Chiefs' Richie James: Helps on special teams in 2023
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James finished the 2023 regular season with 10 catches for 114 yards on 14 targets.
After a productive year with the Giants in 2022, James nabbed a one-year contract with the Chiefs prior to the 2023 campaign with hopes of some playing time in a somewhat lackluster wideout room. While he couldn't secure regular playing time on offense, James did log some action on both kick returns and punt returns, amassing a combined 387 yards in those duties. Kansas City inked James to just a one-year deal prior to the season, so he'll head into the offseason looking for a home in 2024.
James caught all three of his targets for 54 yards in Monday's 20-14 loss versus the Raiders.
With Kadarius Toney (hip) sidelined in Week 16, James was able to take over a larger share of Kansas City's offense in the slot and logged a season-high 25 snaps, helping him to season-bests in receptions and receiving yards. His biggest play of the day came in the middle of the fourth quarter, when he settled into a busted coverage on the right hash and recorded a 45-yard catch and run. He's been relatively efficient with the opportunities he's gotten this year, but his overall lack of consistent involvement in the offense means he's still not bankable in most formats.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Makes four-yard grab in loss
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James played 11 of 66 snaps on offense and hauled in one of his two targets for a four-yard reception in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Bills. He also returned three punts for 49 yards.
James made his third consecutive appearance since being activated from injured reserve Nov. 18 after missing seven games with an MCL injury. The 11 snaps were James' most in any of those three contests, but the Chiefs have made a concerted effort to get the ball in his hands when he's on the field. Over 24 total snaps on offense since he made his return to the lineup, James has been targeted four times.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Not on injury report
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James (knee) isn't listed on the Chiefs' injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders.
James was activated from injured reserve last weekend, but wasn't able to crack the Chiefs' wideout rotation and was deemed inactive last Monday night against the Eagles. With Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman as options in the kick and punt return game, it's going to be tough for James to see playing time.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Rejoins active roster Saturday
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James (knee) was activated from injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
James is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Eagles, but if he's able to suit up, it would be his first appearance since Week 2. Prior to being placed on injured reserve, James worked as Kansas City's primary punt returner while playing a part-time role on offense at wide receiver.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Logs another full practice
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James (knee) was a full participant in practice for the third straight day Saturday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
James remains on injured reserve, but he logged his second straight week of full practices around Kansas City's Week 10 bye. The veteran wideout has played in just two games this season, notching one catch on three targets for six yards over 26 offensive snaps. While he appears to be progressing, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said "probably not" when asked if James would play this Monday against Philadelphia, per Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. Kansas City has until Nov. 22 to activate James before he'd need to sit out the rest of the season on IR.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Not activated for Week 9
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James (knee) wasn't activated from injured reserve Saturday and will remain out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany.
James made the trip with the Chiefs overseas and was a full participant in practices Wednesday through Friday, but Kansas City isn't yet ready to bring him back from IR. Since James' 21-day evaluation window was first opened Wednesday after he was designated for return from IR, the Chiefs will still have two more weeks to either add him back to the 53-man roster or keep him on IR for the rest of the season.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Questionable for Week 9
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James (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Week 9 game against the Dolphins.
James remains on injured reserve but had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday. The Chiefs likely aren't in a rush to activate James after recently acquiring Mecole Hardman from the Jets to serve as a depth wideout and return man.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Practice window opens Wednesday
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The Chiefs designated James (knee) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
The move opens up a 21-day window in which James can be evaluated in practice, but he could be available as soon as Sunday's game against the Dolphins in Germany if the Chiefs feel he's ready to play. Given that the Chiefs have since acquired Mecole Hardman to serve as a depth receiver and punt returner, the team may not be incentivized to rush James back into action this Sunday, especially since James hasn't played since Week 2 due to an MCL injury. Prior to getting hurt, James played a total of 26 snaps on offense over Kansas City's first two games and recorded one catch for six yards on three targets.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Improving, but not yet activated
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday that James (knee) is "close" to returning from injured reserve, though the receiver remains without a clear timeline to resume playing, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Despite Reid's encouraging comments, James hasn't yet been designated for return from injured reserve since being deactivated ahead of the Chiefs' Week 3 game against the Bears. Since he hasn't resumed practicing with the team, James can safely be ruled out for Sunday's game in Denver, though a return Week 9 versus Miami could be more realistic if the Chiefs elect to open his 21-day evaluation window.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Won't play versus Chicago
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James (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 3 game against the Bears.
