Pacheco (knee), who is out for Sunday's game against the Bills, should be back after the Chiefs' Week 10 bye, Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports reports.
Per Wolfson, coach Andy Reid indicated that Pacheco avoided a serious injury, which gives the running back a chance to return to action Nov. 16 against the Broncos. In his absence Sunday, Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are expected to carry Kansas City's backfield load, with Elijah Mitchell a candidate to be active versus Buffalo as well.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Won't play Sunday
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Pacheco (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills after not practicing this week.
With the Chiefs on bye Week 10, Pacheco's next chance to see game action will arrive Sunday, Nov. 16 against the Broncos. In Pacheco's absence this weekend, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com indicates that Kareem Hunt is in line to start Sunday's contest, with Brashard Smith and Elijah Mitchell in line to back him up, per ESPN.com.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: In line to sit out Sunday
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Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Pacheco (knee) is unlikely to play Sunday at Buffalo, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Pacheco took a hit to the side of his right knee late during Monday's 28-7 win against the Commanders and was diagnosed with an MCL sprain afterward. He proceeded to miss all three practices during Week 9 prep and now is poised to be ruled out ahead of Sunday's game. With Pacheco set to be sidelined, Kareem Hunt is poised to be the Chiefs' primary backfield option this weekend, while Brashard Smith and potentially Elijah Mitchell also will be on hand for RB reps.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Still not practicing
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Pacheco (knee) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
With consecutive DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday due to an MCL sprain in his right knee, Pacheco is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills, and it's possible that he'll be ruled out as soon as Friday. If Pacheco is unavailable this weekend, Kareem Hunt would be in line for more carries Week 9, per ESPN.com, with Brashard Smith and Elijah Mitchell backing him up.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Dealing with MCL sprain
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Pacheco is considered week-to-week due to a right MCL sprain that he suffered during Monday's 28-7 win against the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The injury undoubtedly stems from a hit to the side of his right knee that he took in the fourth quarter. Pacheco still ended up pacing the team in rushing yards (58), which was a season-high marks for the fourth-year pro. Assuming he does miss time, Kareem Hunt is lined up to lead Kansas City's backfield, while rookie Brashard Smith and potentially Elijah Mitchell are candidates for increased roles in the offense.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Leading rusher on 12 attempts
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Pacheco rushed 12 times for 58 yards and was not targeted in Monday's 28-7 win over Washington.
Pacheco finished as the Chiefs' leading rusher a week after scoring his first touchdown of the season. His 58 rushing yards also represented a new high-water mark through eight appearances, which also highlights his capped production as part of a backfield committee. Teammate Kareem Hunt still finished with the superior fantasy score after cashing in a pair of touchdowns in the lopsided win. Pacheco did absorb a hard shot to his right knee late in the contest, but he was seen moving freely on the sidelines after being checked out by the medical staff. Fantasy managers will want to monitor the rotation piece's status during the practice week ahead of a potential shootout against the Bills in Week 9.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Sit
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Pacheco had a season-high 12 carries in Week 6 against Detroit, but he managed to score just 6.1 PPR points. He had one catch for no yards on three targets, and he scored 8.6 PPR points or less in all but one game this season. The Raiders have allowed seven rushing touchdowns this season to running backs, which is tied for third in the NFL, but that will likely benefit Kareem Hunt more than Pacheco, who has yet to score on the ground. And only two running backs have rushed for more than 40 yards against Las Vegas, which were Jeremy McNichols in Week 3 and Jonathan Taylor in Week 5. Pacheco is at best a flex option in deeper leagues in Week 7.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Leading rusher on 12 carries
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Pacheco gained 51 yards on 12 carries while catching one of three targets for no gain in Sunday's 30-17 win over Detroit.
Pacheco finished Sunday's win as the Chiefs' leading rusher, garnering six more touches than veteran backup Kareem Hunt (6-23-0). The 26-year-old Pacheco had been mired in an even timeshare for most of the season, so Sunday's disparity in touches could be something to monitor moving forward. Pacheco would need that hypothetical increase in usage in order to develop into a reliable starting option in fantasy. Until then, treat the physical runner as nothing more than a flex option against the Raiders next Sunday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Gains 56 yards on 10 touches
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Pacheco carried the ball seven times for 36 yards while adding three receptions for 20 yards in Monday's 31-28 loss to the Jaguars.
Pacheco excelled on a per-carry basis (5.1 YPC) while garnering the most targets out of the backfield for Kansas City on Monday. That's where the good news ends, as fellow RB Kareem Hunt found the end zone twice on his seven rushing attempts in the loss. Pacheco's fantasy value continues to be doused by the presence of his veteran teammate in an even timeshare, a scenario that should continue repeating itself against the Lions on Sunday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: First score of 2025
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Pacheco rushed the ball seven times for 35 yards in Sunday's 37-20 win over the Ravens. He added two receptions on three targets for eight yards and a touchdown.
Kareem Hunt saw more volume in the game with 14 touches, though he averaged an abysmal 2.6 yards per attempt and played 32 snaps on offense to Pacheco's 27. Pacheco was more efficient, logging a long run of 12 yards while also finding the end zone for the first time in 2025 with an eight-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter. Pacheco will be difficult to trust so long as he's splitting opportunities with Hunt, but he's showcased improved efficiency and volume in the last two games.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Struggles on 10 carries Sunday
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Pacheco rushed 10 times for 22 yards while catching one of two targets for seven yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to Philadelphia.
