The Kansas City Chiefs earned an exciting victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. A main difference in the outcome was the explosive plays that K.C. hit on. If that exact game had played out in the prior two seasons, perhaps the Chiefs would have left Vegas with a frustrating loss.
Xavier Worthy was an underrated part of the Chiefs' explosive plays, looking back on his day. Worthy's performance included four catches for 70 yards. More importantly, three of his four grabs went for at least 10 yards. His longest catch was 41 yards, coming against contact down the field.
There were still a couple of targets that Worthy likely wants back from this game against the Raiders. However, his efficient gains to keep drives on schedule were a nice thing to see. Instead of Worthy being limited to short gains on catches or not coming through downfield, he was dependable in those moments in Week 4. Kansas City could not always count on that, dating back to the start of last season.
Moving forward, the Chiefs would like to see Worthy earning those chunk gains. If Worthy cannot prove to be a vertical threat, Kansas City is going to look for someone else to fill that role in the future. He was simply an easy outlet for Patrick Mahomes when all other options broke down on individual plays.
Worthy faces a changing landscape in the Chiefs' offense
Worthy being a safe target is a sticking point as this season goes on and when the Chiefs return from their early bye week. Tyquan Thornton led the team in catches and receiving yards in this game. He also was on the receiving end of both of Mahomes' touchdown passes. Unfortunately, Thornton will be out for a while due to his gruesome ankle injury.
On the other hand, Rashee Rice was dinged with a hamstring injury during this trip to Las Vegas. The bye week may help him avoid missing any time. However, hamstring injuries can affect wide receivers as much as any position in the NFL. Rice has also been up and down to open this year amid Kansas City's encouraging start.
It feels inevitable that the Chiefs will add another wide receiver soon. Tyreek Hill rumors continue to swirl. If that potential reunion does not take shape, trade deadline options become tricky to sort through. In the end, Worthy is going to be counted on more often, with an already thin Chiefs wide receiver room becoming weaker.
Chiefs' offensive balance could create more opportunities for Worthy
The running game and balance of Kansas City's offense could very well help Worthy see more easily accessible throws at or beyond the sticks. Kenneth Walker III is getting a heavy workload so far. If he continues to produce at his early pace, the Chiefs will see more space for their pass catchers to navigate. Worthy's opportunities should not slow down, given how the offense is currently constructed after Thornton's injury. As long as he performs similarly to his outing against the Raiders, the Chiefs' passing game can look to make more strides.
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