Rashee Rice Ending 2023 As A Top Rookie Wide Receiver

It has been an up-and-down, challenging season for the Kansas City Chiefs. The wide receiver spot has had their fair share of peaks and valleys. Time will tell if they can go deep in this year’s playoffs with that group. But one thing is for certain entering this postseason, Rashee Rice is the best wide receiver on the Chiefs. Overall, that has been true for a while now. More importantly, Rice has been one of the NFL’s best rookie wide receivers for a good stretch, to boot.

The rookie campaign that Rashee Rice is having is largely rare on many levels. For one, the history of rookie wide receivers coming in and producing right away under Andy Reid in Kansas City is pretty well documented. Very few have been able to do that. On the other hand, it is rare for a contending team, let alone a defending Super Bowl champion, that the best wide receiver on the team is a rookie. Getting consistent production from a rookie in the first year is also no guarantee. Yet, Rice has been pretty consistent for that last handful of games in the second half of this season.

How does Rashee Rice compare to other rookie wide receivers as the 2023 regular season nears the finish line? Plus, what does his recent stretch of play mean for Kansas City during the upcoming playoff run? Let’s kick it off.

Riding Near The Top Of Rookie Leaderboard

Some stats are misleading. Stats can also be provided with very little context. But for the top of the rookie leaderboard in receiving categories, it is pretty simple, regarding Rashee Rice. After Week 17, Rice ranks second in receiving yards by rookie wide receivers. His 938 receiving yards trail only Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams, who has 1,445 receiving yards so far. Furthermore, Rice is third in receiving touchdowns by rookie wide receivers, as things currently stand. Minnesota’s Jordan Addison (nine receiving touchdowns) and Green Bay’s Jayden Reed (eight receiving touchdowns) are the only two to top Rashee Rice and his seven receiving touchdowns among rookie wide receivers.

While this is impressive for any rookie wide receiver under the current Chiefs regime, Rashee Rice is immediately filling key voids for the KC offense. If you look at the departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster, he has been a key loss from last year’s championship team. With one game to play in the 2023 regular season, Rice’s numbers are nearly identical to what Smith-Schuster produced in the 2022 regular season.

Rice currently has 79 receptions on the season. Smith-Schuster finished with 78 receptions last year. As for receiving yards, Rashee Rice currently has five more yards than what JuJu tallied in 2022. The seven receiving touchdowns from the Chiefs rookie is just over double of what Smith-Schuster had last season (three). Rashee has essentially filled that role right away as a rookie.

Improvements Throughout Rookie Season

Piggybacking off of that last point a bit more, Rashee Rice was someone who offered the potential to play the role that Smith-Schuster occupied in 2022. Would he be able to come through in that spot? That was the main question, as the Chiefs initially worked to build his role within this year’s offense. As his rookie season has gone on, Rashee Rice is beginning to show many similarities to how JuJu won last season.

While it took some time, Rice has begun to find the soft spots in coverage very consistently in the second half of the season. His ability to recognize leverage and adjust his routes post-snap displays early wisdom during his rookie campaign. Elsewhere, Rashee Rice has shown improved body control and patience at the catch point. While that part of the game may go unnoticed from time to time, this pass catcher has limited his drops that existed more often earlier in the season. That is evidenced by his spectacular 77.5 catch percentage, which leads all Chiefs wide receivers who have played at least 14 games. With that concentration at the catch point, Rice is beginning to create more damage after the catch.

Finally, the subtle adjustments with his route running have begun to shine in recent weeks. Rashee Rice is catching opponents off guard with how he can alter his speed and tempo during the route. On top of that, Rice is having success by creating sharp cuts, rather than rounded, jagged ones, when working laterally. The improvements in this area could be vital for the rookie wide receiver entering the playoffs.

Top Playoff Option

It is no secret at this point in the season, Rashee Rice will have to be one of Kansas City’s top weapons and options at pass catcher in the playoffs. If this team wants to get back to the Super Bowl, Rice is going to be a go-to target. With his drops lessening and his catch percentage sitting at a healthy spot, it is pretty clear that good things happen the more times Rashee Rice touches the football.

Will Rice continue to receive a great share of the targets in the postseason? His numbers have been encouraging in that area over the last handful of games. However, there are still moments and drives where it does not feel like Rice is being utilized enough. The versatility of this rookie wide receiver has been tapped into a bit more. Rice can win from the slot or from the outside, as shown as recently as last Sunday. Meanwhile, the unique size and speed element of this wide receiver is something that has led to more explosive plays when targeting Rice lately. He can act as a dynamic running back with the ball in his hands.

Nothing would be surprising with this upcoming Chiefs playoff run. Simply put, there is a wide range of outcomes that could take place. An early exit would not be shocking. But also, this team has proved themselves numerous times in the playoffs. If they prove to go far again, Rashee Rice will be one of the most important contributors.