Sunday saw some notable news about the Kansas City Chiefs‘ running back hierarchy. And that news has potential significant fantasy implications. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Chiefs (who face the San Francisco 49ers Sunday at 4:25 p.m. Eastern) are going to start rookie RB Isiah Pacheco (seen above celebrating an Oct. 2 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) over Clyde Edwards-Hilaire:
A backfield change: The #Chiefs gave rookie RB Isiah Pacheco first-team reps this week and he’s expected to start.
My story: https://t.co/Bggg5zdTD3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2022
Of course, as Rapoport’s NFL.com story on this indicated, Edwards-Helaire is still expected to see significant snaps. But even with that, there’s still some reason for fantasy players to be excited about Pacheco (a seventh-round pick, 251st overall, out of Rutgers this year), rather as a starter this week or as a pickup for later:
Pacheco will replace former first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who will still have a key role on offense. Kansas City often rotates backs, and both are expected to see significant snaps.
This is a change from past games, however, as the seventh-rounder from Rutgers has about half the carries as Edwards-Helaire this season (59 attempts compared to Edwards-Helaire’s 31). But Pacheco has averaged 4.8 yards per carry in limited time, compared to 4.3 YPC for Edwards-Helaire.
A tough, fast interior runner who runs hard, Pacheco has flashed great potential so far.
And that led to a lot of commentary on him on the fantasy side:
Here are my updated fantasy player rankings on @sinow @si_fantasy! Isiah Pacheco is moving on up!
All positions: https://t.co/L9sfvttIec
FLEX: https://t.co/dVr3a9KMqj pic.twitter.com/4sGytV3wUT
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) October 23, 2022
Isiah Pacheco is getting the rookie bye-week bump and will start today for KC, per @RapSheet.
Only 32% of Clyde Edwards-Helaire's carries have gone for more yards than expected — fourth-lowest, per Next Gen.
Drop everything & go get Pacheco. Only rostered 24% in Yahoo! 😤
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) October 23, 2022
GOOD MORNING.
PICK UP ISIAH PACHECO BEFORE THE REST OF YOUR LEAGUE WAKES UP AND SEES THIS https://t.co/qLql0MNp5f
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 23, 2022
Snagging Isiah Pacheco of waivers before the rest of your league is even awake… pic.twitter.com/i94TzqrBLE
— Jerome Yurchisin (@MathWithJerome) October 23, 2022
Just got Isiah Pacheco off waivers in all my redraft leagues while my league-mates are sleeping pic.twitter.com/36FrO37xy6
— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) October 23, 2022
And then Isaiah Pacheco became the add for people who get up early on Sunday so that he could save their fantasy season.
— Michael Reedy 💰💔 (@MikeReedyFF) October 23, 2022
Being a parent has its benefits
Getting a bottle and changing a diaper can get you Isiah Pacheco on Sunday morning off the waivers
— AP© (@AP_for_3_) October 23, 2022
“The Chiefs gave rookie RB Isiah Pacheco first-team reps this week and he’s expected to start.”
Fantasy football managers who dropped Pacheco: pic.twitter.com/YT9jGNWV9h
— Moody (@EricNMoody) October 23, 2022
Even Rapaport chimed in with some stats on how many people had added Pacheco in NFL.com leagues:
Shoutout to the 64K of you who added #Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco on https://t.co/iLSuC0pR8d‘s fantasy platforms this morning. May you all get a TD.https://t.co/Bggg5zdTD3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2022
We’ll see how many snaps Pacheco winds up seeing and how he does with them. There are certainly a lot of fantasy owners who just picked him up who will be watching with particular interest.
[NFL.com; photo from Kim Klement/USA Today Sports]
About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.