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Yahoo Sports NFL fantasy football takes on Jalen Royals
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Yahoo Sports NFL about Jalen Royals.
18
Insights
8
Positive
4
Negative
Insight ledger
All Yahoo Sports NFL insights about Jalen Royals
NegativeRoleAug 6, 2026
Royals is listed as the fifth receiver on the Chiefs' 53-man roster prediction, but there is more to find out about him; the competition at the receiver position in terms of who will make the active roster begins at No. 5.NegativeUsageAug 4, 2026
The source reports that wide receiver Jalen Royals received 2 targets from Patrick Mahomes during 11-on-11 drills in training camp.NegativeRoleAug 3, 2026
Second-year wide receiver saw increased playing time with the starting offense during first full-pads practice due to Cyrus Allen and Xavier Worthy being unavailable. Head coach Andy Reid offered measured praise: "I think Royals has kind of gotten better playing faster every day that he has been here." Reid noted Royals hasn't made the same pop as Allen or Armstrong in camp.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
Second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals had a glaringly bad Day 1 of training camp, rotating in regularly with the starting wideouts but struggling with chemistry and route execution with Patrick Mahomes. On one play, Royals ran a shorter route and missed a route adjustment based on pressure, causing Mahomes' deep pass to fall incomplete. On another play, Royals failed to secure a quick-hitting slot route with a pass slightly behind him. On a third play, Mahomes' off-target but catchable pass to Royals on an intermediate crossing pattern fell to the turf. Head coach Andy Reid said Royals 'has a good feel for the game' but needs to keep working on reps and developing his relationship with Mahomes.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
Second-year wide receiver Jalen Royals had a glaringly bad day in practice, rotating regularly with the starting wideouts but struggling with chemistry and route execution with Mahomes. On one play, Royals ran a shorter route and missed a route adjustment based on pressure, causing an incomplete pass. On another play, he failed to secure a pass slightly behind him that safety Chamarri Conner pried loose. A third incompletion came on an off-target but catchable intermediate crossing pattern. Coach Reid acknowledged the struggles post-practice, saying Royals "has a good feel for the game" but "just got to keep on with the reps and make sure he has a good relationship there with Pat and keeps developing that."NegativeRoleJul 28, 2026
Royals was once a promising draft pick but never found a role in 2025 and is among 13 guys competing for wide receiver jobs after Rice, Worthy, and Thornton. The source questions whether Royals can create some buzz this year or will fade into the hall of what could have been.NegativeRoleJul 28, 2026
Once a promising draft pick who never found a role in 2025; competing in a wide open wide receiver room with 13 guys vying for jobs after Rice, Worthy and Thornton; must create buzz in training camp or risk fading into the hall of 'what could have been.'NegativeRoleJul 28, 2026
Once a promising draft pick who never found a role in 2025; competing in a wide open wide receiver room with 13 guys vying for jobs after Rice, Worthy, and Thornton. The source questions whether Royals can create buzz or will fade into the hall of what could have been.NegativeRoleJul 26, 2026
Wide receiver Jalen Royals is competing for the No. 4 receiver spot alongside Cyrus Allen and Nikko Remigio. Unlike Allen, who is getting three days as Mahomes' top target while the main core of receivers is absent from camp, Royals is waiting and potentially getting lost in the mix once full-team practice begins.NegativeDepth ChartJul 26, 2026
Wide receiver Jalen Royals is one of three competitors for the No. 4 receiver spot alongside Nikko Remigio and Cyrus Allen. Unlike Allen, who is getting three days as Mahomes' top target while the main core of receivers is absent, Royals is waiting and potentially at risk of getting lost in the mix once full-team practice begins.NegativeRoleJul 26, 2026
Wide receiver Jalen Royals is competing for the No. 4 receiver spot against Cyrus Allen and Nikko Remigio. Unlike Allen, who is getting three days as Mahomes' top target this weekend, Royals is waiting and potentially could get lost in the mix once full-team practice begins.NegativeRoleJul 26, 2026
