Rashee Rice or Tucker Kraft: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Rice: his receiver role gives him the stronger PPR path

Rice is the better play, though the projection gap makes this look more lopsided than the decision really is: Kraft’s TE9 standing and full-time role keep him a sound start. Rice’s primary-target role and yards-after-catch ability give him more ways to turn catches into PPR points. The softer matchup points his way, but its three-game sample makes that edge suggestive rather than decisive.

What flips it: A meaningful rise in Kraft’s share of the passing game.

Sources: PFF · Sep 26, 2026

AI editor

Rashee Rice

Rashee Rice

WR11KCvs LV

Projected Points

Start
Tucker Kraft

Tucker Kraft

TE9GBvs TB

Projected Points

Start· medium

Rashee Rice’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-128 / +100
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 54.5
-115 / -110
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+145
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Tucker Kraft’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-158 / +118
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 41.5
-111 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+240
Anytime Touchdown Props →
KC@
LVSun, Oct 4, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
GB@
TBSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Rashee Rice

Start

WR1 and primary target. Physical yards-after-catch separator with heavy in-breaking route usage.

Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR11: 24.5 implied team total, 19% target share.

  • His in-breaking routes and yards-after-catch skill give short receptions room to become meaningful PPR gains.
  • As Kansas City’s WR1, he has a clearer path to lead his team’s pass catchers.

Latest on Rice

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Tucker Kraft

Start· medium

TE1 and primary seam threat. Physical yards-after-catch producer and capable in-line blocker; returning from injury.

Consensus TE9 with an 80% snap share and no snap count per PFF. A top-12 TE role is a start in 12-team leagues despite a neutral matchup.

  • Kraft stayed on the field in Week 3 despite earlier snap-count concerns. (PFF 2026-09-26)
  • His seam-threat role gives him a route to useful production even against a less favorable tight-end matchup.

The call

  • Role is locked in. Kraft has an 80% snap share over 3 games, and PFF reported he 'rarely left the field in Week 3' despite early snap-count talk. For a tight end, that is every-down usage.
  • Consensus TE9 at 8.9 projected PPR points puts him inside the starting tier at a thin position. A typical replacement option on waivers projects lower.
  • The TB matchup is neutral at 19 of 32 on a 3-game sample with 0.25 confidence, so it doesn't push either way. A 24.5 implied team total and -1.5 spread point to a competitive, scoring-friendly script.
  • The main risk is a modest 14% target share, which caps his floor. I'm breaking from the house toss-up lean because full-time snaps plus a TE9 rank clear the bar. He is still a start rather than a lock.

Latest on Kraft

Role

Tucker Kraft rarely left the field in Week 3 despite suggestions he could be on a snap count early in the season.

PFF · Sep 26, 2026
How to bet Falcons-Packers on TNF: Analysis, tips and top plays

Odds, bets and analysis to help you bet Falcons-Packers on "Thursday Night Football."

ESPN · Sep 24, 2026
Contract extension is dream come true for Tucker Kraft

Packers tight end eager to rise to the occasion, win games

packers.com · Sep 18, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricRashee RiceTucker Kraft
Projected points
Consensus rankWR11TE9
Opponent vs positionLV · 8 of 323-game sampleTB · 19 of 323-game sample
Receptions1 of 3219 of 32
Receiving Yards15 of 3221 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3218 of 32
Targets20 of 3218 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3218 of 32
Target share19%14%
Reception share19%14%
Implied total · spread24.5-5.524.5-1.5
Depth chartWR1TE1
Snap share80%80%
Start/Sit record—0–3

Recent form

Rashee Rice — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs MIA
Week 2vs IND
Week 1vs DEN

Tucker Kraft — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs ATL
Week 2vs NYJ
Week 1vs MIN

Signal breakdown

  • 14.9 vs 8.9 projected PPR pointsRashee Rice +
  • Rank 11 vs 9Tucker Kraft +
  • Opponent DvP rank 8 vs 19 (32 = softest)Tucker Kraft +
  • Implied 24.5 vs 24.5 team pointseven
  • No injury designationseven
  • 80% vs 80% snap shareTucker Kraft +

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