Rashee Rice Placed on Chiefs IR With Injury, Who Are Top Fantasy Waiver-Wire WRs?

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed wide receiver Rashee Rice on injured reserve, ending his season.

Rice last played on Sunday, Dec. 14 when the Chiefs lost 16-13 at home to the Los Angeles Chargers. Per head coach Andy Reid, Rice reported concussion symptoms to the Chiefs the next day and was entered into the concussion protocol.

Rice finished the season with 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns in just eight games (he missed the first six for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy).

Hopefully Rice is back healthy and good to go for a full offseason of work to train for the 2026 campaign.

From a fantasy football perspective, it's championship week for most leagues. If you're fighting for a title and looking for a spot to fill at wide receiver, here are a few takes on some options.

Note that all of these players are available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Parker Washington (Rostered in 33% of Leagues)

The former Penn State star has amassed 17 or more fantasy points (full-point PPR scoring) in four of his last seven games played. He just torched the 12-win Denver Broncos, who are fifth in the NFL in fewest points allowed, for six catches for 145 yards and touchdown on 10 targets.

Yes, the Jags have a lot of mouths to feed between running back Travis Etienne, wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brenton Strange. However, Washington has found his niche within a crowded skill-position group, and it's clear that quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has been lights-out of late (12 TD, 0 INT last four weeks) trusts him.

On Sunday, Jacksonville will visit a reeling Indianapolis Colts defense that just allowed 295 passing yards and five touchdowns to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The table is set for the Jags' passing game, and Washington can benefit.

Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs (Rostered in 44% of Leagues)

Philip Rivers is starting once again for the Colts this Sunday against the Jaguars, and that's good news for wide receiver Josh Downs, who has found a good rapport with the 44-year-old after he ended his five-year retirement.

In Rivers' first game, an 18-16 loss at the Seattle Seahawks, Downs caught his first touchdown pass in five games. In Rivers' second game, a 48-27 loss versus the San Francisco 49ers, Downs co-led the team with nine targets en route to five catches and 65 yards.

This year has been a little quiet for Downs overall (52 receptions, 471 yards, four touchdowns), but he's clearly got something going with Rivers. That trend might continue Sunday against a scorching-hot Jaguars team that's averaged 33.0 points per game in their last eight contests. Indianapolis may have to play from behind here and keep passing to stay in the game, so Downs may get more looks as a result.

Chicago Bears WR Luther Burden III (Rostered in 16% of Leagues)

The Chicago Bears rookie returned to practice in a limited fashion on Sunday after missing last week's 22-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers with an ankle injury.

If Burden suits up Sunday evening at the San Francisco 49ers (and that seems to be where he is headed), he could be in line for a breakout performance.

Burden had six catches for 74 yards against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 14 before exiting in the third quarter with the aforementioned injury. He's bumped up the depth chart with Rome Odunze currently out with a foot ailment. Burden and D.J. Moore would lead the receiving group on Sunday against San Francisco.

The former Missouri star has had at least five targets in each of his last five games and amassed seven against the Browns despite not even playing three full quarters. He has caught an impressive 76.6 percent of Williams' 47 targets for 36 receptions, 479 yards and a score.

The 49ers will be favored in this game at home, and the Bears could be called upon to throw here if the game script calls for Williams to pass more often.

That could be good news for Burden, who feels due for a breakout game and signature performance given his skillset as well as his increased target share and opportunities of late.