3 Chiefs Who Need More Playing Time in Week 7 vs. Chargers

The Chiefs face a disappointing yet capable Chargers squad in Week 7 with an opportunity to take a massive lead in the AFC West.

Kansas City has three straight wins Los Angeles but the games are always competitive, with the Chargers covering the spread in five of the last six contests.

While the defense looks incredible, the Chiefs still have areas to improve on and they'll need their best effort against a desperate opponent. Some players are shining in limited playing time while others are struggling - it's time to flip those snap counts.

Let's look at three Chiefs players who need more playing time to avoid a loss in Week 7.

3 Chiefs Who Need More Playing Time in Week 7 vs. Chargers

1. Rashee Rice, WR

It's obvious to anyone watching that the second-round rookie is Kansas City's best wide receiver and I expect his snaps to continue rising.

He caught all four targets for 72 yards against Denver, but this might be an even better matchup for Rice's skillset.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers play zone coverage at the seventh-highest rate this season (through five weeks) despite ranking fourth-worst among all teams in zone coverage grade. To drive the point home, Los Angeles surrenders 8.7 yards per coverage target playing zone, good for the sixth-worst mark in the NFL.

Unstoppable force, meet movable object. Rice's excellence against zone coverage should be on full display against Brandon Staley's defense. Los Angeles ranks 29th in opponent pass yards per play (7.6), so there will be holes no matter what Staley schemes up.

Staley will likely make some adjustments to combat Travis Kelce's dominance, but that should free up even more space for Rice to get open provided he's on the field.

Rice was on the field for 49% of the snaps against Denver, his second-highest total of the season. He still lagged behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore though, and this would be an ideal matchup to flip that script.

He's not the only young receiver who needs more snaps against this beleaguered defense either.

2. Justyn Ross, WR

Chiefs receivers not named Rashee Rice combined for five catches and 31 yards against Denver. That simply won't cut it.

Kadarius Toney has shown flashes but seems relegated to a gadget role, so Ross is the receiver who makes the most sense to earn more snaps in the wake of Justin Watson's injury. Valdes-Scantling and Moore have done nothing this season and I'm ready to see what Ross can do.

He consistently flashes and demands attention when he's on the field. After getting four targets on just six snaps against the Vikings, Ross didn't receive a target on Thursday but was up to 14% of the snaps.

That's obviously not very much, but it's a step in the right direction. The Chargers struggled against the big-bodied Treylon Burks of Tennessee, allowing three catches for 76 yards, so Ross could find openings especially when the defense is focused on Kelce.

Patrick Mahomes has sang Ross' praises and the former Clemson star possesses a skillset the other Chiefs receivers simply don't have. With Watson on the shelf and other receivers playing poorly, it's time for Andy Reid to let Ross loose.

On top of these offensive players that need more playing time in Week 7, there's one defensive contributor we'll need on the field more as well.

3. Drue Tranquill, LB

Tranquill only played 37% of snaps on Thursday Night Football after getting 100% the previous two weeks. He was reportedly nursing an injury, so I'd guess the extended rest will help him get back up to his usual numbers.

Kansas City's defense will need him, as his skillset serves as a perfect foil to Los Angeles' passing attack. Quick, underneath passes to Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler have more or less defined the Chargers' passing attack in Justin Herbert's career and Tranquill is easily the Chiefs' best coverage linebacker.

He's facing his old team too, so there's added motivation and familiarity as well. Tranquill, Nick Bolton and Willie Gay Jr. have formed one of the NFL's most dominant units. Their skillsets mesh and compliment each other, allowing each to utilize their strengths while covering weakness.

This interception of Russell Wilson perfectly displays how Tranquill and Bolton play off each other to make massive plays:

With Tranquill, the Chiefs defense have an answer to everything the Chargers can throw at them offensively. L'Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie can handle the always-dangerous Keenan Allen, while the linebacking room can stop Ekeler as the pass rush gets home on Herbert.

Whether Tranquill is healthy enough to get more snaps in Week 7 or not, it's obvious his acquisition was one of Brett Veach's best offseason moves.

This defense is a legitimate force and Tranquill's versatility is a big reason why.

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