• The Chiefs hammered the Ravens’ protection utilizing Rice’s slot velocity: Rice totaled 12 receptions from the slot that went for greater than 15 yards throughout the complete 2023 common season however picked up greater than 15 yards on three receptions within the season opener alone.
• Kansas Metropolis’s extensive receiver room might push Rice right into a distinguished slot position: With the emergence of first-round choose Xavier Worthy and the eventual return of injured extensive receiver Marquise Brown — each of whom have lined up primarily outdoors throughout their careers — Rice would possibly see extra taking part in time within the slot this season.
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Kansas Metropolis Chiefs extensive receiver Rashee Rice already established himself as an excellent younger receiver in his rookie season in 2023, rating in PFF grade (84.9) on the place. He additionally showcased his versatility, as he performed virtually an equal variety of snaps out extensive and within the slot and in addition lined up on either side of the sphere at about an equal fee.
This pattern continued within the 2024 NFL season opener in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens — a 27-20 win for Kansas Metropolis. Rice lined up within the slot 22 instances and performed 20 snaps out extensive. He logged 10 snaps every on the outdoors left and proper extensive receiver spots. Nevertheless, his numbers from the slot would possibly recommend that he could be much more efficient if he lined up inside extra.
Rashee Rice | Week 1 Snap Alignments
| Place | Snaps |
| Slot Left | 11 |
| Slot Proper | 11 |
| Outdoors Left | 10 |
| Outdoors Proper | 10 |
Out of Rice’s 103 receiving yards in opposition to Baltimore, 75 got here from the slot, the place he had six targets and 4 receptions. Whereas he totaled 12 receptions from the slot that went for greater than 15 yards throughout the complete 2023 common season, Rice picked up greater than 15 yards on three receptions within the season opener alone. He was focused on 37.5% of the snaps when he lined up within the slot after recording a 23.2% clip final season — an already comparatively excessive quantity.
Whereas Rice’s 4.69 receiving yards per route run from the slot will not be a sustainable quantity, it stacks up properly in opposition to particular person video games from final season. In 2023, there have been 177 situations of a receiver seeing a minimum of 5 targets from the slot in a recreation — Rice had six targets in opposition to the Ravens — and the previous SMU receiver’s 4.69 receiving yards per route run would have ranked 14th amongst these performances. His 18.8 receiving yards per catch would have ranked 16th final season. But, Rice’s common depth of goal of seven.2 yards would have ranked simply 100th final season, highlighting how properly he did after the catch in the course of the sphere in opposition to Baltimore.
With the emergence of first-round choose Xavier Worthy and the eventual return of injured extensive receiver Marquise Brown — each of whom have lined up primarily outdoors throughout their careers — Rice would possibly see extra taking part in time within the slot this season. And if the season opener was any indication, he is not going to solely play properly in that position however would possibly even take his recreation to a brand new degree as among the finest slot receivers within the NFL.