Wide receiver Jalen Royals is competing with Nikko Remigio and Cyrus Allen for the No. 4 receiver spot; only one of them is getting three days as Mahomes' top target while the other two wait, potentially getting lost in the mix once full-team practice begins.PositiveSleeperNo date
Yahoo Sports identifies Royals as a sleeper pick for the 2026 Chiefs. The reasoning: Kansas City's top three pass catchers are Travis Kelce (turning 37), Rashee Rice (off-field concerns), and Xavier Worthy (532 yards, 1 TD despite WR1 usage in 2025). After those three, the next options are Tyquan Thornton, fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, backup tight end Noah Gray, and Royals. The team lacks pass-catching depth, and if Patrick Mahomes returns healthy, someone must step up, especially if Kelce declines or Rice faces further issues. Royals did nothing as a fourth-round rookie in 2025, not seeing a target until Week 18 (2 receptions for 4 yards on 3 targets).PositiveSleeperNo date
Yahoo Sports identifies Royals as a sleeper pick for the 2026 Chiefs. The team's pass-catching depth is thin behind Travis Kelce (turning 37), Rashee Rice (off-field concerns), and Xavier Worthy (532 yards, 1 TD in 2025 despite WR1 usage). Royals, a fourth-round rookie in 2025, saw minimal action (2 receptions, 4 yards on 3 targets in Week 18) but has opportunity to step up if Mahomes returns healthy and the team needs production from secondary receivers.PositiveSleeperNo date
Yahoo Sports identifies Royals as a sleeper pick for the 2026 Chiefs. The reasoning: Kansas City's top three pass catchers are Travis Kelce (turning 37), Rashee Rice (off-field concerns), and Xavier Worthy (only 1 TD, 532 yards despite WR1 usage in 2025). After those three, the next options are Tyquan Thornton, Cyrus Allen, Noah Gray, and Royals. The team lacks depth at receiver, and if Patrick Mahomes returns healthy, someone must step up—especially if Kelce declines or Rice faces further issues. Royals, a fourth-round rookie in 2025, did nothing as a rookie, not seeing a target until Week 18 (2 receptions for 4 yards on 3 targets).PositiveSleeperNo date
Yahoo Sports identifies Royals as a sleeper wide receiver for the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs. The reasoning: Kansas City's top three pass catchers are Travis Kelce (turning 37 in October), Rashee Rice (one touchdown and 532 yards last year despite borderline WR1 usage), and Xavier Worthy; after those three, the next options are Tyquan Thornton, fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, backup tight end Noah Gray, and Royals. The team is not flush with pass-catching options, and if Patrick Mahomes returns healthy, someone will have to step up, especially if Kelce declines or Rice faces off-field issues. Royals did essentially nothing as a fourth-round rookie in 2025, not seeing a target until Week 18 when he had 2 receptions for 4 yards on 3 targets.PositiveSleeperNo date
Yahoo Sports identifies Royals as a sleeper pick for the 2026 Chiefs. The reasoning: Kansas City's top three pass catchers are Travis Kelce (turning 37 in October), Rashee Rice (one off-field misstep away from being out of football), and Xavier Worthy (only 532 yards and one touchdown despite playing as borderline WR1 much of 2025). After those three, the next options are Tyquan Thornton, fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, backup tight end Noah Gray, and Royals. The team is not flush with pass-catching options, and if Patrick Mahomes returns healthy, someone will have to step up, especially if Kelce declines or Rice faces off-field issues. Royals did essentially nothing as a fourth-round rookie in 2025, not seeing a target until Week 18 when he had 2 receptions for 4 yards on 3 targets.PositiveSleeperNo date
Fourth-round rookie who saw minimal action in 2025 (2 receptions, 4 yards, 3 targets in Week 18) but has college pedigree with 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns at Utah State in 2023 and 834 yards and 6 scores in seven games in 2024. Has the makeup to develop as a power slot receiver; if he develops like Parker Washington or Jauan Jennings in recent years, it could happen in 2026. Kansas City's pass-catching room is thin behind Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Xavier Worthy, creating opportunity for Royals to step up if Patrick Mahomes returns healthy. Recommended as a late-round deep-league play.