WR coach: Rookies are ‘always a work in progress’

Apparently, that means barely using him on game day, at least in the short term. Allen played one snap in the Chiefs’ season opener, despite starting WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy combining for a just 5/37/1 stat line. Bieniemy also said that Allen is “going to be a part of our success moving forward. I guarantee that.” Given Allen’s Week 1 usage, becoming fantasy-relevant could take quite some time.

The Chiefs let most of their starters take the field in this game and Allen wasn’t among them. He didn’t see a snap until after Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton had all left the contest. His first target didn’t come until the third quarter, and it was a drop on a high throw. The rookie rebounded with a 12-yard gain for a first down on the very next play. After playing well into the second half of the team’s final preseason game, Allen is, at best, the Chiefs’ WR4 entering the season. Despite the strong training camp, he shouldn’t be in starting fantasy lineups for Week 1.

Taylor stops short of declaring Allen a starter in three-wide receiver sets, so he is likely still stuck in the No. 4 wide receiver spot. The fifth-round rookie has at least carved out a role for himself, and Taylor dubs him “the biggest winner in camp.” Allen is a worthwhile late-round pick at this time.

Allen saw action through the first three quarters of play. His 29 snaps were the third-most of any Chiefs receiver, while his 23 routes run were the second-most on the day. All three of his catches came in the short areas of the field, as evidenced by the -1.7 ADOT he averaged on his three receptions, per TruMedia. One of the most hyped players of this training camp season, the rookie fifth-rounder has a 5-27-0 receiving line on 10 targets in his two preseason games thus far.

Thornton headed into the medical tent and was subsequently carted to the locker room at Tuesday’s practice. Now it’s been revealed that he suffered a hamstring strain. It’s unclear how long Thornton might be out, but his injury further opens the door for camp standout Cyrus Allen.

The good news is that Allen worked with the starters in the slot. The bad news is that he worked well into the second half in the first preseason game while leading the team in targets. He’s clearly the highest-upside stash receiver of the group, but playing deep into the first preseason game isn’t a great sign for his chances of early playing time.

Allen has been sidelined since Saturday after he suffered a shin injury during a collision with a teammate. The flashy fifth-round rookie has made a name for himself in the early part of training camp and is now back on the field following his brief injury scare. Allen’s recent training camp hype has made him an interesting dart throw in the later rounds of drafts, but it will likely take a few things breaking in his favor for him to make a meaningful fantasy impact this season.

According to Breer, Allen “might’ve been the best receiver in camp before bruising his shin.” Internally, the team apparently sees some similarities to Stefon Diggs in Allen’s “physical profile and play style.” Year after year, a Chiefs youngster soars up draftboards after turning in a promising showing in training camp. The results haven’t always matched the hype, though, particularly in recent seasons. Only time will tell if Allen is worthy of the praise he’s received — and only those willing to take the ADP plunge will benefit. He is not without risk, but Allen’s upside is worth chasing.

Allen suffered a shin injury on Saturday after colliding with a teammate. What appeared to be a serious injury at first glance was later diagnosed as a bone bruise, and Allen was listed as day-to-day. The rookie fifth-rounder has made some impressive plays at camp early on and is looking like a solid depth player in the Chiefs’ wide receiver room.

Taylor published his story on Saturday morning. Allen suffered a bone bruise in his shin a few hours later. The Chiefs’ first padded practice takes place on Monday. If Allen is ready to go, he will huddle up alongside QB Patrick Mahomes. If not, we expect the team to hold his seat until he’s ready. Per Taylor, Allen entered camp competing against Nikko Remigio and Jalen Royals for the WR4 role. Taylor states Allen has already surpassed both players, and his performance “has the Chiefs dreaming and recalculating what he could be in the NFL.” Taylor highlights Allen’s performance against man coverage and his crossing route running before noting that Chiefs receivers struggled in both departments last year. If Allen can heal up and continue making plays when pads go on, he seemingly has a chance to earn a role in the Chiefs’ offense. Stay tuned.