utilization of TE Terrance Ferguson, who cannot slot squarely into a traditional depth chart . Ferguson seems to be as much of a receiver as a tight end, especially considering he played in the slot on 50% of his passing snaps a year ago: Ferguson may also be the answer to th [... truncated ...]
WR · KC
outlook
2026 Season Outlook
sleeper-outlook+5 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Thornton flashed as a downfield option in 2025, his first full campaign with the Chiefs after having spent the early part of his career with the Patriots, who drafted him 50th overall in 2022. Injuries limited Thornton to 14 regular-season appearances with Kansas City last year, though in that span he managed a career-best 19-438-3 line (36 targets) while also piling up 475 yards as a kick returner. Thornton could carve out a meaningful role as the No. 3 receiver in 2026, with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy drawing most of the defensive attention. However, Kansas City's frequent use of multi-TE sets featuring Travis Kelce limits the overall ceiling for the third wideout in this offense
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Tyquan Thornton added, Jeff Caldwell dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+5 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Tyquan Thornton. Drops: Jeff Caldwell
WR · KC
trending
Tyquan Thornton heavily added (#25)
Sleeper trending/add: Tyquan Thornton (8188) count=2898 (Δ2898 vs prior poll)
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
Chiefs News 5/15: NFL betting on Patrick Mahomes’ Week 1 availability
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Gets New Availability Update for Week 1 | Heavy The league has already announced that the Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos in Week 1 on Monday Night Football. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, that wouldn’t have happened if there wasn’t a high level of confidence that Mahomes will be ready to play (H/T Sleeper Chiefs). “The Chiefs have said he is way ahead of schedule,” Schefter said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’. “You would never bet against Patrick Mahomes, and the NFL certainly hasn’t. The league has scheduled the Chiefs for the opening Monday night game of the year. The league doesn’t do that unless they think that there’s a realistic chance that Patrick Mahomes is going to be back. I think the feeling is you have to see how the knee is progressing during the course of the summer. The feeling right now within the organization is that he is tracking to be ready for that Monday night game against Bo Nix — who is coming off his own surgery of his ankle — and the Denver Broncos in Kansas City.” A lot can happen between now and Week 1, but as Schefter alluded to, the NFL definitely would not have scheduled Kansas City in a primetime slot if it didn’t feel positive about Mahomes being available. The Chiefs acquired Justin Fields in a trade with the New York Jets earlier this offseason to back Mahomes up and start for him if needed. Chiefs’ offseason winners and losers: Which players received votes of confidence? | The Athletic Winner: Rashee Rice I’m one of those who believed the Chiefs would look to address receiver during the early rounds of the NFL Draft. It seemed to make sense given the team’s uncertain future there, with Rashee Rice in the final year of his rookie contract and the team lacking depth behind its top three of Rice, Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton . And who knows? Perhaps if the draft had fallen a different way, the Chiefs would’ve taken a wideout with one of their three Day 2 picks. As it stands, though, general manager Brett Veach appears to be putting his faith in Rice for 2026 while believing the receiver will avoid the off-field drama that marred his first three seasons. Rice’s future is tough to predict. Because of injuries and suspension, he has played just 12 games in the last two years, though he’s maintained strong production when he has been out there. Case in point: Rice averaged 2.16 yards per route run last season, according to TruMedia, which was 12th among 41 receivers with at least 50 receptions. He remains a perfect fit for the Chiefs offense thanks to his run-after-catch ability, with the team often using him on short throws while looking to maximize his physicality and strength. Rice isn’t a complete receiver, but he has proved he can carry a heavy load. The Chiefs appear to be banking on him to do that again, while also giving him one more opportunity to show he can go a full calendar year without creating negative offseason headlines. It’s up to Rice from here. That the Chiefs didn’t draft over the top of him leaves open the possibility that they could be interested in an extension past 2026. His production — and behavior — will determine whether that comes to fruition, but the Chiefs have at least left open the path toward a longer future in K.C. Most/least vulnerable NFL division champs | NFL.com 4. Denver Broncos AFC West Denver filled its biggest hole with the trade for Jaylen Waddle , giving Bo Nix a No. 1 target to pair with Courtland Sutton . The Broncos have one of the best starting 22s in the NFL if Nix stays healthy. The defense is menacing, as it can get after the quarterback, and the secondary is sticky. However, there are depth questions, and a few injuries to key players could create havoc. Squads led by defenses tend to regress to the mean year over year. The Broncos won a whopping 11 games by one score in 2025, with several coming against opponents they should’ve walloped. With a tougher schedule, it’ll be harder to replicate that [... truncated ...]
general
Patriots enter NFL schedule release day with 4 of 17 games revealed
The New England Patriots already know their 2026 schedule, but the general public will have to wait until Thursday night to get official word of it. However, the first few games have either already started leaking or been officially announced by the club. In total, according to the Pats Pulpit schedule release tracker , the Patriots are entering Thursday with four of 17 games revealed: Week 1: at Seahawks (Wed, Sept. 9, 8:20 p.m. ET) Week 7: at Bears (Thu, Oct. 22, 8:15 p.m. ET) Week 10: at Lions (Sun, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. ET, Munich) Week 16: at Jets (Sun, Dec. 27, 1 p.m. ET) Out of those four games, only one has officially been announced, namely the Patriots’ return to the international stage after a one-year hiatus; they will play the Lions in Germany in mid-November. This game might also give us a clue about the team’s bye, which might come in Week 11 right after the cross-Atlantic trip. Two of the Patriots’ primetime games have also leaked. They will open the season with a Super Bowl rematch in Seattle — one that will be played on Wednesday rather than the traditional Thursday this year — and take on the Bears on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. New England will have mini-byes after both contests. Furthermore, the Patriots will visit the Jets in Week 16 for a 1 p.m. ET game. The rest of the games remain TBA at this point in time. The official schedule release will happen at 8 p.m. ET, even though traditionally most if not all of the schedule is already known at that point
WR · KC
transaction
FA: Tyquan Thornton dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+5 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Tyquan Thornton
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Tyquan Thornton added
sleeper-tx-waiver+5 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Tyquan Thornton
WR · KC
transaction
FA: Tyquan Thornton dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+5 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Tyquan Thornton
WR · KC
transaction
Waiver: Tyquan Thornton added
sleeper-tx-waiver+5 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Tyquan Thornton
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.