Beat: Chiefs eager to test Mahomes (knee) limits

Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said there is a “good chance” that Mahomes starts in Week 1. At this point, we would be surprised if he didn’t. The Chiefs’ quarterback is coming off season-ending ACL and LCL tears and will likely scramble less frequently than he did last year, potentially hurting his expected fantasy football output. He is a borderline QB1/2 against the Broncos’ elite defense.

We would be very surprised if Mahomes didn’t start Week 1 given how this has trended this offseason, but Reid left it in some doubt, adding “Most likely, he’ll be the guy that’s out there.” Justin Fields would be the starter if Mahomes couldn’t go, we doubt we’ll be talking about that possibility seriously on Friday or Saturday ahead of Kansas City’s MNF opener.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes believe last season’s run game failed to make defenses respect their play-action run fakes. With Walker now on board, the Chiefs believe both the run game and play-action game will improve. The staff has catered to Walker by installing more plays from under center, which Walker prefers to shotgun. “One way Walker can help transform the offense,” per Taylor, “is by becoming a true dual-threat player.” Reid believes Walker’s “receiving skills and ability to make defenders miss” will allow Reid to incorporate “one of his favorite passing concepts: the variety of plays where a play-action fake to the running back is executed before a short screen pass is thrown back to the same running back.” Walker should be expected to handle a high-end, dual-threat workload. He is a locked-in RB1 with immense upside.

Mahomes will sit the entire preseason, though that shouldn’t be taken as an indication that he won’t be ready for Week 1. He suffered a torn ACL and LCL in Week 15 last year, which would normally make the 2026 opener a tight turnaround. Superstars just recover differently from other players. Mahomes has had no issues throwing or running during training camp and his absence from the preseason is likely a precautionary measure from Andy Reid and the Chiefs. We fully expect him to take on the Broncos when Week 1 rolls around.

It has, by all accounts, been an encouraging training camp for Mahomes, who has been present for every practice and has yet to miss a rep. While all signs seem to point to Mahomes being ready to go for Week 1 against the Broncos, Reid said the team is continuing to take it “day by day” with the star quarterback. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week that Mahomes was on track to return, and most indicators seem to support that. Until the team gives us reason to believe Mahomes won’t be ready to face the Broncos, we will cautiously assume he’ll be good to go in a few weeks.

The AFC West showdown takes place on September 14th, giving Mahomes just over three weeks to fit in a little extra rehab. Schefter adds that Mahomes has “cleared every hurdle” in training camp this summer. He has missed zero reps and reportedly “looks strong” on the practice field. Mahomes can be treated as a fantasy football QB1.

Reid alluded to this decision last week and is only making it official now. Mahomes is, by all accounts, fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered last year. He was reportedly ahead of schedule throughout the offseason and is now scrambling around at training camp as if nothing happened. Whether or not he plays in the preseason shouldn’t affect his fantasy outlook. Even if he runs less this year, an improved ground game and a change at offensive coordinator should keep Mahomes in the QB1 ranks.

Reid said he’s not sure if Mahomes will play at all in the preseason, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise as the star QB continues to work his way back from a torn ACL/LCL he suffered in Week 15 of last season. Despite the late-season injury, Mahomes avoided the PUP list to open camp and has been a full participant thus far. The Chiefs’ first preseason game is scheduled for next Saturday at home against the Rams, with their final game set for August 28th. If we don’t see him over that span, then he will first take the field in Week 1 when the Chiefs play host to the Broncos on Monday Night Football.

This is notable because Mahomes used shotgun formation on 80.6 percent of snaps last season, the third-highest in the league per Taylor, and the Chiefs’ 22.6 percent play-action rate ranked just 26th. NFL offenses averaged 7.76 yards per pass play with play action and 6.65 without it last year. Upping the play-action rate would be great for fantasy purposes.

Walker has been working hard to improve his receiving skills and pass protection this offseason. As long as he refines this area of his game, he has a chance to operate as the Chiefs’ clear-cut featured running back, though the position group is full of capable receiving backs. What does not seem to be in question is that Walker will handle an immense rushing workload. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in May that the team hopes to establish the run early on this season. An ESPN report from June revealed that the Chiefs were beginning to tailor the run game around Walker’s strengths. Super Bowl LX’s MVP is a locked-in RB1 with enticing upside.