James signed with the Chiefs this offseason, and he will compete for a role as a reserve receiver in Kansas City. At best, he could be worth a late-round pick in deeper leagues. The Chiefs have Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as their expected top three receivers, and we'll see what happens with rookie Rashee Rice. It's best to view James as the No. 4 receiver, but he could also be the No. 2 slot option behind Moore. With so many mouths to feed in Kansas City, including Travis Kelce, James' role could be limited. He closed 2022 with the Giants on a high note, scoring at least 13 PPR points in five of his final seven games, so he's capable of producing at a high level. If he does that with the Chiefs, you'll likely just add James off the waiver wire in most leagues.
The Chiefs placed James (knee) on injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
James failed to log a practice all week while dealing with an MCL injury. He played in just three offensive snaps in Week 2 against the Jaguars but plays an important role as the Chiefs' primary returner on special teams. He'll be forced to sit out for at least the next four games and is eligible to return in Week 7 against the Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 22.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Won't play versus Chicago
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James (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 3 game against the Bears.
James didn't practice at all this week, as he's dealing with an MCL issue. The veteran slot man has played just 26 offensive snaps through two games, catching one pass for six yards on three targets. His loss will be felt more on special teams where James is the Chiefs' punt returner.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Missing second straight practice
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James (knee) will not practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
James is still recovering from an MCL injury and is likely on the wrong side of questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears. According to special-teams coach Dave Toub, if James misses, the team may turn to a committee of Kadarius Toney (toe), Skyy Moore and Justin Watson for return duties, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Snares one pass in opener
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James hauled in one of two targets for six yards during Thursday's 21-20 loss to the Lions.
As has become par for the course since Tyreek Hill was traded to the Dolphins prior to the 2022 campaign, quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to spread the ball around the wide receiver room, targeting six different wideouts at least two times. James did play more snaps than both Kadariaus Toney and rookie Rashee Rice. Even so, James is unlikely to produce consistently enough to warrant fantasy consideration in most formats at this juncture.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Should see more opportunities
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James is a candidate to see more reps in Kansas City's offense with Kadarius Toney (knee) sidelined, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
James signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Super Bowl champs this offseason after he led the Giants in receptions in 2022, tallying a career-high 57 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns. If Toney continues to have trouble staying healthy, James could have an even better year ahead of him in an elite offense with Patrick Mahomes at the helm.
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Chiefs' Richie James: Signs on with Kansas City
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The Chiefs signed James on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The 27-year-old is coming off a career year with the Giants, catching 57 of 70 targets for 569 yards and four touchdowns as Daniel Jones' slot receiver. In Kansas City, James can compete to fill the slot job vacated by JuJu Smith-Schuster, but the Chiefs likely have bigger plans for both Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore in their second seasons with the team. James is at least serviceable depth.
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Giants' Richie James: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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If Kenny Moore (ankle) remains out for the Colts then I like James as the best receiver for the Giants, ahead of Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins. The best way to attack the Indianapolis secondary is in the slot with Moore out, and James is clicking right now with Daniel Jones. James has at least 13 PPR points in four of his past six games and just had eight catches for 90 yards on 12 targets in Week 16 at Minnesota. He's worth using as a No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 17.
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Giants' Richie James: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
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The Giants have two receivers who are hot right now with James and Isaiah Hodgins (4 percent rostered), and both are worth using as No. 3 receivers in the majority of leagues in Week 17 against the Colts. I'll give a slight nod to James given his role in the slot, and that's the best place to attack Indianapolis right now with cornerback Kenny Moore (ankle) hurt. James also has at least 13 PPR points in four of his past six games and just had eight catches for 90 yards on 12 targets in Week 16 at Minnesota. Hodgins also had a big game against the Vikings with eight catches for 89 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets, and he scored at least 15 PPR points in three of his past four games.
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Giants' Richie James: Leading receiver against Minnesota
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James caught eight of 12 targets for 90 yards in Saturday's 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
The 27-year-old wideout led the Giants in receiving yards and tied Saquon Barkley and Isaiah Hodgins for the team led in catches, as James put together his best performance of the season. He's posted a 19-193-1 line on 26 targets over the last three games, giving James solid fantasy value heading into a Week 17 meeting with the Colts.
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Giants' Richie James: Leads team in receiving
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James (concussion) caught four of five targets for 42 yards in Sunday's 20-12 win over Washington.
