Is Isiah Pacheco The Starting Running Back For The Chiefs When He Returns?

November 6, 2024

Will Isiah Pacheco start for the Kansas City Chiefs when he returns? Justin Carter breaks down the Isiah Pacheco return timeline and fantasy football outlook.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has been sidelined with a leg injury after he fractured his fibula back in Week 2, but it sounds like he should be back at some point in November.

Will Pacheco step back into the lead back role, though? Kareem Hunt has played well with Pacheco sidelined.

So, will Pacheco start for the Chiefs when he's back? What is Pacheco's fantasy football outlook when he returns?

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Will Isiah Pacheco Start For The Chiefs When He Returns?

The Kansas City Chiefs are currently weathering the absence of Pacheco, who rushed for 935 yards last season and looked like he would be a huge part of this Chiefs offense for at least the next few years.

In two games this season, Pacheco has 135 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as well as seven catches for 54 yards.

Losing Isiah Pacheco was a huge blow. But the Chiefs haven’t missed a beat thanks to Kareem Hunt, who stepped in and has 465 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns in 5 games this year - in spite of having no camp or preseason.

Kareem Hunt appreciation post 💪

(📸 @Chiefs) pic.twitter.com/x3yXi5JF9a

— Let’s Chat Chiefs (@LetsChatChiefs) November 5, 2024

But with Pacheco out, the Chiefs added veteran Kareem Hunt, who has made a major impact for Kansas City. Hunt has two 100-yard games so far and has found the end zone at least once in four consecutive games.

With how Hunt is playing, Pacheco is going to face some stiff competition for touches once he returns. Expect a fairly close split of touches, with a slight lean toward Pacheco.

Isiah Pacheco Fantasy Football Outlook

Hunt's reemergence as a quality NFL running back has really complicated this backfield and thus complicates Pacheco's fantasy value upon his return later this month.

He would have been a solid RB2 play without Hunt taking snaps from him, but in a backfield that's more of a split, fantasy managers should temper expectations a little bit with Pacheco.

Isiah Pacheco managers should keep holding onto him in their IR spots 👀 pic.twitter.com/8KPP1h7R3i

— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 31, 2024

His hardscrabble running style gives him upside because he can drag out yards after contact and work his way into the end zone, but he's more of a high-end RB3 with Hunt looming.

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