Rashee Rice  |  SMU 6’0” 200 lbs.  |  04/22/2000 (23)

Rashee Rice was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the seventh Wide Receiver and 55th overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

A former three-star recruit that chose SMU over multiple other Power Five offers, Rice became one of the most prestigious wide receivers in the school’s history. He finished his collegiate career fifth all-time in total receiving yards (3,111), total receptions (233), and receiving touchdowns (25). His 1,355 receiving yards in 2022 were a school record, and he finished third in the nation behind only Nathaniel Dell (1,398) and Charlie Jones (1,361) in that same category.  

FILM 

STRENGTHS

Ideal size, speed, and athleticism. Shows elite burst off the line of scrimmage. Has tremendous ball skills, as he’s able to high-point and outjump his defenders to come down with the grab. Extends his hands, as he’s able to stretch and come down with receptions that look to be out of reach. Plays strong and physical. Works well in scramble drills, as he often finds the open space to bail his quarterback out. Has a noticeable second gear, and makes most defenders miss in the open field. 

WEAKNESSES 

Not the most consistent route runner. Slow to make cuts and sink when coming out of his breaks. Has a tendency to cut his routes short and relies too often on playing jump ball against his defender(s). Doesn’t work in the middle of the field well, as he often shies away from congested areas on the field. Frequently struggles against press coverage even though he plays physical at the top of his routes. Drops have been an ongoing issue throughout his career. 

ATHLETIC TESTING

At the NFL Combine, Rice measured in at 6’0” and 200 lbs., which equates to a BMI of 27.1. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, equating to a 95.4-speed score. Both figures landed him in the 57th percentile or higher. Rice also displayed an amazing 133.7 burst score (95th percentile) and a college dominator score of 32.9 percent (64th percentile). 

Rice shows ELITE burst and leaping abilities. His 41” vertical was tied for the highest amongst all wide receivers at the combine. He also recorded an impressive 128” broad jump. Although his straight-line speed isn’t great, he showcased his elite burst by posting a 1.49-second 10-yard split. This was tied for the third-fastest at his position even though he finished tied for 24th in the 40-yard dash. 

DRAFT ANALYSIS 

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Excellent

Rice was selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Chiefs. 

After losing Tyreek Hill last offseason and JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason, Kansas City desperately needed to add depth to their wide receiver room. Rice will compete with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Richie James, Justin Watson, and Justyn Ross for opportunities. With Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, the sky is the limit. 

FANTASY INSIGHTS

Because of the landing spot, Rice jumps up in fantasy value immediately! He may be a reach in the first round of your rookie drafts, but he’s certainly worth the selection in the second. You should draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, and Jordan Addison over him. But even though Jonathan Mingo and Jayden Reed were drafted ahead of him in the second round of the NFL Draft, you may want to snag Rice over them in your rookie drafts. 

Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2023 NFL Draft Coverage! Stay tuned as we break down every fantasy-relevant pick during the draft. Please consider becoming our yearly DFF subscription so we can deliver top-notch analysis and fantasy breakdowns. Only $1.67 per month ($19.99 per year) gets you our 105-page dynasty rookie draft guide, access to the DFF Discord for free personalized dynasty team advice, hundreds of dynasty articles and so much more…

I hope you enjoyed reading my article. My goal is to provide actionable advice you can utilize to improve your dynasty team. You can follow me on Twitter @dirrim23. #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting #PlantYourFlag