James was able to clear the league's concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's tilt, suiting up and leading the Giants in receiving yards. It was a low-output game for New York's passing offense across the board, so there isn't much to take away from this showing. The 27-year-old was coming off of his best fantasy performance of the season last week (7/61/1) while producing three touchdowns over his last four contests. With the Giants hurting at the wide receiver position, James could be a sneaky DFS play Saturday against Minnesota's porous pass defense.
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Giants' Richie James: Cleared to play
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James cleared concussion protocol Friday and no longer has an injury designation for Sunday's game at Washington, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
James should be a big part of the offense, as he's taken most of the slot snaps since Wan'Dale Robinson's ACL tear and is coming off season highs for snap share (91 percent) and targets (nine) in a 48-22 loss to Philadelphia last week. He had a 7-61-1 receiving line before suffering a concussion late in the game, working alongside Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins (all three topped 80 percent snap share with the Giants falling behind early and rarely using multi-TE formations). A better performance from the team this week likely would mean fewer targets for James, among others.
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Giants' Richie James: Questionable for SNF
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James (concussion) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Matt Citak of the Giants' official site reports.
James will need to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol to suit up. He's making progress in that regard, as evidenced by his ability to participate in practice after sitting out Wednesday. James was injured in the Week 14 loss to the Eagles after scoring his third touchdown in four games.
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Giants' Richie James: Limited in return to practice
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James (concussion) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
James had been listed as a non-participant on the Giants' initial Week 15 practice report that was posted Wednesday, so he appears to have made some progress in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol in the past 24 hours. He'll have one more chance to upgrade to full activity in practice Friday, but even if he does, James will still require clearance from an independent neurologist in order to play Sunday in Washington. If James isn't cleared to play Week 15, Kenny Golladay could see added opportunities alongside starting receivers Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins.
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Giants' Richie James: Not practicing Wednesday
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James (concussion) won't practice Wednesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
James, who is in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, now has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders. If James ends up missing this weekend's contest, Kenny Golladay would likely be first in line to see snaps out wide alongside Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins.
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Giants' Richie James: In concussion protocol
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James is in concussion protocol, according to coach Brian Daboll, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports.
James likely sustained the injury at some point during Sunday's 48-22 loss to the Eagles, which the wide receiver finished with a team-high 61 receiving yards and a touchdown. He'll need to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol to take part in the Giants' critical Week 15 game against the Commanders.
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Giants' Richie James: Paces pass catchers in loss
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James secured seven of nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Giants' 48-22 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
The veteran wideout finished with the team lead in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the day for the Giants, but those were mainly empty numbers in the lopsided loss. James helped make the final score a tad bit less embarrassing with a 19-yard touchdown grab off a pass from Tyrod Taylor with 39 seconds remaining, and he'll aim to carry over his momentum into a critical Week 15 Sunday night battle against the Commanders on the road.
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Giants' Richie James: Gets green light for Week 14
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James (knee) was a full practice participant Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Eagles, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
James has appeared on injury reports for three straight weeks due to the knee issue, but he hasn't been forced to miss game action because of it. With a full practice under his belt to conclude the week, James should be primed to play north of 50 percent of snaps on offense for the third consecutive game while the Giants lack healthy and/or productive bodies at receiver. Over his previous two appearances, James has hauled in eight of nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown.
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Giants' Richie James: Still limited at practice
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James (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
James appears to be dealing with the same knee issue that resulted in him being limited in two practices last week, but he still was able to suit up this past Sunday against the Commanders. In the 20-20 tie, he turn a 52 percent snap share into three catches (on three targets) for 20 yards. Assuming he makes more progress as Week 14 prep ensues, James may enter the weekend without a designation for the Giants' matchup with the Eagles.
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Giants' Richie James: Modest production in tie
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James brought in all three targets for 20 yards and returned three punts for 18 yards in the Giants' 20-20 tie with the Commanders on Sunday.
James worked through a questionable designation due to a knee injury to fill his usual role as a short-area target for Daniel Jones. The veteran journeyman has arguably fallen into more of a No. 3 receiver role in the Giants' perpetually makeshift wideout corps behind Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins, but he's generated a solid 11-109-2 line over his last three games heading into a Week 14 home matchup against the Eagles.
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Giants' Richie James: Active Sunday
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James (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
A knee issue forced James to operate under some restrictions in practice during Week 13 prep, with his eventual regimen DNP/LP/LP. That left the fifth-year pro questionable to suit up Sunday, but he'll play through the injury. Fellow wide receiver Darius Slayton (illness) also is available, while Kenny Golladay (illness) is not. Slayton should continue to be the Giants' No. 1 option at the position this weekend, but James is poised to be next up for reps after combining for eight catches (on nine targets) for 89 yards and two touchdowns the past two contests.
