When the Kansas City Chiefs decided to retain eight receivers for their 53-man roster to start the regular season, or at least to meet the NFL's cutdown deadlines the week before, the expected payoff was maintaining a strong offensive core through a difficult time. One secondary benefit might come a few weeks later.
For now, the Chiefs look ready to handle the six-game suspension levied on wideout Rashee Rice. Eight receivers will shrink to seven when the team places Rice on the exempt list. Yet the WR room will still be robust enough for Patrick Mahomes to conduct the orchestra to great effect—even without Rice as his most trusted target.