Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Houston Texans on Saturday in Week 16. Pacheco appeared to emerge as the lead back in Week 14, earning 16 touches compared to six for Kareem Hunt, but that changed in Week 15. The two running backs each handled 13 carries last week against the Cleveland Browns, and Hunt outproduced Pacheco. It will be interesting to see how the backfield split shakes out this week against the Houston Texans, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this year. The 25-year-old is ranked RB25 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end RB2/Flex option this week. Fantasy managers will have a tough time trusting Pacheco in the fantasy playoffs, especially with Hunt stealing touches.
Dec 20, 2024 4:35 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 13 carries for 32 yards and one catch for 15 yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. After dominating opportunities out of the backfield in Week 14, Pacheco evenly split the workload with Kareem Hunt in this contest. The 25-year-old was inefficient on the ground, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry in this game. If Pacheco is not the clear lead back for the Kansas City offense, it could be difficult to trust him in Week 16 against the Houston Texans. The Texans rank third in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, making them one of the most challenging matchups. Patrick Mahomes also left this week's contest with an ankle injury, placing his future availability in question. The Chiefs offense would undoubtedly be worse without Mahomes, which would subsequently be worse for Pacheco's scoring opportunities. Fantasy managers must hope that Mahomes plays and trust that Pacheco's talent will allow him to earn more opportunities.
Dec 16, 2024 4:24 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Cleveland Browns on the road in Week 15. Pacheco had 14 carries for 55 yards and two catches for six yards against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. Pacheco was the clear leadback for the Chiefs, earning 18 opportunities compared to six for Kareem Hunt. In his third game back, Pacheco should tighten his stranglehold on the opportunities out of the Kansas City backfield. The 25-year-old will have to run against the Browns, who rank seventh in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. The Cleveland front is a formidable unit to face, but the Chiefs have demonstrated a willingness to run the ball often, especially with the ball in Pacheco's hands. Pacheco is ranked RB26 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him an RB2/RB3 option this week. Despite the difficult matchup, fantasy managers should find a way to get Pacheco into their lineups.
Dec 14, 2024 12:16 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 14 carries for 55 yards and two catches for six yards in the 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The 25-year-old was the clear lead back for the Chiefs in Week 14, as Kareem Hunt handled just five carries and one catch for 29 total yards. Neither back was incredibly efficient on the ground, as they both averaged under four yards per carry, but Pacheco's 14 carries bode well for his fantasy performances moving forward. The Chiefs running back will look to have more success next week against the Cleveland Browns, who rank seventh in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. The Browns front seven is a strong unit at rushing the quarterback back and stopping the run, leading most teams to throw against the secondary, but Pacheco should still have touchdown upside in any matchup. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by Pacheco's role in his second game back and expect that role to continue to grow.
Dec 9, 2024 10:29 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night in Week 14. Pacheco returned from injured reserve last week and handled seven carries for 44 yards and one catch for five yards in their close victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Pacheco and Kareem Hunt split the carries evenly, but Pacheco showed that he was still the more explosive back of the duo. Another week removed from injured reserve, the 25-year-old should handle a larger share of the backfield opportunities. That said, it will not be a cakewalk matchup for Pacheco against the Chargers. The Chargers rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, making them one of the more difficult matchups for the position. Pacheco is ranked RB21 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings this week, making him a low-end RB2 option. Fantasy managers should excited to start Pacheco, despite the poor matchup, due to his ability to create big plays and the fact that there are six teams on bye this week.
Dec 7, 2024 11:34 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had seven carries for 44 yards in the 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Pacheco also had one catch for five yards in this contest. The Raiders almost played spoiler in Pacheco's first game back, but they fumbled the game away in the final minute. The 25-year-old displayed his explosiveness with a 34-yard run, raising his yards per carry average to 6.3 in this game. Pacheco received the same number of carries as Kareem Hunt, making it a true 50/50 split in his return to action. That said, Pacheco is the younger and more explosive back, so the split should begin to lean more in his direction. Pacheco will look to be more involved next week against the Los Angeles Chargers, who rank fifth in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by how good Pacheco looked in his first game back, but expect it to take a few games before he gets the lion's share of the carries out of the backfield.
