McKinnon will return to the Chiefs for a third season and is projected to be their top pass-catching back. He was fourth on the team in targets last year with 71, but his nine receiving touchdowns trailed only Travis Kelce. Considering that McKinnon only scored seven touchdowns on his first 257 career targets, you should expect some pretty significant regression in the touchdown department. That likely regression, paired with the fact that he has one regular season game as a Chief with double-digit carries, means he's best left as a dart throw in the double-digit rounds of Fantasy drafts. Playing with Patrick Mahomes does give him significant weekly touchdown upside; you just shouldn't expect anything like what you saw last year.
Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Finds end zone against Buffalo
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McKinnon carried the ball four times for 19 yards and a touchdown and caught all three of his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Bills.
With Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) sidelined, Clyde Edwards-Helaire got the start at running back for Kansas City and saw 13 touches, but it was McKinnon who got into the end zone on a seven-yard run in the second quarter. It's the veteran RB's first score on the ground in almost exactly a year, although he's caught three TD passes in 2023. If Pacheco isn't ready to return in Week 15 against the Patriots, McKinnon and Edwards-Helaire figure to split snaps again.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Good to go for Week 14
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McKinnon (groin) doesn't have an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bills.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs' usual lead back, Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) is set to miss his first game of the season, leaving more snaps available for McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Per Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com, head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Edwards-Helaire will be the next man up with Pacheco out, but Edwards-Helaire is likely to see the bulk of his touches as a ballcarrier while McKinnon serves as the team's primary back on passing downs. McKinnon, who had missed the Chiefs' previous two games with the groin injury, has recorded 19 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns this season but only 30 rushing yards.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Puts in full practice
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McKinnon (groin) was a full practice participant Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
McKinnon was sidelined for the Chiefs' past two games, but after following up a limited practice Wednesday with a full session Thursday, he's poised to return to the lineup Sunday against the Bills. When available, McKinnon has typically served mostly as a passing-down back, but he could carve out a larger role on the ground along with Clyde Edwards-Helaire if lead back Isiah Pacheco isn't available this weekend. Pacheco has missed the Chiefs' first two Week 14 practices with a shoulder contusion.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Another limited practice
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McKinnon (groin) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
McKinnon also was limited last Thursday and Friday before he ended up missing Sunday's loss to the Packers. Isiah Pacheco, who has taken on more passing-down work in McKinnon's absence, was held out of practice Wednesday due to a shoulder contusion. The injury may not be something that affects Pacheco's availability for a matchup with the Bills this Sunday, but if it ends up being more serious than suspected, McKinnon could return to action this weekend with a larger-than-usual role. Granted, the more likely scenarios are McKinnon either returning to his usual role as a passing-down specialist or missing a third straight game.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Not playing Sunday night
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McKinnon (groin) was downgraded to out Saturday and will not play in Sunday's matchup against the Packers.
Sunday's absence will make it two straight for McKinnon, who at least managed to practice in limited fashion this week. A fantasy darling for many last season, the multi-talented back has rarely been used in 2023, tallying just 13 carries for 30 yards and a paltry 19 receptions for 155 yards in 10 contests to date. Expect Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Deneric Prince to spell starter Isiah Pacheco on occasion.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Questionable for SNF
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McKinnon (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against the Packers.
McKinnon, who didn't play Week 12 against the Raiders, logged limited practices both Thursday and Friday, which gives him a chance to be available for Sunday night's 8:20 p.m. ET contest. If the running back is able to suit up at Green Bay, he'd be in line to reclaim a portion of the Chiefs' change-of-pace snaps behind top option Isiah Pacheco. Considering McKinnon has recorded just 13 carries and 19 catches to go along with three receiving TDs through 10 games this season, he's only a fantasy option in deeper PPR formats.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Logs limited practice session
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McKinnon (groin) was limited in his return to practice Thursday.
After missing practice Wednesday, McKinnon's return to Thursday's session offers encouragement that he may be able to return to action Sunday night against the Packers. However, the running back may need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid heading into the weekend with a Week 13 injury designation.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Returning to practice
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McKinnon (groin) is in line to practice Thursday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
McKinnon didn't practice Wednesday, but his looming return to practice has him trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday night's game against the Packers. Kansas City's next injury report will clarify the running back's participation level.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Out this week
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McKinnon (groin) won't play Sunday against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
With McKinnon sidelined Week 12, Clyde Edwards-Helaire will likely step in as the top backup to starting running back Isiah Pacheco, while La'Mical Perine and Deneric Prince are candidates to be elevated from the practice squad to add depth to the backfield. McKinnon will target a potential return to action Dec. 3 against the Packers.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Still limited at practice
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McKinnon (groin) remained listed as limited at practice Thursday.
