The Kansas City Chiefs have no hope of reaching the postseason anymore. It is going to be the weirdest final three games that K.C. fans have experienced in quite some time. With eyes already turning toward next season, how the Chiefs handle these last few weeks will be intriguing.
One item on the agenda should be to give younger players and depth options more playing time. Who can shine with a possible increase in snaps and opportunities? That could help determine some roster decisions for 2026.
With that in mind, let's look at some offensive players who need to be on the field more in these last three games.
WR Jalen Royals
Jalen Royals has been active at times this season. However, the rookie has just one kick return and no targets or receptions. Even given who the Chiefs have at wide receiver, it is stunning to see that he has not been factored into the offense whatsoever. That should change over the final three games. Gardner Minshew and Royals are a connection that Kansas City should look to incorporate quite often.
In terms of the 2026 outlook, the Chiefs only have two wide receivers outside of Royals who are set to be back next year (Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy). Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton are all due for unrestricted free agency. Nikko Remigio could be brought back immediately as an exclusive rights free agent. Perhaps both Remigio and Thornton are back in the fold next season. Either way, failing to utilize Royals would be a complete waste, given the current circumstances.
RB Brashard Smith
Brashard Smith has received more touches as a rookie than Royals has. So far, Smith has combined for 32 carries and 19 receptions on offense. His touches should only go up from here. Smith is still developing as a running back after converting from the wide receiver position in college. That is well documented.
Can he handle a workload of at least 15 to 20 carries per game? Is he strictly going to be a runner who works toward the perimeter? Or can Smith display enough promise in between the tackles?
All of the other running backs on Kansas City's active roster are set to be unrestricted free agents this upcoming offseason. Would it really be all that surprising if this regime brought one of them back, like Isiah Pacheco, for instance? No. Yet, the Chiefs will need to make significant upgrades to the running back room for 2026. Smith will hope to be a trusted part of that future group with a potential increase in snaps over these last three games.
TE Jared Wiley
Jared Wiley has played in just two games this season. Over the first two years of his career, Kansas City has only had him on the field for a combined nine contests. An injury took him off the field midway through 2024, and in training camp and the preseason this year, he was seemingly passed on the depth chart by the play of Robert Tonyan.
Everyone will be awaiting Travis Kelce's decision surrounding a possible retirement. Whenever that news drops, plans for the position in 2026 will become much clearer. In the meantime, can Wiley begin to gain some momentum on the field? There was hope that he could produce as a secondary option after being drafted. That could feasibly be restored if the Chiefs get him enough reps down the stretch.