Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco fractured his right fibula in Sunday's win over the Bengals, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. It's not yet clear how long Pacheco is expected to miss. He's reportedly headed for further testing on Monday to determine whether there's any surrounding damage and his return timeline.
We'll watch for a more specific outlook, but it appears we should expect Pacheco to miss at least the next four weeks -- and probably more.
The Chiefs' Week 6 bye probably doesn't help, falling inside the four-game window from this week.
Pacheco left late in a game that saw him dominate backfield work. He handled 19 of the 26 RB carries. Carson Steele took the other seven, including K.C.'s final two plays before a game-winning FG.
Pacheco also drew 5 of 6 RB targets, leaving just 1 for Samaje Perine. Steele out-snapped Perine for the game, 14-9, and matched him at five pass routes.
Steele and Perine stand as the only two healthy RBs on the roster, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire two games into a four-game minimum stint on the non-football illness list. RBs Emani Bailey and Keaontay Ingram sit on the practice squad.
Steele and Perine will both be worth looks on waivers this week. Don't expect either to take over as the primary back.
Perine might present the higher floor by virtue of his veteran status and likely receiving lead. But Steele carries more physical upside and the positive of his potential being unknown.
Perine has caught passes reliably for multiple teams but also proved to be a limited producer overall.
We'd lean toward Steele as the stronger add if you're prioritizing between them.
Of course, we'll also be watching to see if the Chiefs sign a free agent, such as Jerick McKinnon.
Ashton Jeanty projects as the RB1 in 2025. But is he an elite dynasty prospect? Let's dig into his film and profile to find out.
Read More »Think your dynasty league prep is complete? Devy rankings take it a step further, helping you scout future NFL stars before they ever hit a rookie draft.
Read More »Does Patrick Mahomes belong in the top tier of QBs? This superflex mock draft explores Mahomes' value and upside, plus LOTS more players and strategies.
Read More »This is an insider feature of Draft Sharks, please upgrade to be an Insider Member
Upgrade to Insider Member
All transactions are secure and encrypted, and we never store your credit card information.