In the 15 games Pacheco had at least 15 touches in last season including the playoffs, he scored at least 15 PPR points 10 times. And now it appears Pacheco will be the Chiefs' primary running back this season without much competition, opening the door for him to keep getting 15-plus touches per week. He'll benefit greatly from that workload, something Pacheco needs after earning just a 6.6% explosive play rate and 16.4% avoided tackle rate last season, both below average among qualifying rushers. Any improvement to his efficiency will make him an outstanding Fantasy running back with the potential to put up big numbers regardless of the opponent. That's why he's worth targeting around 20th overall in PPR formats (a tad higher in non-PPR) as a must-start RB.
Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Grinds out solid numbers Thursday
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Pacheco rushed 15 times for 45 yards and a touchdown and caught two of three targets for 33 yards in the Chiefs' 27-20 win over the Ravens on Thursday night.
The hard-charging running back scored his first touchdown of the season from one yard out in the third quarter on what seemed to be a third effort after the Ravens initially stopped him short of the goal line. Pacheco later displayed his never-say-die style on a 10-yard reception where he balanced himself on the back of a defender and then continued running for a fist down. He took 17 of Kansas City's 20 RB touches, with Samaje Perine and Carson Steele only taking occasional snaps, which suggests Pacheco should be busy again Week 2 against the Bengals.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Continues to lead backfield
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Pacheco remains in line to serve as the Chiefs' lead back in Thursday's season opener versus the Ravens, Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star reports.
With Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the reserve/non-football illness list and in line to miss at least four games, Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele are slated to work in complementary roles behind Pacheco to begin the season. While Perine is an adept pass-catching option and will have an opportunity to carve out a change-of-pace role with Kansas City, the newcomer is still getting up to speed with the team's playbook, so he might not be heavily utilized versus Baltimore. With that in mind, Pacheco is a candidate to see plenty of touches Week 1.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Efficient on three touches Saturday
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Pacheco rushed two times for 16 yards and brought in his only target for nine yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 preseason loss to the Jaguars on Saturday night.
The Chiefs' top back was out there with the rest of the healthy members of team's first-team offense for the opening possession, and Pacheco made good use of his opportunities. The third-year pro's efficiency with his three touches is right on brand for the explosive Pacheco, who's set to once again lead Kansas City's backfield in 2024 and perhaps improve on the 1,179 total scrimmage yards he recorded across 14 regular-season games a year ago.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Totals 92 total yards in Super Bowl
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Pacheco rushed the ball 18 times for 59 yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. He added six receptions (on six targets) for 33 yards.
Pacheco had a rough day on the ground, with his worst moment coming early in the second quarter when he lost a fumble at the 49ers' nine-yard line. He did manage a better performance as a receiver, including two receptions on the Chiefs' game-winning drive in overtime. Though it was an underwhelming performance in the Super Bowl, Pacheco proved capable of handling a workhorse role throughout the 2023 regular season, as he tallied career-high marks in both carries (205) and receptions (44) across 14 games. The Chiefs may add to the backfield this offseason, but Pacheco should keep a significant role in the offense in 2024.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Ready for Super Bowl
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers on Sunday.
During the first week of Super Bowl prep, Pacheco was contained to a pair of limited sessions and ended it with no designation for the big game. He proceeded to have no practice limitations this week, meaning he'll be good for his typical workload Sunday. Over the last five contests, including the Chiefs' three postseason wins, Pacheco has averaged 21.8 touches for 94.4 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown per game. Having said that, Jerick McKinnon (groin) is questionable for Sunday's game after the team designated him for return from IR this past weekend, so Pacheco could yield some passing-down reps to the combo of McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire this weekend if the former is activated Saturday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Limited in Thursday's practice
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
He was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated report but then managed to take part in Kansas City's first actual practice ahead of the Super Bowl. Pacheco handled 80 percent snap share and 28 touches in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, leaving little doubt he'll be ready for a matchup with the 49ers next Sunday.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Getting in some work
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Pacheco (ankle/toe) appears to be practicing Thursday, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
Pacheco was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, but there isn't any real concern about the running back's availability for the Super Bowl after he played through the same toe and ankle injuries in a 17-10 win over the Ravens this past Sunday. In the process, Pacheco took 80 percent of Kansas City's snaps on offense and accounted for 28 of the team's 31 backfield touches.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Questionable for Sunday
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Ravens.
After being listed as a non-participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday, Pacheco returned to a limited session Friday and will thus head into the weekend with an official 'questionable' tag ahead of Sunday's 3 p.m. ET kickoff. Look for added context regarding the running back's status to arrive closer to game time, and if Pacheco ends up limited or out versus Baltimore, Clyde Edwards-Helaire would be next in line for added backfield touches for the Chiefs.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Not in line to practice Thursday
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Pacheco (toe/ankle) won't practice Thursday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Per the report, coach Andy Reid relayed that Pacheco participated in the team's morning walk-through, but the running back is slated to go down as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day Thursday. Pacheco thus has one more chance to get in some on-field work ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Baltimore, but unless he practices fully Friday, he figures to head into the weekend with an injury designation.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Good to go for playoff game
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Pacheco (shoulder) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Though Pacheco was active for this past Sunday's 13-12 win over the Chargers, he didn't put in a full practice in advance of the contest and ultimately didn't play any snaps in the regular-season finale. Since Kansas City had already locked up the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, Pacheco was likely just held out as a precaution, and his ability to put in a full practice Tuesday erases any doubt about his status heading into Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Dolphins. In Kansas City's previous meeting with Miami back in Week 9, Pacheco carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards while failing to haul in his lone target in a 21-14 win.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Doesn't appear in Week 18
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Pacheco didn't take the field during Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Chargers.
