To say that the Kansas City Chiefs season has been a disappointment would be a massive understatement. If anything, the fans wouldn't complain if half the roster leaves in the offseason. That's particularly true with Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown.
The former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals speedster has been a bust since he arrived in Kansas City. The Chiefs gave him another chance with a second one-year deal in the offseason, and he's done next to nothing to prove that he's worth keeping around for the long run. Still, Week 18 might give him a chance to fool the front office again.
Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown Must Break Out in Week 18
The Chiefs will have Chris Oladokun under center, and while that's not necessarily ideal, he looked solid in his first taste of NFL action last week. He will go against a Las Vegas Raiders team that's actively trying to lose, and their shaky defense should give him plenty of opportunities to sling the football down the field. Enter Hollywood Brown.
A so-called big-play specialist, Brown has failed to live up to those distinctions in his two years in Missouri. The Raiders are giving up 208.3 passing yards per game and allowed Jaxson Dart to throw for 207 yards and Wan'Dale Robinson to go off for 113 receptions on 11 catches.
The Chiefs should keep the injury-prone Xavier Worthy off the field in a meaningless road game and regular-season finale. This might be Travis Kelce's final NFL game, but he's still not likely to be heavily involved in the offense. That should open things up for Brown and Tyquan Thornton, a fellow impending free agent, to handle the bulk of the load.
Brown has logged more than 50 receiving yards only twice this season. He had a season-high 99 yards in the season opener, but he needed 16 targets and ten receptions to do so, and it only happened because of Rashee Rice's suspension and Worthy's injury.
Overall, he's hauled in 46 receptions on 68 targets for 523 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers aren't worthy of much considering to be back next season, much less on a long-term deal. That's why Week 18 might be his final chance to put up some big plays on tape for the Chiefs and show them why he deserves another chance to be on the team for the 2026 season.