Isiah

Pacheco

Pacheco handily led the team in backfield snaps and opportunities for the first time since returning from a gruesome ankle injury, notching 18 opportunities to the six of Kareem Hunt. The 3.9 yard per carry were not what we’ve grown accustomed to from Pacheco but the matchup against the Chargers was a difficult one on the ground, meaning he could find himself back in trusted RB2 territory when the Chiefs play the Browns in Week 15.

He added one catch for five yards. Kansas City looked wholly unable to run when they tried in this game, with 13 of their 14 running back carries going for a combined 25 yards. Pacheco’s 34-yarder in the third quarter was both good (clearly salvaged some value for those forced to play him this week) and a little ugly (it didn’t look like he had rediscovered that next gear in the open field yet.) Splitting carries almost down the middle with Kareem Hunt on non-Perine downs and in an offense that is struggling, Pacheco certainly isn’t a must-play in Week 14 without some positive coach quotes about his role growing.

Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz was first with the news. The Chiefs will officially have their RB1 back for Friday’s game against the Raiders, meaning Kareem Hunt’s fantasy stock will take a bit of a hit. It’s unknown just how much Pacheco will play in his return, but the Chiefs were giving him a 42 percent opportunity share in the two games he appeared in. From a fantasy perspective, it’s probably best to take a cautious approach with Pacheco out of the gate. He should still have some RB2/RB3 upside, but if you think you have safer options, don’t hesitate to play them.

Matt Nagy mentioned yesterday that the workload for Pacheco and Kareem Hunt will be determined “in-game,” a bit that seemed to be pointing towards the possibility of a committee. Pacheco should probably be managed more like an RB2/RB3 for the moment in fantasy leagues, at least for his first week coming off the injury. The Raiders remain the exact kind of team that you’d want to fire up a running back against, so don’t shy away completely.

It sure sounds like Pacheco will be back this week, if Nagy is talking about getting him back in the present tense like this: “The best part about that is you just don’t have one where they’re getting worn down by the time you get to the fourth quarter.” It’s possible that this situation becomes a committee while Pacheco gets his workload restored slowly. It’s also possible that Hunt just becomes a fantasy football bench stash going forward. Stay tuned (on Friday, we’re guessing.)

Fantasy managers will get at least one more week of Kareem Hunt as the Chiefs’ bell cow back. The Chiefs get the Panthers on Sunday and then face the Raiders in Week 13 on Black Friday. Reid noted on Friday that Hunt is healthy enough to play but that, on the recommendation of the coaches and trainers, they will give him a few more days before activating him. Once active, Pacheco will be a borderline RB1/RB2 against the Raiders, but it’ll be Hunt’s backfield for at least one more week.

Pacheco was designated to return from injured reserve last week but wasn’t activated ahead of Sunday’s game. He got in three limited practices before being ruled out. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Pacheco is expected to be healthy enough to return this week. Whether he does so or not is another question. With the Panthers on tap, the Chiefs don’t need to be at full strength to leave Week 12 with a win. Kareem Hunt will remain a low-end RB1 until Pacheco returns.

Rapoport chose his words carefully, noting that the Chiefs have a short turnaround from Week 12 to Week 13 and the training staff may opt to sit Pacheco until the latter game. The Chiefs take on Las Vegas on Black Friday, giving Pacheco just four days to recover from his first game back should he play next week. With the downtrodden Panthers on deck for Week 12, the Chiefs certainly don’t need Pacheco to win at the moment. Kareem Hunt will continue to dominate the backfield touches until Hunt returns, putting him on the RB1 border for at least one more game.

Pacheco will require at least one more week before playing. Fortunately, the Chiefs face the Panthers in Week 12 and the Raiders in Week 13, providing the talented running back a pair of soft defenses to regain his footing against, assuming he is good to go next week.

Pacheco has been limited in both practices to start the week, but Reid has already said it’s unlikely he’ll play in Week 11 against the Bills. Kareem Hunt gets at least one more week as the team’s bell cow back, but his days in that role are limited with Pacheco rapidly approaching a return.