James didn't practice at all this week, as he's dealing with an MCL issue. The veteran slot man has played just 26 offensive snaps through two games, catching one pass for six yards on three targets. His loss will be felt more on special teams where James is the Chiefs' punt returner.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Snares one pass in opener
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James hauled in one of two targets for six yards during Thursday's 21-20 loss to the Lions.
As has become par for the course since Tyreek Hill was traded to the Dolphins prior to the 2022 campaign, quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to spread the ball around the wide receiver room, targeting six different wideouts at least two times. James did play more snaps than both Kadariaus Toney and rookie Rashee Rice. Even so, James is unlikely to produce consistently enough to warrant fantasy consideration in most formats at this juncture.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Signs on with Kansas City
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The Chiefs signed James on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The 27-year-old is coming off a career year with the Giants, catching 57 of 70 targets for 569 yards and four touchdowns as Daniel Jones' slot receiver. In Kansas City, James can compete to fill the slot job vacated by JuJu Smith-Schuster, but the Chiefs likely have bigger plans for both Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore in their second seasons with the team. James is at least serviceable depth.
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Giants' Richie James: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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If Kenny Moore (ankle) remains out for the Colts then I like James as the best receiver for the Giants, ahead of Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins. The best way to attack the Indianapolis secondary is in the slot with Moore out, and James is clicking right now with Daniel Jones. James has at least 13 PPR points in four of his past six games and just had eight catches for 90 yards on 12 targets in Week 16 at Minnesota. He's worth using as a No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 17.
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Giants' Richie James: Leads team in receiving
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James (concussion) caught four of five targets for 42 yards in Sunday's 20-12 win over Washington.
James was able to clear the league's concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's tilt, suiting up and leading the Giants in receiving yards. It was a low-output game for New York's passing offense across the board, so there isn't much to take away from this showing. The 27-year-old was coming off of his best fantasy performance of the season last week (7/61/1) while producing three touchdowns over his last four contests. With the Giants hurting at the wide receiver position, James could be a sneaky DFS play Saturday against Minnesota's porous pass defense.
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Giants' Richie James: Cleared to play
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James cleared concussion protocol Friday and no longer has an injury designation for Sunday's game at Washington, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
James should be a big part of the offense, as he's taken most of the slot snaps since Wan'Dale Robinson's ACL tear and is coming off season highs for snap share (91 percent) and targets (nine) in a 48-22 loss to Philadelphia last week. He had a 7-61-1 receiving line before suffering a concussion late in the game, working alongside Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins (all three topped 80 percent snap share with the Giants falling behind early and rarely using multi-TE formations). A better performance from the team this week likely would mean fewer targets for James, among others.
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Giants' Richie James: Questionable for SNF
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James (concussion) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Matt Citak of the Giants' official site reports.
James will need to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol to suit up. He's making progress in that regard, as evidenced by his ability to participate in practice after sitting out Wednesday. James was injured in the Week 14 loss to the Eagles after scoring his third touchdown in four games.
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Giants' Richie James: Paces pass catchers in loss
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James secured seven of nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Giants' 48-22 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
The veteran wideout finished with the team lead in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the day for the Giants, but those were mainly empty numbers in the lopsided loss. James helped make the final score a tad bit less embarrassing with a 19-yard touchdown grab off a pass from Tyrod Taylor with 39 seconds remaining, and he'll aim to carry over his momentum into a critical Week 15 Sunday night battle against the Commanders on the road.
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Giants' Richie James: Gets green light for Week 14
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James (knee) was a full practice participant Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Eagles, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
James has appeared on injury reports for three straight weeks due to the knee issue, but he hasn't been forced to miss game action because of it. With a full practice under his belt to conclude the week, James should be primed to play north of 50 percent of snaps on offense for the third consecutive game while the Giants lack healthy and/or productive bodies at receiver. Over his previous two appearances, James has hauled in eight of nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown.
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Giants' Richie James: Still limited at practice
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James (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
James appears to be dealing with the same knee issue that resulted in him being limited in two practices last week, but he still was able to suit up this past Sunday against the Commanders. In the 20-20 tie, he turn a 52 percent snap share into three catches (on three targets) for 20 yards. Assuming he makes more progress as Week 14 prep ensues, James may enter the weekend without a designation for the Giants' matchup with the Eagles.
