FantasySP Experts Analyze Chiefs Backfield after Isiah Pacheco Injury
The FSP experts answer a few questions about the Chiefs' backfield after the injury to Isiah Pacheco.
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a big blow in week 2 when Isiah Pacheco went down with an injury. It’s expected to take 6-8 weeks for Pacheco to return, which opens the lead running back role for one of the league’s most enticing offenses.
I was planning on writing a story on the matter, but after gathering some thoughts, it appears that fantasy owners are split on how things will shake out.
So, I’ve assembled the FantasySP team to provide their thoughts on things. After going over some of the team’s RB options, we’ll jump into some questions!
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Kansas City RB Stats
Through two games, it’s been the Pacheco show. He’s played 86 offensive snaps, while Carson Steele is at just 19 and Samaje Perine sits at 17.
Steele has nine rushing attempts, gaining 27 yards - he lost a fumble in week 2. He hasn’t been targeted in the passing game. Perine has no rushing attempts, but three targets in the passing game. He’s caught two of them for 13 yards.
With Clyde Edwards-Helaire already on injured reserve, the Chiefs decided to bring back Kareem Hunt. KC signed Hunt to the practice squad, not the active roster.
Hunt was with the Browns in 2023, playing in 15 games and getting two starts. He rushed for 411 yards and nine touchdowns on 135 attempts, while adding 84 receiving yards on 15 catches and 21 targets.
Hunt was with the Chiefs for the first two seasons of his career. He had 1,782 total yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie and 1,202 total yards and 14 scores in his second season (despite missing five games).
How do you see the backfield shaping up with Pacheco out?
Morgan: I don’t see any one back serving as a workhorse, and the Chiefs instead relying on Steele, Hunt and Perine as a group. Steele might get the most work this week, but in time, I see Hunt getting the most work. I see Perine serving as the third-down/pass-catching back, which takes away fantasy value from Steele and Hunt.
Brant: Steele will clearly see the most work this coming week, and if he has a good game, then he will maintain as the favorite moving forward. Isaiah Pacheco had 41 total touches in two weeks. (Week 1: 17, Week 2: 24). It will certainly be a running back by committee scenario to help fill the void but I don’t see Hunt as being a slam dunk. Remember, Hunt was in a similar situation last year with the Browns and it did not lead to much in terms of fantasy value.
Ted: I don’t think Hunt makes much of an impact. He wasn’t on a team for a reason: He had the second-worst rush yards vs. expected per attempt in the league in 2023 (per NextGenStats). I expect him to serve a depth role, while Steele plays on early downs and Perine plays in passing situations.
Daniel: Steele is the guy right away. Maybe Hunt takes an expanded role once he’s comfortable in the system, but Steele is likely going to carry the ball the most next to the best quarterback in football. While Perine could get more chances on passing downs, he’s nothing more than a deep PPR player. Steele is worth a roster spot, though he might not be a weekly starter.
Which KC backs are worth starting in standard/deeper leagues in week 3?
Morgan: I would not trust any of the Chiefs backs as standard league starters in week 3. Atlanta has allowed 234 total yards, but no scores, to backs in the first two weeks, and with no workhorse back, I don’t like the idea of starting Steele, Hunt or Perine. As of right now, I think they are all intriguing options in deeper leagues (the deeper, the better) and players I’d try to start in a flex position.
Brant: Will any one back get 20+ touches a game? Probably not, but Steele is certainly the guy to own, and in deeper leagues, it makes sense to take a chance on Perine and Hunt. I would start Steele this coming week and after that re-evaluate based on how he plays. Pacheco has averaged 4 yards per carry, which isn’t exactly an earth shattering number. In fact, his 4 YPC ranks him only behind Najee Harris in the top 22 in rushing yards.
Ted: I agree with Brant that Steele is the top option to play this week. Even if he eventually does, Hunt is unlikely to be ready in time to factor in much this week, and the matchup with the Falcons lines up better for Steele’s likely role than Perine’s. Perine could also be an option in a deep PPR league, but only if you’re desperate.
Daniel: Steele is the only one worth considering in most leagues. Perine, again, could be a really deep PPR guy. The matchup against the Falcons is a decent one, as they gave up 70 yards to Najee Harris in Week 1 (137 overall, though Justin Fields skews the numbers). Saquon Barkley ran for 95 yards on Monday night; two teams have put up numbers on the ground against Atlanta.
Which other Chiefs will be impacted from a fantasy perspective with Pacheco out?
Morgan: I see Pacheco being out as a positive thing for the fantasy outlooks of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. I expect KC to pass more (especially these next couple weeks), and think Kelce gets the biggest boost and he shines again. I think we could also get some big-time outings from Mahomes. Rice and Worthy remain must-start players in all formats, and I think some shorter passes (in place of some runs) will be in store for those two.
Brant: I don’t think KC will change what they are doing and will largely stick to the same playbook. They will get Worthy more involved as the season progresses but that is not related to this injury.
Ted: This is a slight boost to Mahomes and each of the Chiefs’ pass-catchers. With Pacheco out, the Chiefs will likely lean more into the passing game, as well as short RPO/screen actions to replace the run game. That could end up benefiting Rice and/or Worthy, the biggest YAC threats, in particular, but the effect won’t be massive.
Daniel: The short passing game could replace some of the handoffs, getting the ball out wide to Rice, Worthy and even Kelce to get him more involved. Kansas City sometimes goes all-in on the pass and almost ignores the run, so they could lean into that, either by choice or the flow of the game. If the running game starts slow, expect to see Mahomes slinging it around.
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