Exceptional Kansas City Chiefs receiver has double the number of yards as Cooper Kupp

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In an offensive season full of disappointment, one receiver has been among the few bright spots for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

Rashee Rice is among the hottest receivers in the league, coming down the stretch of the season and making a case to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The first-year KC wide receiver has 79 receptions for 938 yards and is second on the team behind Travis Kelce.

While Kelce is still the top dog, Rice has arguably outperformed him recently.

Rice is coming off a career performance in a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, making five catches for 127 yards.

Rice has averaged 86.8 yards through the air per game over the past four games.

His seven touchdown catches are the most on the team in 2023, and a new Chiefs rookie receiving record.

Kelce has fewer than 30 yards receiving in two of his last three games, averaging 10.6 yards through the air per game, with Rice at 11.9.

Rice’s stellar performances give him a fighting chance to break another Chiefs record this Sunday.

Dwayne Bowe’s 995 receiving yards in 2007 is the most for any Chiefs rookie in a single season.

Rice can beat that mark though if he gets at least 58 yards receiving against the Los Angeles Chargers.

For now, Rice is outshining the future first-ballot Hall of Famer (Kelce) and becoming a favourite target of Patrick Mahomes.

So, what are his chances of winning Offensive Rookie of the Year?

Rice’s Award Odds?

His stats over the past four weeks have been exceptional, though it’s probably too late for Rice to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

According to FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK, C.J. Stroud is the leading contender for that award at -1,400.

Next is the Rams’ Puka Nacua (+450), then Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (+5,000), followed by his teammate Sam LaPorta (+9,000) and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson (+14,000).

Rice has the sixth-best odds to win an award that no Chief has ever claimed (+15,000).

While his hot form may have him on the ballot, Rice’s chances of winning are slim.

Firstly Stroud is a quarterback, and even though he deserves to win, I believe the position you play often gives QBs an edge.

Running backs are also often considered more vital than pass catchers, which means Gibbs and Robinson could overshadow Rice.

Last year though a receiver won the award, the New York Jets Garrett Wilson.

Nacua, meanwhile, is far and away the best receiver on the Rams this season.

He has nearly double the number of receiving yards in 2023 as one of the NFL’s best from 2021, Cooper Kupp (1,445 for Nacua and 737 for Kupp).

While Rice has been better than Kelce in many respects this season, the fact that it’s Kelce may work against the rookie.

It’s easy for people to say Kelce gets all the attention, leaving openings for Rice.

Furthermore, it’s just as easy to say having an elite QB like Mahomes makes Rice look good.

Some underlying numbers though suggest the latter.

Rice may not win, but he’ll probably be as close as any Chiefs’ ever been to claiming this award.