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Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Likely Fantasy Football Prospects After Ravens vs. Chiefs | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors
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Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Likely Fantasy Football Prospects After Ravens vs. Chiefs | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 5: Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after making a first down reception against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Xavier Worthy has arrived.

The Kansas City Chiefs rookie wideout scored two touchdowns in just over three quarters in his NFL regular-season debut on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, scoring a rushing touchdown in the first quarter and a long receiving score early in the fourth quarter.

At the time, he had two touchdowns on just three touches.

The fact that he was with the Chiefs at all seems somewhat surprising in retrospect, considering that Kansas City has ended the Buffalo Bills’ season in the playoffs three of the last four years. That made Buffalo’s decision to trade the Chiefs the 28th overall pick in the first round, along with a fourth-round pick, for the 32nd overall pick and a third-round selection a bit of a mystery.

The Chiefs obviously took advantage of the trade to sign Worthy, and it didn’t take long for fans to turn his early success into an opportunity to criticize the Bills:

Marcel Louis-Jacques @Marcel_LJ

the rest of the NFL is staring at the Bills after Xavier Worthy scores on his first career touchdown photo.twitter.com/Az0iKPE8x8

Worthy may be a bit of a feast-or-famine situation for fantasy players. Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown (if he returns from injury) have a much better chance of earning consistent targets. However, Worthy’s ability to convert the targets he does receive into big plays will keep him in the flex conversation all season long.

Speaking of Rice, he was Mahomes’ top target that night and certainly looked like a potential WR2 in PPR leagues going forward. Assuming he plays the entire season, he could be poised for a breakout year.

The other big fantasy star of the night was Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely, who may have surpassed Mark Andrews as the Ravens’ best receiving option at tight end. At the time of publication, Likely had six receptions for 91 yards and a score, compared to just one catch for 11 yards for Andrews.

The risk in starting either player in a given week is the possibility that the other will be Lamar Jackson’s primary option in that matchup. Andrews has long been one of Jackson’s most trusted targets—he’s going to play a significant role in this offense. But Likely is a playmaker, and he’s going to steal targets.

It’s entirely possible that the push and pull between the two will limit both of them to low-end TE1 status, if not outright TE2 designation. At the very least, Likely should be a consideration for your lineup every week: he was terrific on Thursday.