Kansas City’s receiver room got a lot thinner over the past week. Tyquan Thornton landed on injured reserve with a dislocated ankle and a three-to-four month timeline, and Rashee Rice has been ruled out with hamstring and knee issues. That leaves Xavier Worthy, who shares the team lead in targets, as the clear first receiver for Patrick Mahomes heading into a home date with the Chargers. Find out whether you should start or sit Xavier Worthy in Week 6.
Xavier Worthy Start or Sit Advice for Week 6
Thornton was Kansas City’s downfield weapon, holding 42.3% of the team’s air yards and averaging 19.9 yards per catch. Rice’s 17 targets and four red zone looks are now up for grabs as well. Behind Worthy, the only other Chiefs receivers with targets this season are Jalen Royals with five and Cyrus Allen with two, leaving no established wideout to split the work. Worthy already has 22 targets, an 18.6% share, and four red zone looks.
There is also room for his role to change shape. Worthy has averaged just 6.0 yards per target with 16.8% of the air yards, so Kansas City has used him more underneath than his speed would suggest. With Thornton gone, the vertical assignment is open, and Worthy is the obvious fit to take it over.
Kansas City’s offense can support him. The Chiefs are throwing for 249.8 yards per game with a 106.2 team passer rating and scoring 29.5 points per game, and Mahomes was a full participant at practice despite a knee issue.
The Chargers’ secondary is banged up as well. Safety Derwin James Jr. did not practice Wednesday after missing Week 5, cornerback Donte Jackson sat out with a hamstring injury, and Rodney Shelley was limited.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for Xavier Worthy in Week 6
The Chargers have been tough on receivers. Los Angeles allows 29.2 PPR points per game to wide receivers against a league average of 31.9, and opponents are drawing just 15.0 targets per game against them, well below the league mark of 18.3. They also limit YAC to 32.2 per game against a league average of 47.5, which takes away one of Worthy’s main paths to production.
The Chargers have faced Arizona, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Seattle and Denver, and opponents have thrown 13% below league average against them, so the numbers are a bit flattered. The secondary injuries add to that vulnerability.
Game script is the other concern. The Chargers’ offense is scoring just 16.8 points per game, so Kansas City could build a lead and lean on the run. If that happens, the pass volume Worthy needs could thin out in the second half.
Finally, his production has been inconsistent. Worthy has posted 4.8, 13.5, 4.0 and 11.0 PPR points, alternating usable weeks with quiet ones. A bigger role does not guarantee better efficiency.
Fantasy Outlook for Xavier Worthy in Week 6
Worthy is a Start in Week 6 and a confident FLEX option with upside. With Thornton and Rice both out, a significant chunk of targets and air yards opens up in a productive offense, and Worthy is positioned to inherit them.
The Chargers’ coverage keeps his floor in check, and the potential for a lopsided game could limit his late volume. Still, with the receiver room this thin, Worthy belongs in the FLEX conversation for most fantasy lineups, and fantasy managers covering byes from Minnesota, Miami, Cincinnati and Detroit should feel good about plugging him in.