Isiah Pacheco Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

What Happened?

Pacheco opened last season as K.C.’s workhorse but broke his right fibula in Week 2. That forced him to miss seven games, and he probably shouldn’t have returned when he did.

“He was forcing that thing coming back [when he did],” HC Andy Reid told ESPN’s Adam Teicher in early April. “Most guys probably wouldn’t have come back. If you know him for a minute, you know he wasn’t going to be held back. I think we’ll get a better player this year.”

Pacheco did return in Week 13 but averaged just 3.6 yards per rush and 5.0 per reception (on only 5 catches) across five appearances. He then all but disappeared during the playoffs: 16 total touches over three contests.

Previous Usage

Pacheco’s season-opening usage followed how his usage trended late in 2023. He opened the year as the lead ball carrier but added volume there and – especially – in the passing game by mid-season.

Over his final nine contests of 2023, Pacheco averaged 18.9 opportunities – even while navigating a December shoulder injury and a concussion. Pacheco then garnered 24+ touches in three of the four playoff contests.

That all marked a big rise in usage vs. his rookie season.

Offensive Context

The Chiefs entered 2024 with just Samaje Perine and Carson Steele behind Pacheco on the depth chart, emphasizing the plan to ride the incumbent in his third year.

They didn’t add Kareem Hunt until after Pacheco had gone down, and Hunt took the backfield lead in Week 4. He wound up RB27 in PPR points per game, with just 3.6 yards per rush but a solid 7.7 yards per catch on 1.8 receptions per game.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

The Chiefs’ 2025 backfield progression suggests they want better insurance … but also plan to still have Pacheco leading.

Kansas City signed Elijah Mitchell to a one-year deal early in free agency. Mitchell, of course, flashed as a 2021 rookie for the 49ers. But then he spent the past three years making sure every fantasy manager hates him. Mitchell’s still just 26 but coming off a full season lost to a hamstring injury.

He signed for just $2.5 million, though more than half of that’s guaranteed.

Hunt signed shortly thereafter for just $1.5 million, with less than a million guaranteed. And then the Chiefs drafted SMU’s Brashard Smith in Round 7.

Smith brings intriguing talent – especially in the passing game, as a converted WR – but arriving via Round 7 means he’ll need to prove himself (like former seventh-rounder Pacheco did).

Supporting Cast

The primary factor making any Chiefs RB attractive is that he’s a Chiefs RB.

The team finished just 15th in scoring each of the past two years, but that followed six straight years of ranking sixth or higher – a span that predated Mahomes by a year. Just four of Andy Reid’s 12 seasons at the helm have found the Chiefs lower than ninth in scoring.

Patrick Mahomes remains pretty good at football, and he should find a more explosive receiving corps if guys can stay healthy.

Chiefs RBs have collectively ranked 15th or higher in PPR points in eight of Reid’s seasons, including six finishes of 11th or better.