While Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid hasn't formally told anyone that he plans to rest his starters in Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season, history tells us that the majority of the team's starters will get rest. 

The Chiefs are locked into the No. 3 seed, and without any seeding advantage to play for, there is no reason to risk your starters in a meaningless game. Expect Blaine Gabbert to get the start over Patrick Mahomes, along with several other players on offense and defense sitting this game out.  

While this game doesn't have meaning in terms of playoff positioning, it'll be a huge game for the team when it comes to evaluating the roster for the future. They'll have a chance to look at some depth players who have been used sparingly, including the team's first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. The on-field results could go a long way in showing the areas that this team needs to improve in for 2024 and beyond. 

Felix Anudike-Uzomah should play a lot, BJ Thompson should play some:

Through sixteen weeks of play, Chiefs' first-round draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah has played just over 15% of the team's defensive snaps this season. He's recorded 11 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, seven QB hits, and a forced fumble in that span. 

Some fans have recognized that this is very much a developmental year for the 21-year-old rookie. Others have been frustrated that he's not seeing the same type of opportunity and production that George Karlaftis saw a year ago. Sunday could prove to be our first true look at Anudike-Uzomah as a starter. 

On the flip side, BJ Thompson has been a healthy scratch every week this season. He's very much in a developmental year as well. I expect that he'll see some action on Sunday, but it probably won't fully encapsulate his developmental path. He's the type who needs a full offseason in an NFL weight program to truly reach his potential. 

Clarity on trade acquisition Neil Farrell:

When the Chiefs traded for Farrell ahead of the start of the 2023 NFL season, fans expected him to get some run while Chris Jones got up to speed. He's been active for just two games, playing 28 total defensive snaps and recording no official statistics. For most weeks this season, Farrell has been a healthy scratch.

Farrell is the only defensive tackle in Kansas City who is under contract beyond the 2023 NFL season, so finding out what you have there will be vital for the future. Can he be a contributor in the Chiefs' rotation in 2024 or will the team have to start from scratch in the interior D-Line room this offseason?

Ekow Boye-Doe and Nic Jones should get some run: 

The Chiefs have been great at nailing the late-round and undrafted cornerback prospects for several years now, and we shouldn't expect much to chance with Nic Jones and Ekow Boye-Doe. We've seen the pair in action on special teams, but seeing them on defense could very well determine how Kansas City traverses the 2024 NFL offseason. 

L'Jarius Sneed is set to hit free agency in March, and he is on the back of an All-Pro type of season. If either Boye-Doe or Jones has a starter-in-waiting trajectory, it could push the Chiefs to go cheap at the cornerback position sooner rather than later. 

We could finally see Justyn Ross in a featured role:

Chiefs fans have been clamoring to see more of Justyn Ross in a featured role and this could finally be the week that they actually see it. The second-year wide receiver is back in the lineup after serving a multi-week suspension. He has played just 17 offensive snaps in the past two games, and he was only targeted once by Patrick Mahomes, resulting in a two-yard reception.

As much as players like MVS, Richie James, and Mecole Hardman need snaps, Ross is the only one on the roster currently under contract for 2024 besides Rashee Rice and Justin Watson (plus Skyy Moore on IR). The team needs a greater understanding of the type of player Ross can be for the club in the future and this is the perfect game to figure that out. 

Chiefs likely to host a familiar face in the first round of the playoffs

The Kansas City Chiefs’ most likely playoff scenario is to host a former franchise cornerstone on wild-card weekend.