McKinnon was also limited Wednesday, so the running back will need to practice fully Friday in order to approach Sunday's game against the Raiders without an injury designation. Given that he's logged just 13 carries and 19 catches through 10 games this season, McKinnon -- who has recorded three receiving TDs in that span -- is worth lineup consideration only in deeper PPR formats.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Listed as limited Wednesday
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McKinnon was a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to a groin injury.
McKinnon now has two more chances to practice fully ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders. During Monday's 21-17 loss to the Eagles, McKinnon was on the field for 24 of a possible 79 snaps on offense, carrying once for seven yards and catching two of his three targets for eight yards. With just 13 carries and 19 catches in 10 games this season, McKinnon's fantasy utility has been limited to deep PPR formats.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Finds end zone against Miami
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McKinnon gained two rushing yards on his only carry and caught both his targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-14 win over the Dolphins.
Despite the low touch volume, McKinnon was able to get into the end zone for the first time since Week 3, catching his third TD pass of the season on a 17-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter. Last year's nine receiving touchdowns always seemed like an outlier that wouldn't be repeated, but the 31-year-old's role has shrunk in general and McKinnon is on pace for only 321 scrimmage yards, a huge drop from the 803 yards he compiled in 2022.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Will play Sunday
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McKinnon (groin) has no injury designation and is slated to play in Sunday's Week 9 game against the Dolphins.
After missing practice Wednesday, McKinnon was able to get in limited work the remainder of the week and is good to go for a big game in Germany. On the year, McKinnon has rushed just 11 times for 21 scoreless yards and has seen three targets or fewer in seven of eight contests.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Turns in limited practice
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McKinnon (groin) returned to a limited practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
McKinnon didn't practice Wednesday, but his return to a limited session Thursday has him trending toward being available for Sunday's game against the Dolphins in Frankfurt. Fellow RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) has already been ruled out for Week 9 action, so the Chiefs could elect to elevate La'Mical Perine and/or Deneric Prince from their practice squad to provide the team with added backfield depth this weekend.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Back at practice Thursday
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McKinnon (groin) is slated to return to practice Thursday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
McKinnon was absent Wednesday, but his return to the field in some capacity Thursday puts him on the right track to potentially suit up Sunday against the Dolphins in Germany. On the season, McKinnon has rushed just 11 times for 21 scoreless yards (1.9 YPC) and caught 15 passes for 125 yards and two scores on 21 targets.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Another quiet week
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McKinnon accrued two carries for negative two yards and caught one of two targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 24-9 defeat against the Broncos.
McKinnon has logged three or fewer carries in every game this season, though he continues to see some work as a receiver, having allied at least one catch in all but one game. It's unlikely his role will expand much as long as Isiah Pacheco remains healthy and available.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Misses practice Thursday
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McKinnon (groin) won't practice Thursday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
McKinnon practiced fully Wednesday, so it's unclear if his absence a day later is indicative of a setback or a matter of rep management. Friday's injury report will add further context regarding McKinnon's Week 8 status, but if the running back is available Sunday against the Broncos, he'll be in line to continue to handle a change-of-pace role behind top back Isiah Pacheco.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Four touches in Week 7
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McKinnon accrued two rushes for two yards and caught all two targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 31-17 victory over the Chargers.
McKinnon has no more than three carries in a game this season, as he resumes his duties as a pass-catching specialist in 2023 after a brief run of all-purpose duties late last season. His role could increase slightly should Isiah Pacheco miss any action or if the Chiefs are trailing and need to abandon the run, but he's not particularly appealing in most fantasy formats at this point.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Plays second fiddle again
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McKinnon notched one rush for seven yards and hauled in two of three targets for 18 yards during Sunday's 27-20 win against the Vikings.
McKinnon continues to see some work in the passing game, but Isiah Pacheco has separated himself atop the depth chart, tallying 39 snaps to McKinnon's 18 on Sunday. Occasional game scripts with the Chiefs trailing could allow McKinnon to be more impactful on occasion. Still, he doesn't contribute enough at this point to be more than a speculative bench hold should Pacheco miss time, having yet to reach double digits in rushing yards in a game.
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Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon: Draws just three touches
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McKinnon tallied three rushes for seven yards and didn't haul in his lone target during Sunday's 23-20 win versus the Jets.
McKinnon showed a glimpse of fantasy light in Week 3 with a pair of touchdowns against the Bears but returned to a back-seat role during the Week 4 contest, logging 22 snaps compared to Isiah Pacheco's 42, and the Chiefs, generally weekly favorites to win, will rarely be in the situations where a heavy emphasis needs to be placed on the passing game. As long as Pacheco is healthy and available, McKinnon figures to remain a touchdown-dependent fantasy contributor, providing a bit more value in PPR leagues as a receiving threat.
