Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Wednesday, the only player on the team not to practice in full. Hardman remains on Injured Reserve and will likely need to upgrade to a full practice session to have a shot at being activated and playing on Saturday when the team takes on the visiting Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 26-year-old was designated to return from IR back on Jan. 1 but did not suit up for the Week 18 loss to the division-rival Denver Broncos in the regular-season finale. If Hardman is activated and plays this weekend, fantasy managers will want to avoid him everywhere, as he'll likely see limited snaps as a depth option for KC's receiving corps. The former second-rounder in 2019 caught only 12 of his 14 targets for 90 yards and no scores in 12 games in 2024 before going on IR.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (rib) was a full participant for the second straight day this week in practice on Wednesday and is trending in the right direction to play against the Houston Texans on Saturday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Although the rib injury that Pacheco suffered in Week 17 on Christmas Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers was not considered serious, the Chiefs held Pacheco out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos, and he had an extra week to rest during the bye in the wild-card round. The 25-year-old is now fully ready to go for this Saturday's game against Houston, where he will likely share backfield duties with Kareem Hunt. Pacheco broke his leg early in the year and didn't return from Injured Reserve until Week 13. Once back, he played less than half the offensive snaps in all five games, and that could continue against the Texans.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is well on his way to being available for the Divisional Round game this Saturday against the visiting Houston Texans after putting in a second straight full practice this week on Wednesday. Mahomes suffered a right high-ankle sprain in a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 but managed to play the following two weeks before being rested in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos. He's now had the last two weeks to heal up with the Chiefs having a bye in the wild-card round. Although the 29-year-old might not be 100%, he should be well enough to play as the Chiefs seek an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title. Mahomes was only the QB11 in fantasy during the regular season, though, and his fantasy ceiling won't be very high against an underrated Houston defense this weekend.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee), who remains on Injured Reserve, was listed as a limited participant in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. The Chiefs opened Hardman's 21-day practice window to return from IR during preparation for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but the 26-year-old pass-catcher ultimately was not activated for that contest. The Chiefs had a first-round bye for the wild-card round of the playoffs last weekend, giving Hardman another week to recover from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 13. Even if he returns to a full practice on Wednesday or Thursday and is activated from IR on Friday, it's highly unlikely that Hardman would have a major role in KC's offense after missing the last six weeks. Before getting hurt, he had 12 catches (14 targets) for 90 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games.

According to the team, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) participated fully during Tuesday's practice. Mahomes has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury over the past month and was given Week 18 off as the Chiefs have already locked up the top seed in the AFC. However, seeing him open the week as a full participant is a great sign and suggests he will be a full-go for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. After starting the season off slow, Mahomes has begun to round into form at the perfect time. Over his previous six games, Mahomes has tallied 12 total scores, averaging 254 passing yards per game and 23.3 rushing yards per game. Fantasy managers should view Mahomes as a solid QB1 in all DFS competitions facing the Houston Texans.