Nov 30, 2024 4:31 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) is officially back ahead of Friday's Week 13 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Pacheco is back on the field for the first time since Week 2. It was uncertain coming into this game if Pacheco would be limited or not considering he hasn't played in months. The Chiefs have said that Pacheco will be a full-go for Friday's game. Fantasy managers should feel good about getting Pacheco back in their lineups for this favorable matchup. Kareem Hunt will see his value take a hit with Hunt back in the mix. It remains to be seen how much Hunt will be involved going forward.
Nov 29, 2024 2:34 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) has been activated from injured reserve and is expected to play on Friday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Pacheco has been trending in the right direction over the last couple of weeks and is now ready to make his return during Friday's divisional battle. Pacheco should be heavily involved in Week 13, but he might still share some touches with Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine. From a fantasy perspective, Pacheco ranks as an RB2 versus Las Vegas' soft run defense.
Nov 28, 2024 12:04 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle) will return in Week 13 to play this Friday in a divisional clash against the Las Vegas Raiders as long as he doesn't suffer a setback before then, according to head coach Andy Reid. Pacheco was close to returning from Injured Reserve in the Week 12 win over the Carolina Panthers, but the Chiefs chose to hold him out for one more week. The 25-year-old put in his first full practice on Tuesday, though, since fracturing his right ankle way back on Sept. 15. Pacheco was KC's clear-cut lead back before the injury, but there's a chance he'll split touches with Kareem Hunt in the backfield in his first game back on Black Friday, which would make him a volatile option for fantasy managers. Pacheco was a must-start fantasy RB before his injury and he had 34 carries for 135 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and one TD in two games before his injury in 2024.
Nov 27, 2024 2:12 PM EST
It's looking like Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle) might return from Injured Reserve in Week 13 to face the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Friday. Pacheco remains on IR but put in a full practice on Tuesday to kick off the week. It's the first time he's practiced in full since fracturing his right ankle back on Sept. 15. The 25-year-old required surgery for the injury, but he's nearing his return. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy mentioned that the workload this Friday between Pacheco and Kareem Hunt will be determined situationally during the game. It sounds like KC is planning on having Pacheco available in Week 13, but it could be more of an even split between the two RBs in a great matchup. Pacheco was the lead back before his injury, but the Chiefs could ease him back in against Vegas. It makes both RBs more volatile RB3/flex plays if Pacheco is active on Friday.
Nov 26, 2024 7:17 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Pacheco was designated to return from the injured reserve last week. He has been able to get through some limited practice sessions, but Pacheco isn't quite ready for game action. The Chiefs have decided to hold him out for at least one more game. Kareem Hunt will continue working as the lead back and should have RB1 value for this favorable matchup against the Panthers defense. Fantasy managers can be hopeful to get something out of Pacheco next week.
Nov 22, 2024 2:07 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status during Friday's practice as it may provide some clarity on his ability heading into the weekend. The Rutgers product has been sidelined since sustaining a fractured fibula in their Week 2 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. While sidelined, veteran Kareem Hunt has seen most of the opportunities out of the backfield, with Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele mixing in. Before his injury, Pacheco was on track to enjoy a breakout campaign as he scored at least 15.0 PPR points in each game with at least 15 attempts and three targets in each contest. When he returns to action, fantasy managers should expect him to see most of the opportunities out of the backfield.
Nov 21, 2024 4:42 PM EST
The Kansas City Chiefs are saying that running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) will practice with the team on Wednesday. "We'll just have to see... day-by-day type thing," head coach Andy Reid said. Pacheco remains on Injured Reserve due to a fractured fibula and missed his eighth straight game in the team's first loss of the season to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, but he was limited in practice all of last week and is eyeing his return in Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers. However, it's still uncertain as to whether the 25-year-old will actually return this weekend, and if he does, he'll be much more volatile as a must-start option in fantasy lineups. Kareem Hunt has been a must-start RB for fantasy managers in Pacheco's absence, but he's expected to lose most of his appeal the rest of the season once Pacheco returns as KC's lead back.
