Chiefs Stock Watch, Week 7: Mecole Hardman returns home with a flourish

Stock Up: Rashee Rice

Since the Justyn Ross hype train is still stuck in the station, let's all hop aboard the Rashee Rice Express. After his performance against the Chargers, there may not be any room left on the bandwagon, so it is time to hop on now.

Rice led all Chiefs receivers with 5 catches on the day to go along with 60 receiving yards and his second touchdown in three games. Rice is not just finesse, speed, and route running, as displayed by his outstanding use of the truck stick on Chargers safety Dean Marlowe. Marlowe is listed as 6'3" and 269 pounds, so it is quite an accomplishment to put a man that size into the dirt.

Rice has been flying up the depth charts and into the trust circle of Mahomes and Andy Reid with his exceptional play. The rookie out of Southern Methodist has caught four or more passes four times in the past five games and has nearly cemented himself as the Chiefs' go-to receiver in case Travis Kelce is earning outsized attention from opposing defenses.

It has been widely reported that rookie receivers have a rough go of it in the Andy Reid offense, but this rookie is breaking the mold. I will be looking for Rice to continue his ascent as the Chiefs start the back half of the regular season.