Chiefs stock watch: Rashee Rice rises toward prominent role after Week 5

Stock Up: L'Jarius Sneed

L'Jarius Sneed drew the most challenging assignment a cornerback could draw in the NFL: covering Justin Jefferson for a few hours. Luckily for the Chiefs, Sneed has that dog in him and wholly shut JJettas down for his worst game of the 2023 season. Sneed held arguably the best wide receiver in the game to only 3 catches for 28 yards, less than half of Jefferson's average production.

Not only did Sneed nearly erase Jefferson from the Vikings' game plan, but he led the team in solo tackles with 8 and was involved in blitzes where he got right in the face of Vikings' quarterback Kirk Cousins on multiple occasions.

Sneed and Trent McDuffie have formed one of the best cornerback tandems in the league in 2023 with how they have been shutting teams' passing attacks. The Chiefs came into the game with the seventh-rated defense in terms of total yards, an eighth-best mark in passing yards allowed, and ranked fifth in points allowed per game.

This is easily the best defense the Chiefs have had in the Patrick Mahomes era, and L'Jarius Sneed is one of the most important players. Sneed is a lockdown defender and is fearless in laying the wood on ball carriers when presented with the opportunity. Sneed's influence can be seen in McDuffie, as you can find him flying all over the field to put some guys on their backs.

Sneed is 26 years old and is in the last year of his contract, so his current level of play will likely price him out of Kansas City next offseason. I hope the Chiefs find a way to retain his services, but Chiefs Kingdom will be more than happy if Sneed's last year in a Chiefs uniform brings home another title.