Fantasy Football Implications for the Latest NFL News: Rashee Rice, Adam Thielen and More

It's time to go over some recent NFL news and the fantasy football implications of each situation.

We have a suspension and a couple trades to get into, so let's get to it!

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Rashee Rice Suspended Six Games

The main reason for this story is the recent news about Kansas City's Rice. He's going to serve a six-game suspension to start the season.

That's a massive chunk of the season, and will be a big blow to his ADP. Right now, he's going around pick 60. That should drop multiple rounds now that we have an idea how long he'll be out.

As far as when to start targeting Rice, that's where things get tricky.

In my eyes, I'm trying to avoid him at all costs. At some point though, there's some value in adding him, especially if you can put him into an IR spot while he's suspended.

Pick 100 is where I'd start considering the move. You'll also need to have a really good wideout corps in place before taking him, as you're wasting a pick on a player who won't play 1/3 of the season.

Rice could be a really good fantasy asset down the stretch of the season, so stashing him could prove big in the long run too.

In his absence, Xavier Worthy should lead the wideout room. Veteran Marquise Brown is another projected starter, and Jalen Royals seems like the most likely guy to fill in for Rice. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a veteran option, if the Chiefs want to give Royals some more time.

Another problem with Rice being suspended at the start of the season is that Royals is dealing with a knee issue. He might not be active to start the regular season.

With that in mind, I'd be all over Worthy, whether that be in fantasy drafts or as a trade acquisition. Brown should be a streaming-level wideout early in the season as well.

Worthy is going around pick 55 on average in drafts, and that should rise now after the Rice suspension news. Brown is going around pick 160, and he'll be a late-round option in standard leagues by the time the season kicks off.

Smith-Schuster and Royals are better waiver wire adds in standard leagues if they take off early in the season. They will gain some value in deeper leagues after this news though.

It's a slight blow to Patrick Mahomes' fantasy value, as he loses a valuable pass-cathcing option. I see Travis Kelce getting a slight boost at the tight end spot with a key pass catcher out.

I also think running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt get slight fantasy boosts with Rice out six weeks. I expect the team to utilize both backs in an effort to offset losing such a good wideout.

We'll probably cover this situation again closer to the season, and it will be something to watch until Rice returns. FantasySP will be here to cover it all, so keep checking back!

Adam Thielen Returning to Vikings

Carolina traded Thielen back to Minnesota in a trade that involved four other draft picks. Thielen was the only player in the deal.

Thielen will see his fantasy value rise after this move, especially early in the season, as Jordan Addison is suspended for three games. Justin Jefferson is still the clear top wideout for Minnesota, but Thielen will be the No. 2 guy until Addison is ready to go.

Jalen Nailor, rookie Tai Felton and the rest of the Minnesota wideout room sees a negative hit because of this month. None of those guys were going to be super involved anyway. Once Addison returns, Thielen should slide into the third wideout slot, and form a really good trio with Addison and Jefferson.

This trade does nothing for Jefferson, as he's already a top-end fantasy pick and talent. It does maybe ease the minds of those wanting to draft him, as he might not struggle early on without a decent wideout opposite him. 

Thielen's ADP will rise after this move. He's going around pick 177 on average, but was already on the rise a bit. I thought he was overlooked going into this season, but going back to Minnesota should help that no longer be an issue. I already liked spending a late-round standard pick on him, and now I really like the move.

This is a slight decrease for Addison's fantasy outlook. He was already going to miss three games, but having a legit third receiver around now means Addison might not be quite as involved when he's back on the field.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Addison's ADP fall more from its current 90.25 mark. He still a weekly starting option when he's activated, but it might lead to more inconsistent results.

Nailor and Felton are unlikely to factor in much this season, and are now likely destined for just deeper leagues. The only way I see any wideouts outside Jefferson, Addison and Thielen being standard leaguers are if one of those top three gets injured and is out for a long time.

It's a fantasy boost for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, as he gets another pass catcher to rely on. McCarthy could be a strong streaming option early in the season, and now could see his overall numbers jump now that he'll have legit pass catchers at all times.

I think this news slightly brings down T.J. Hockenson's draft value. His ADP is 68.75 right now. I still think he could be a top-10 tight end, but he might drop a few draft picks now and be more inconsistent this season.

I don't see this impacting the running game all that much, although it could mean less targets for Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason. I still think Jones is a great draft value pick near his ADP (64.75). I'm not as high on Mason as others are, but there's still room for him to contribute and maybe become a bigger fantasy asset.

As for the Panthers, this move is good news for Tetairoa McMillan, who should dominate the targets and wide receiver production even more now. His ADP (57.5) should rise as the season nears.

The move opens the door for Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker to have better fantasy impacts. Rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. is another Carolina wideout to keep tabs on.

It's a slight blow to quarterback Bryce Young, as he now is throwing to younger wideouts all around. It's probably a boost for running back Chuba Hubbard, and backups Rico Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne.

Carolina might run a bit more this season after this move. Tight end Tommy Tremble should be more involved, but I still don't see him becoming a monster fantasy asset. Maybe he'll prove me wrong.

Tim Patrick Moving Teams

The Lions traded Patrick to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.

Patrick was barely on the ADP list, at pick 354.5, but this move could give him a slight boost. He's at least a name to keep tabs on now.

Brian Thomas Jr. is the stud wideout in Jacksonville, and Dyami Brown and Travis Hunter are the other starters. Patrick could work in plenty in the place of Brown or Hunter, who wants to play defense too this season.

I don't see it affecting Thomas much, but it might mean less production for Brown and Hunter. Hunter is the best asset after Thomas, and he's the last one I see maybe working into standard leagues - I have Brown and Patrick as deep leaguers.

The move doesn't really do much for Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, or the running backs (Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby). Brenton Strange might see a slight decrease in fantasy value too.

The move for Detroit opens a starting spot for rookie Isaac TeSlaa. He now becomes an even bigger fantasy asset, and could maybe work into standard leagues eventually - I see him as a better deep leaguer with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at wideout already, and tight end Sam LaPorta still around.

TeSlaa should be on the field enough to make a difference, I'm just not sure how consistent he'll be. He's a guy to watch at least.

The move maybe strengthens the fantasy outlooks for St. Brown and Williams. I don't see TeSlaa stealing much of their work, and the same could be said for LaPorta.

It doesn't do anything for Jared Goff or the running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery either.