Kansas City answered a rocky start with a decisive SNF win, led by Mahomes’ efficient night, Kelce’s space-age routes, and Brown's red-zone impact. Pacheco pushed through heavy traffic while the defense locked in after Detroit’s early clock control. Omenihu and Chenal helped tip the scales, and Jones battled through an injury to influence the late pressure. Butker’s miss looms as a caveat in a game that otherwise reinforced KC’s high-ceiling offense.

Fantasy takeaway: Mahomes remains a top-floor passer with a versatile receiving corps, Kelce and Brown delivering steady weekly value, and Pacheco nudging into reliable RB2 territory thanks to workload and goal-line chances. KC’s kicking volatility adds a small wrinkle for fantasy managers in tight games against strong defenses.

Kansas City faces a near-term holdout on Trent McDuffie, with no multiyear deal expected before the season opens against the Chargers. McDuffie, coming off career-best metrics (two INTs, 13 pass breakups, 59 tackles) and a league-high 996 defensive snaps near the line, is a priority but talks have stretched into Week 1. KC may opt for dialogue into 2024 and, if unresolved, could tag him in 2027. Sauce Gardner’s extension benchmark looms as a price reference for McDuffie.

The 2022 class—Karlaftis, Pacheco, Cook, Chenal, Watson—helped cement KC’s dynasty, which has already claimed back-to-back titles and reached the title game in three straight seasons. The Jets’ Gardner deal and Tyreek Hill’s trade backdrop shape the market for top corners and star defenders as KC manages cap and roster longevity ahead of a pivotal season opener vs. LA.

Kansas City faces linebacker depth questions as notable vets hit free agency, with Cam Jones, Cole Christiansen, Leo Chenal, and Jack Cochrane in play. Nick Bolton was extended and Jeffrey Bassa was added, but KC still needs more talent by 2026. Wisconsin’s Christian Alliegro rose from backup to starter, showing ideal length and downhill speed that could land him in late top-100 consideration, though coverage instincts are still developing.

Seattle’s preseason showcase suggested a fortified run game for 2025, as the Seahawks rolled 268 rushing yards on a rainy Week 2 night, with 120 yards coming across two drives and 77 before contact. The starting five of Josh Jones, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abraham Lucas paved the way even without Charles Cross and Olu Oluwatimi, while yielding only one pressure in that stretch.

Five Seattle players logged 30+ rushing yards, signaling a deep and productive ground attack, paired with a clean 17-of-21 passing for 209 yards and two Jake Bobo scores. Bradford stood out, delivering six positive grades on 13 run blocks and remaining unscathed in 6 pass-blocking snaps, putting him on pace for elite overall grading pending final review.

The Chiefs rested several starters but still fielded a seasoned defense, and rookie Josh Simmons kept clean in pass protection. PFF’s postgame review and the early data snapshot point to Seattle’s offensive line and run scheme carrying momentum into the regular season, with Bobo expanding the aerial threat and Bradford anchoring the interior protection.

Jeffrey Bassa, a fifth‑round pick for Kansas City, starred in Week 1 of the 2025 preseason, leading the Chiefs with six tackles (three solo) and adding a QB hit. The performance spotlighted a deep KC linebacker corps and raised questions about how many of the veterans—Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal—will be kept on the roster. Bassa’s fluid closing speed and instinct suggest he could carve out a rotational role in Steve Spagnuolo’s front seven, especially if he continues to show up on early downs and in run fits.