The Kansas City Chiefs found themselves in a difficult situation after Week 1, as their already depleted receiver room took another hit. With their passing attack struggling, fantasy football managers are looking for answers among Kansas City’s depth options. Tyquan Thornton emerged from the wreckage with a modest performance, but is the former second-round pick worth a waiver wire add?
Should Tyquan Thornton Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 2?
Patrick Mahomes had to pivot early and try to figure out who he could rely on. Thornton got a couple of early looks, including downfield targets. Two of them would’ve been touchdowns if they were better thrown balls. The third connected in the middle of the field for 38 yards.
Mahomes to Tyquan Thornton.
The longest reception of Thornton’s career.
— Savage (@SavageSports_) September 6, 2025
Thornton played about 72% of the snaps and ran as many routes as Travis Kelce, tied for second on the team behind Hollywood Brown. The role is encouraging, but it’s not as if Thornton was commanding targets.
With that said, the Chiefs’ receiver situation has become increasingly dire. Rashee Rice remains suspended for the first six games, and Xavier Worthy suffered a shoulder injury on the first possession of the season opener. With Jalen Royals ruled out for Week 1 and not traveling with the team to Brazil, the depth chart has been stripped to its bare bones.
Brown led the receivers with 10 catches for 99 yards, while JuJu Smith-Schuster provided veteran depth. Thornton’s role as the designated deep threat becomes more valuable in this context, as the Chiefs desperately need someone to stretch the field vertically and create explosive plays.
Thornton’s underlying metrics from his limited 2024 sample are not great. His 12.5% target rate on 29.6% of snaps suggests reasonable usage when on the field, but his 50.0% catch rate on actual targets shows inconsistency. His yards after catch average of 3.0 per target and unrealized air yards of 12.9 per target indicate missed opportunities for big plays.
The former Baylor standout’s 4.28 speed remains his calling card, but his college production (62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final season) hasn’t translated to consistent NFL success. His explosive play rating of 67.2 and 11.8 yards per reception average show flashes of the big-play ability that made him a second-round pick.
The Chiefs face the Eagles in Week 2, followed by matchups against the Giants, Ravens, and Jaguars. Philadelphia’s secondary presents a tough test, but subsequent games against weaker pass defenses could provide more opportunities for downfield strikes.
Thornton’s role depends heavily on Worthy’s health and the eventual return of Rice in Week 7. Thornton’s snap count and target share should increase if Worthy misses extended time. However, his boom-or-bust profile makes him dependent on connecting on one or two deep shots per game to provide fantasy value.
Thornton represents a speculative add, at best. His speed and Mahomes’ willingness to target him deep provide a weekly ceiling, but his inconsistent hands and limited route tree create a low floor.
Fantasy managers should prioritize Brown over Thornton if both are available, as Brown projects to handle more consistent volume in shorter areas of the field. Thornton’s value lies primarily in his potential for game-breaking plays rather than steady production. You will never feel comfortable starting Thornton.
