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After a rollercoaster season that saw their receiving corps decimated by injuries, the Kansas City Chiefs are heading into 2025 with renewed optimism, and a clear belief that second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy could be their offensive X-factor.
Following a promising rookie campaign, insiders and coaches alike are singling out Worthy as a potential breakout star under head coach Andy Reid.
ChiefsXavier Worthy as Key Offensive Weapon
The Chiefs struggled with consistency at wide receiver last year, but Worthy emerged as a rare bright spot, especially down the stretch. While veterans battled injuries, the rookie stepped into a larger role and delivered, earning praise from Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Now, as Pro Football Focus highlights him as Kansas City's breakout candidate for 2025, expectations are soaring.
Worthy finished his rookie regular season with 59 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns, followed by an impressive playoff showing that included 19 catches, 287 yards, and three more scores.
His performance peaked in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia, where he caught eight es for 157 yards and two touchdowns, a performance that may have signaled the start of something bigger.
"I feel like the Bills game was like a game where I kind of flipped the switch where stuff started to turn around,"Worthy said of his midseason breakout.
"I started understanding the defenses a little and getting friendly for the quarterback faster."
Reid, known for developing receivers with unique skill sets, has emphasized that Worthy is more than just a speedster.
"We learned Xavier is more than a deep threat,"Reid said at the NFL Combine.
"I'm not sure we've tapped that out. I think there's more, and that's exciting."
Worthy, who ran a record-breaking 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, has embraced that evolution.
"My speed is an advantage on every play because really they have to respect it every play," he explained.
"Whether I'm using it or not, I still have it. So when I come off the ball, you think I'm going to go deep and I could run a slant or it's a run play... That makes me a thriller anywhere on the field."
With Travis Kelce potentially seeing a reduced workload in 2025 and Mahomes building trust in his young receiver, Worthy's blend of speed and growing route versatility could make him a central figure in Kansas City's offense, and one of the league's most exciting breakout candidates.