Nov 20, 2024 1:12 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will decide on running back Isiah Pacheco's (fibula) status for Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers after this week of practice. Reid was discussing Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) when he noted they'll "just have to see how each player does in practice this week." It's encouraging that the head coach didn't outright rule out the 25-year-old. Still, it would be nice for him to exhibit more confidence regarding the third-year back's status. Pacheco, who has been out since fracturing his fibula in Week 2, would immediately boost the Chiefs' offense and fantasy manager's lineups when he's healthy. Keep an eye on his practice participation over the next few days, as that will likely be telling of his status for Sunday's outing.
Nov 18, 2024 2:14 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is expected to be healthy before next week's game against the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. This is a promising update, but it's important to note that Rapoport described Pacheco as "expected to be healthy" rather than "expected to play." In a follow-up post on X, Rapoport noted that the Chiefs have a short week in Week 13, so "it's a coaching decision for whether Pacheco plays" next Sunday against the Panthers. In any case, he expects Pacheco to be ready for his return from injured reserve, whether that comes in Week 12 against the Panthers or Week 13 against the Raiders. He'll rank as a high-end RB2 upon his return but could lose some opportunities to Kareem Hunt, who has performed quite well as the Chiefs' fill-in workhorse running back.
Nov 17, 2024 12:02 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Pacheco continues to work his way back from a broken leg he suffered in Week 2. He was limited in practice this week, so it sounds like he's trending in the right direction. The expectation is that Pacheco will return in Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers. This would give the young back a plus matchup for his first game back on the field. It's uncertain if the team plans to put him on a snap count if he plays next week. Until then, Kareem Hunt will continue being the lead back in KC for at least one more week.
Nov 17, 2024 10:50 AM EST
As expected, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) has officially been ruled out for the Week 11 game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Pacheco had his 21-day practice window opened this week in order to return from Injured Reserve, but the 25-year-old isn't expected to return to action until later this month as he continues to recover from a fractured fibula that he suffered way back in Week 2. Fantasy managers must continue to stash him in an IR spot for the time being and hope he returns to his pre-injury form in time for the fantasy playoffs. Meanwhile, Kareem Hunt will continue to be a must-start for fantasy managers as KC's primary back, with Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele spelling him. Pacheco was limited in his return to the practice field this week.
Nov 15, 2024 3:00 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) had his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday and put in a second straight day with a limited showing on Thursday. However, the Chiefs don't expect Pacheco to come off Injured Reserve to face the Buffalo Bills this Sunday, and fantasy managers may not want to expect his return until later in November. Remember, the 25-year-old suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 and hasn't played since, so it's going to take him some to get back up to speed before the Chiefs trust him in game action. In the meantime, he should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues while Kareem Hunt continues to serve as the lead back. When Pacheco does return, the Chiefs could ease him back in alongside Hunt, who has been a game-changer for fantasy managers that scooped him up off the waiver wire earlier this season.
Nov 14, 2024 6:02 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) will return to practice on Wednesday, but head coach Andy Reid said it's unlikely that he will play on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. The Chiefs are eyeing a potential late-November return for Pacheco, who is recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in Week 2, so the team is likely going to use all of the 25-year-old's 21-day practice window before officially activating him from Injured Reserve. Pacheco needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues, but it's probably going to be at least several more weeks before he's active on game day. For now, Kareem Hunt will continue to serve as the Chiefs' primary back and needs to be locked into all starting fantasy lineups as the team travels to Buffalo to take on the Bills this weekend.
Nov 13, 2024 1:17 PM EST
The Kansas City Chiefs are designating running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday, opening his 21-day window to officially activate him from IR. Pacheco fractured his right fibula on Sept. 15 and has been on IR ever since, but he's eligible to return whenever the Chiefs feel he's ready. While the 25-year-old can now return to practice, the Chiefs aren't going to rush him and he's unlikely to return for the Week 11 game this Sunday on the road against the Buffalo Bills. In a best-case scenario, the Chiefs are hoping to get Pacheco back toward the end of November, so they could use his entire 21-day practice window before activating him. Pacheco will be a must-start RB1 in fantasy when he returns, but until then, Kareem Hunt will continue to serve as the Chiefs' lead back. Hunt has been money with Pacheco out, averaging 15.6 half-PPR fantasy points in his six games.
Nov 12, 2024 11:25 AM EST
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