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When is Isiah Pacheco coming back? Will Isiah Pacheco play again this season? Read about Isiah Pacheco's return date and injury updates for 2025 as of Week 13.
The Chiefs are being forced to turn on their "playoff mode" earlier than anticipated. They are currently 6-5, and need to win as many games as they possibly can if they want to have any chance of making the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season.
Isiah Pacheco was a huge part of the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning teams in 2022 and 2023, but injuries have caused his production to decline since then. Pacheco had a poor start to the year and was the PPR RB37 after the first eight weeks of the season, but he has been injured since then.
When will Isiah Pacheco return to action, and what is his fantasy football outlook when he does? Let's dive in.
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Isiah Pacheco Injury Update for Fantasy Football
After a disappointing start to the year, Pacheco put up 50+ rushing yards in back-to-back games against the Lions and Raiders, scoring his first rushing TD of the year against the latter.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco and WRs Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are all officially off the injury report and good to go tomorrow vs. Dallas.
Guard Trey Smith (ankle) is out.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2025
He extended that streak to three consecutive 50-yard games in Week 8 against the Commanders, but suffered an MCL sprain in his right knee.
During that three-game run, the Chiefs went 3-0, while Pacheco finished as the standard format RB23. The Chiefs struggled in his absence, losing to the Bills and Broncos before beating the Colts in an overtime thriller.
Fortunately, Chiefs fans won't have to wait long to see their RB1 back on the field again. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Pacheco is expected to return this Thanksgiving against the Cowboys in Week 13.
Isiah Pacheco Fantasy Football Outlook
While Pacheco was out, Kareem Hunt took over as the Chiefs' RB1. Hunt scored a two-yard touchdown in all three of those games; however, he only averaged 3.9 yards per attempt as opponents exploited KC's one-dimensional running game.
Pacheco powers through to make it 28-0!
LVvsKC on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/UrV3Pb9Gjc
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
Brashard Smith also failed to make an impact, rushing for just 12 yards in those games. Former Chiefs first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire returned to the team, recording 13 rushing yards on seven carries in two games.
It's clear that the Chiefs missed Pacheco and his "angry" runs, and he was starting to look like his old self before he got injured. The Cowboys have allowed Rico Dowdle, Breece Hall, and J.K. Dobbins to have 100+ yard outings against them, and they seem like the perfect opponent for his return.
After that game, the Chiefs will face the Texans' and Broncos' dominant defenses, the average Chargers run defense (16th in fewest rushing yards allowed), and the weak Titans and Raiders.
The Chiefs need to win almost all of these games, and Pacheco will have to carry the rushing load to help Kareem Hunt stay fresh for his goal-line carries. Due to Hunt's red zone dominance, Pacheco will be an RB3 for the rest of the season.
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Popular Week 13 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
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