Pacheco is projected as the starting running back for the Chiefs but he'll share the workload with both Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon. He should be drafted as a low-end No. 2 running back or flex around the Round 7 range in Fantasy drafts. He is a better pick in non-PPR leagues due to his lack of involvement in the passing game. Last year he led the Chiefs backs in attempts, yards and touchdowns as a rookie but still only had four games all season with 15 or more carries and only one game with more than two targets. He'll be tough to trust as a starting Fantasy running back until he earns more consistent playing time. Pacheco only played more than half of the snaps three times, including the playoffs.
Pacheco rushed 15 times for 55 yards and two touchdowns while catching all five of his targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 31-17 win over Las Vegas.
Pacheco punched in a pair of one-yard touchdowns to bolster his usual production as Kansas City's lead running back. The end result was a fantasy score that rivaled the one from his monster performance against the Jets back in Week 4, which had previously stood out as the sophomore's best output to date. Pacheco has now reached 20 combined touches in each of the Chiefs' two games since the team's Week 10 bye after hitting that mark just twice over the previous nine weeks. The physical runner has been able to handle the increased workload while maintaining a firm grasp on the starting job in Kansas City. Pacheco remains a starting option across all formats heading into next Sunday's tilt against Green Bay.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Surprising success in tough matchup
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Pacheco rushed 19 time for 89 yards and brought in his only target for two yards in the Chiefs' 21-17 loss to the Eagles on Monday night.
Pacheco ran with his signature hard-charging style all night and surprisingly found success frequently against what had been the league's best run defense coming in. The second-year back's yardage total was his second highest of the season, as was his rushing workload. Pacheco will face an exponentially more palatable matchup on paper in a Week 12 visit to the division rival Raiders.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Pacheco comes off his bye to face an Eagles defense that is among the best in the NFL at stopping the run. Philadelphia is No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and only three guys all season (Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 1, Brian Robinson Jr. in Week 4 and Breece Hall in Week 6) have scored at least 13.1 PPR points. The Eagles have also allowed just two total touchdowns to running backs this season. Pacheco has struggled of late with 6.7 PPR points against Denver in Week 8 and 6.6 PPR points against Miami in Week 9. He still has the potential to be a No. 2 running back in all leagues, but I would consider him a low-end starter at best in this matchup. And if you can sit Pacheco it might be a good idea given how well Philadelphia's defense has done against opposing running backs this season.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Leads backfield with eight carries
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Pacheco rushed eight times for 40 yards and caught three of four targets for a net loss of three yards in Sunday's upset loss to Denver.
Pacheco failed to record double-digit carries for the first time since Week 1, and his 11 combined touches set a new low through eight games this season. The 24-year-old still finished as Kansas City's leading rusher while ceding just four combined touches to backups Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Sunday's unexpected game script was the main culprit of Pacheco's lowered usage, as the favored Chiefs were forced to throw more than twice as many times as they ran while playing from behind Sunday. Pacheco remains a plus fantasy play as Kansas City's top backfield option heading into a marquee matchup against Miami in Germany next Sunday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Salvages day with late TD
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Pacheco rushed 13 times for 32 yards and brought in all four targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 31-17 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Pacheco was completely stymied on the ground as his final line indicates, but he was able to salvage his fantasy day with his eight-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring on the day. The touchdown marked Pacheco's first through the air as a pro, and despite the non-productive day on the ground, he encouragingly logged double-digit carries for the sixth straight contest. Pacheco faces a much more palatable positional matchup against the Broncos' suspect run defense on the road in Week 8.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Start
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Pacheco has been great so far this season, scoring at least 13.4 PPR points in three games in a row, and he should have the chance for another huge outing in Week 6 against Denver. The Broncos are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Week 5's Start of the Week Breece Hall became the fifth running back in the past four games to score at least 22.2 PPR points against Denver, joining Brian Robinson Jr., De'Von Achane, Raheem Mostert and Khalil Herbert. Jerick McKinnon and possibly Clyde Edwards-Helaire also have sleeper appeal given this matchup, but Pacheco is worth starting as a No. 1 Fantasy running back in all leagues.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Finds end zone again Sunday
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Pacheco carried the ball 16 times for 55 yards and a touchdown and caught his only target for nine yards in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Vikings.
The second-year RB got into the end zone for the third straight game, opening the scoring exactly five minutes into the first quarter with a one-yard TD plunge. Pacheco has seized firm control of the top job in the Kansas City backfield with 302 rushing yards, three TDs and 4.8 yards per carry over the last four contests, and he could break out in Week 6 against a Broncos run defense that just surrendered 177 yards to the Jets' Breece Hall -- only the second-highest rushing total Denver's given up to a running back in 2023.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Start
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Pacheco has played well so far this season, and the Fantasy production is starting to reflect that over the past two games against Chicago and the Jets. He's scored at least 15.8 PPR points in each outing, and the Chiefs have given him at least 17 total touches in each contest. I would expect a similar workload against the Vikings, and Pacheco should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. While Minnesota's run defense has been solid so far this year -- D'Andre Swift in Week 2 is the lone running back with more than 7.3 PPR points -- the Vikings have also thrived against Rachaad White, the Chargers without Austin Ekeler and a banged-up Miles Sanders. Minnesota will likely attempt to stop Patrick Mahomes as best as possible, and Pacheco should beat up this run defense in Week 5.