Pacheco struggled to find any running room against the Eagles' front seven, averaging a paltry 2.2 yards per tote in another forgettable fantasy showing. Things got so bleak that QB Patrick Mahomes wound up finishing as Kansas City's leading rusher on just seven attempts (66 yards and a touchdown). The 0-2 Chiefs' offense is in shambles to begin the season, but Pacheco retains the highest fantasy potential of any of the team's backfield options heading into next Sunday's tilt against the Giants.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Limited touches in Week 1 loss
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Pacheco rushed five times for 25 yards and brought in two of three targets for three yards in the Chiefs' 27-21 loss to the Chargers on Friday night.
The Chiefs were down by a touchdown after one quarter and trailed throughout, which played a part in Pacheco seeing a modest workload. Additionally, backfield mate Kareem Hunt matched Pacheco's carry total, while Patrick Mahomes paced the Chiefs with both his six rush attempts and 57 rushing yards. Despite Friday's usage, Pacheco still profiles as Kansas City's top running back heading into a Week 2 Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Big gain on only touch Friday
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Pacheco had one reception for 22 yards and did not record a rushing attempt in Friday's 33-16 preseason loss to the Seahawks.
Pacheco came out with the first-team offense and was limited to just one touch for the second consecutive preseason tilt. The 26-year-old has little to prove heading into the regular season, but he still fought for 22 yards on his only target Friday. If he suits up, expect Pacheco to be limited once again in Kansas City's final exhibition contest against Chicago next Friday.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Pacheco "looks tremendous" at OTAs and has "put on some good weight," Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Pacheco missed Week 3 through Week 12 last season due to a broken fibula and looked like a shadow of his usual self when back in action, averaging just 3.4 YPC across Kansas City's five remaining regular season games and three playoff contests. When healthy Pacheco is an explosive, physical ball carrier capable of overrunning would-be tacklers, as demonstrated by his 4.9 YPC and 4.6 YPC averages in 2022 and 2023. An offseason to return to full form should securely position Pacheco atop the Chiefs' running back depth chart, especially in the wake of the team's decision to forego early-round additions to the position in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Chiefs re-signed Kareem Hunt and added Elijah Mitchell in free agency, both to one-year deals, and added Brashard Smith in the seventh-round of April's draft, but all three backs seem more likely to push for complementary snaps than an actual committee if Pacheco can indeed return to 100 percent strength.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Starts, but produces little Sunday
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Pacheco took three carries for seven yards and brought in one of two targets for five yards in Sunday's 40-22 loss to the Eagles.
Pacheco was the first back deployed out of Kansas City's backfield in what turned out to be a blowout loss for the Chiefs. Recent starter Kareem Hunt wound up matching Pacheco in total touches, so the starting honors meant little in the one-sided affair. That said, his veteran counterpart is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason while Pacheco still has one year left on his rookie contract. The Chiefs could bolster their backfield in the coming months, but Pacheco stands to be the favorite to start next year as the situation currently stands.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Expected to be OK for playoffs
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Monday that Pacheco (ribs) will "be available playoff-wise" but will be held back in practice this week, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.
Pacheco hurt his ribs in Wednesday's Christmas Day win over Pittsburgh, and it would be a major surprise if he suits up Week 18 versus Denver with Kansas City already having locked up the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC. The positive news on Pacheco is that he appears to be in no danger of missing any time in the postseason, and he'll have an extra week to recover from what Reid described as "tender" ribs with the Chiefs penciled in for a first-round bye. Kansas City may opt to rest starters beyond Pacheco on Sunday against the Broncos, and it wouldn't be surprising if the team gives Kareem Hunt the day off as well, which would put Samaje Perine and Carson Steele in positions to lead the backfield in the regular-season finale.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Sit
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Things went from bad to worse for Pacheco in Week 16 against Houston when he was outplayed by Kareem Hunt, and now you can't trust Pacheco as even a flex in most leagues at Pittsburgh in Week 17. Since coming back from his broken leg in Week 13, Pacheco has scored 8.1 PPR points or less in all four outings. He has no touchdowns and a combined five catches for 25 yards on eight targets over that span. I'm hesitant to trust Hunt as well since the Chiefs will also use Samaje Perine on passing downs, but Hunt is the best bet as a flex if you need a Chiefs running back in this matchup on the road.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Severity of rib injury unknown
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after Wednesday's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh that Pacheco "dinged his ribs," and the team will "see how bad they are" in the coming days, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Pacheco couldn't get much going in the Christmas Day matchup, turning six carries into 18 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter. Fellow running backs Kareem Hunt (nine carries for 20 yards and one touchdown) and Samaje Perine (four touches for 29 total yards) also found the sledding tough against the Steelers defense, but both players could experience an uptick in usage if Pacheco has to sit out Week 18 at Denver. Considering the Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with Wednesday's victory, the team likely won't risk the health of one of their key contributors and instead focus on getting Pacheco healthy for the divisional round.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Exits Wednesday's game
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Pacheco was forced out of Wednesday's game against the Steelers due to a rib injury.
Prior to exiting the game, Pacheco carried six times for 18 yards. In Pacheco's absence, Kareem Hunt will likely operate as Kansas City's lead back, with Samaje Perine and Carson Steele on hand as depth options.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: RBs to Sit
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Pacheco has not made the impact Fantasy managers were hoping for when he returned from his broken leg in Week 13. In three games, Pacheco has scored 8.1 PPR points or less, and he has just four catches for 26 yards on six targets, along with no touchdowns. He continues to share playing time with Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine, and now Patrick Mahomes (ankle) is not 100 percent. This week, Pacheco is facing a Texans defense that is No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Pacheco should only be considered a flex option at best in the majority of leagues.
