Week8 · 2026

Starting1

Scoring

New comparison

Start · check inactives

Rice

WR · KC @ DEN

Kickoff Sun 4:25 PM ETLatest report: Limited · Hamstring

Projected points11.8pts

if he plays · 80% to play

If he sits

Royals

WR · KC @ DEN

Kickoff Sun 4:25 PM ET

Projected points6.5ptsUsage estimate

Start · check inactives

Bench

Jalen Royals or Rashee Rice: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Start Rashee Rice. If he's inactive, start Jalen Royals.

Ahead by: +5.3pts; over Royals if he plays
Confidence: Depends on inactives; Rashee Rice may not play (about 80% to play)
Started: 47%; of leagues

Royals's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.

Flips if

If Rashee Rice is inactive, start Jalen Royals.

Risk

Rashee Rice was limited in practice (hamstring): check the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. If he sits, start Jalen Royals. Rashee Rice missed his last 2 games (hamstring). The Week 8 injury report isn't out yet. As of Fri 2:00 PM ET

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 2:00 PM ET

RiceStart · check inactivesWR · KC @ DENUsually 12.7−0.9pts this week

Helps him

OutEllissEdgeHe faces a Broncos defense without linebacker Jonah Elliss.
15.8last weekHe caught 7 for 88 yards in Week 3 (15.8 points).

Hurts him

−1.2ptsrec yardsHis lines put him at 51.5 receiving yards, below his usual 63.3.
4.2per gameHe sees only 4.2 targets a game.
toughestper targetEdgeDEN allows plenty of WR chances because receivers see plenty of targets on them; per target they’re tough (1.41 pts, toughest).

RoyalsIf he sitsWR · KC @ DENUsually 2.5+4.0pts this week

Helps him

+2.8ptsroleHe’s expected to play more snaps this week than he has lately.
+1.9ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.

Hurts him

−0.5ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran below this year’s pace.

Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.

Stat comparison

Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.

Scoring

Projection11.86.5

TD pointsof the projection2.0Our estimate

Expected TDsthis week0.34Our estimate

Projected team points20.820.8

Red zone targetsper game1.00.3

Role

Snap share62%40%

Usage worthpts7.73.1

Target share15%6%

Targets / game4.31.8

Air yards share15%6%

Receiving TDs vs RZ targetsIn line2 RZ targets

WOPR0.350.14

RZ target share19%8%

Catch rate76%45%

Separation4.2 ydsNot tracked

YAC over expected+1.7Not tracked

Usage worth vs scoredEarned by usage 7.7Scored 9.5Earned by usage 3.1Scored 2.5

Vacated targets this week3.83.8

Inside 10 target share0%18%

Range

Floor7.63.0

Ceiling18.911.5

Points from TDssteadier when lower16%40%

Big weeks (20+ pts)29%0%

Dud weeks (under 7 pts)lower is better0%100%

SteadinessVery steady±7.3 ptsVolatile±1.8 pts · 4 games

Matchup

Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmDD

Game scriptExpected to leadExpected to lead

Opp takeaways / gamelower is better1.41.4

Defense funnelNeutralNeutral

Opp pass yds allowed17th (average)17th (average)

Starting QBMahomes (Active)Mahomes (Active)

Opp defender outElliss (LB)Elliss (LB)

Roof / surfacegrassOpenOpen

Rest / scheduleNormalNormal

Opp pace30th (slow)30th (slow)

Opp deep targets allowed / game19th (average)3.33.3

Opp catch rate allowed2nd (tough)54%54%

Form

Last 3 avg9.41.5

Last 5 avg9.53.0

vs season−0.1−1.1 (Cooling)

Yards per route run2.470.56

Receiving aDOT7.45.8

Target share trendLeft Week 4 hurtSteady

Games since injury0None recently

Crowd

Started in leagues47%Not widely started

Nuvela position ranklower is betterWR22WR57

Yards linereceiving51.5Our estimate

Deciding on someone else?

Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.

Sit or start?