The hunch is the Jets do what every other defense does and dare the Chiefs to run the ball. That doesn't guarantee a great game for Pacheco, but it probably should at least mean an efficient one. If Kansas City keeps using Pacheco like a feature back who works inside the 10-yard line a lot, then he'll be a reliable No. 2 Fantasy running back from week to week. This matchup isn't perfect for Pacheco, so figure him as a very low-end option. I'd rather start Alexander Mattison, De'Von Achane and Javonte Williams, but I'd use Pacheco over Najee Harris, Breece Hall and Gus Edwards.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Active versus Chicago
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Pacheco (hamstring) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Bears.
After missing Wednesday's practice, Pacheco logged limited sessions Thursday and Friday, and he'll give it a go Sunday. In the absence of any in-game setbacks, Pacheco should continue to pace the Chiefs' backfield in Week 3, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon available to handle complementary/change-of-pace work. Through the first two games of the season, Pacheco has recorded 20 carries for 93 yards and a TD and has caught five of his six targets for 31 yards. In that span, Edwards-Helaire and McKinnon have combined for eight carries and seven catches.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Optimism about Week 3 status
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Pacheco (hamstring) is deemed a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the Bears, but the Chiefs are optimistic that he'll be able to suit up, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Pacheco's hamstring injury impacted his practice reps all week, keeping him sidelined Wednesday before he got in limited sessions Thursday and Friday. Still, he received a questionable tag entering the weekend. Kansas City doesn't kick things off until 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, so there will be less available running backs to pivot to if Pacheco ends up being inactive. The current in-house options are Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Turns in limited practice
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Pacheco (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Pacheco was withheld from Wednesday's session due to the hamstring issue, but his return to practice in a limited fashion a day later suggests he's not dealing with an overly severe injury. The running back isn't in the clear for Sunday's game against the Bears just yet, however. The Chiefs may want to see Pacheco replicate his limited practice activity Friday or upgrade to full participation before clearing him to handle lead-back duties this weekend.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Start
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The Chiefs are favored by 12.5 points in this matchup with the Bears, and they should have the chance to run the ball with success against Chicago. The last two starting running backs against the Bears -- Aaron Jones and Rachaad White -- each scored at least 21.3 PPR points. While they did a significant chunk of their scoring in the passing game, Chicago has allowed a rushing touchdown in each of the first two games. And Pacheco has five catches through two games on six targets. Pacheco has yet to score, but he has led the Chiefs backfield in snaps in each of the first two outings. This should be his best game of the season to date, and he should be considered a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Dealing with hamstring injury
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Pacheco won't practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Per Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star, head coach Andy Reid noted that Pacheco isn't dealing with a hamstring tear, and the running back is viewed as day-to-day ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears. If Pacheco ends up sitting out this weekend or is available only in a limited capacity, Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire could work in a timeshare out of the backfield.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Involved as receiver in loss
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Pachecho rushed eight times for 23 yards and secured all four targets for 31 yards in the Chiefs' 21-20 loss to the Lions on Thursday night.
Pacheco outpaced Clyde Edwards-Helaire by two carries even though the former logged his first touch of the game after the latter, and Pacheco was much more involved as a receiver than usual thanks in large part to the absence of Travis Kelce (knee). Pacheco did find running room at a premium thanks to what appears to be a significantly improved Lions rush defense, yet his overall usage was relatively encouraging and lends credence to the notion Pacheco should operate as a No. 1 back this season, even if only by a modest margin. If Kelce returns to action in a Week 2 road matchup against the Jaguars a week from Sunday, Pacheco may see less involvement through the air but would also go up against a looser defensive front than the one he encountered Thursday night.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Sit
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Pacheco might be eased into action this week after dealing with shoulder and hand injuries for much of the offseason. While he played a few snaps in the preseason finale against Cleveland, the Chiefs could still opt to lean on McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, especially with McKinnon in the passing game. And we know that if Pacheco doesn't score a touchdown then his Fantasy production could be minimal. The Lions also have a much-improved run defense this season, and the Chiefs offense might not be as explosive if Kelce doesn't play.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Makes preseason debut
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Pacheco carried the ball one time for zero yards in Saturday's 33-32 preseason win over the Browns.
Pacheco was cleared for contact Monday after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and was able to make his preseason debut five days later. He was the third back on the field behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon, though all three played on the team's first offensive possession. It appears that Pacheco will be healthy heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Lions, though he may be a part of a rotation that also involves Edwards-Helaire and McKinnon.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Cleared for contact
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Pacheco (shoulder) is present for Monday's practice in a red jersey, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.
Pacheco has shed his non-contact jersey for the first time in training camp, and coach Andy Reid said "there's a chance" he suits up for his preseason debut in Saturday's exhibition finale against the Browns, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic. The Chiefs had long listed Aug. 20 as Pacheco's target date for contact clearance, so he remains right on track in his recovery. As such, it looks like the second-year pro still is on track for Week 1.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Sitting out preseason opener
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Pacheco (hand/shoulder) won't play in Sunday's preseason opener against the Saints, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
This development comes as no surprise since Pacheco has been limited in practice as he continues to recover from a pair of offseason surgeries. The running back is expected to be available for Week 1 of the regular season in September, but Pacheco may not play much, if at all, during the August exhibition slate.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: To be 100 percent for Week 1
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Pacheco (hand/shoulder) said Thursday he will "absolutely" be 100 percent for Week 1 versus the Lions, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Pacheco continues to practice in a yellow non-contact jersey as he works his way back from offseason surgeries to address a broken hand and a torn labrum, but it looks like he has no real concerns about his regular-season availability. Barring any setbacks in his recovery, Pacheco looks to be facing a real opportunity to cement himself as the top man in Kansas City's backfield, which also houses Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, La'Mical Perine and Deneric Prince. Coach Andy Reid previously said Pacheco could be a candidate to start training camp on the PUP list, so his participation level still warrants monitoring.