Pacheco wasn't listed among the inactives for the regular-season finale, but he may as well have been. He didn't take the field for a snap after both DNPs and limited practice sessions leading up to the contest. He essentially joined many of the starters sitting out Sunday's contest, with the Chiefs having already claimed the No. 3 seed in the AFC, regardless of the outcome of their game. The 24-year-old running back should reclaim the team's top spot on the running back depth chart heading into the wild-card round, where he'll square off against a Dolphins defense yielding just 97.1 rushing yards per game, seventh-fewest in the NFL.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Deemed questionable for Week 18
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The Chiefs list Pacheco (quadricep/shoulder) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
After his pair of injuries kept him from practicing Wednesday, Pacheco was able to return to the field as a limited participant for the Chiefs' final two sessions of Week 18. The running back looks to be reasonably healthy after logging his heftiest workload of the season -- 18 carries for 130 yards, seven catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on a 92 percent snap share -- in the Chiefs' Week 17 win over the Bengals, but don't expect Pacheco to be nearly as involved this Sunday. The Chiefs are locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and already plan to hold out numerous key players for rest or minor injuries, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle). Even if Pacheco avoids the inactive list ahead of the game's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, he may play only limited snaps while the Chiefs look to preserve their lead back's health in advance of the wild-card round. Reserves Clyde Edwards-Helaire and La'Mical Perine may be better bets to lead Kansas City running backs in snaps and touches in Week 18.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Not practicing Wednesday
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Pacheco won't practice Wednesday due to quadricep and shoulder injuries, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Pacheco's quad contusion looks to be the greater concern for the running back than the shoulder issue, which he had managed along with a concussion leading up to his past weekend's 25-17 win over the Bengals. Though Pacheco appeared healthy while he proceeded to rack up 165 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 25 touches in the Week 17 victory, the Chiefs could take a cautious approach with him heading into this Sunday's regular-season finale with the Chargers. The Chiefs are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, so Pacheco looks to be a prime candidate to see a reduced workload Sunday, or potentially sit out the contest entirely. If Pacheco is out or limited this weekend, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, La'Mical Perine and practice-squad member Keaontay Ingram could see added opportunities out of the backfield.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Racks up 165 total yards
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Pacheco rushed the ball 18 times for 130 yards in Sunday's 25-17 win over the Bengals. He added seven receptions on seven targets for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Pacheco accounted for all of the work out of the Kanas City backfield with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) inactive. He took advantage by gashing the Cincinnati defense for long runs of 37 and 35 yards, helping him tally his highest rushing yardage total of the season and second performance of at least 150 yards from scrimmage. Pacheco also tallied his ninth score of the campaign on an eight-yard touchdown catch late in the first quarter. He needs 65 rushing yards in a Week 18 matchup against the Chargers to crack 1,000 for the season.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Good to go Sunday
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Pacheco (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Pacheco managed just one limited practice this week while he was tending to a shoulder injury in addition to being included in concussion protocol, but he cleared the five-step protocol Saturday to erase any lingering concern about his availability for the Week 17 contest. Despite his light activity in practice this week, Pacheco could be tasked with handling a heavy workload Sunday, given the lack of established depth behind him. Passing-down specialist Jerick McKinnon (groin) was placed on injured reserve last week, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is a surprise inactive Sunday, which leaves recent roster additions La'Mical Perine and Keaontay Ingram as the lone reserve backs behind Pacheco.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Expected to play Sunday
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Pacheco (shoulder) has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play Sunday versus Cincinnati, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In addition to suffering a concussion in the Chiefs' Christmas Day loss to Las Vegas, Pacheco also has been dealing with a shoulder injury, and he'll still be carrying a questionable tag for Sunday's game. However, having passed through the league's five-step concussion protocol, the second-year running back is likely to suit up in the Week 17 AFC clash as Kansas City looks to get back on track after losing three of its past four contests. Pacheco's expected ability to play stabilizes a Chiefs backfield that recently lost Jerick McKinnon for the remainder of the regular season due to a groin injury.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Suffers concussion Monday
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Pacheco was diagnosed with a concussion during Monday's game versus the Raiders and won't return.
At the time of his departure in the third quarter, Pacheco had 11 carries for 26 yards and one touchdown and four catches (on four targets) for zero yards to his name. With Jerick McKinnon (groin) on injured reserve, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is slated to lead the Chiefs backfield moving forward.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Getting concussion check
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Pacheco is under evaluation for a head injury during Monday's game against the Raiders.
Pacheco made a visit to the sideline medical tent late in the third quarter before the Chiefs announced his potential health concern. If he eventually is diagnosed with a concussion, Pacheco will finish Week 16 with 11 carries for 26 yards and one touchdown and four catches (on four targets) for zero yards. With Jerick McKinnon (groin) on injured reserve, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is poised to lead Kansas City's backfield in Pacheco's absence.
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Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco: Ruled out for Sunday
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Pacheco (shoulder) won't play Sunday against the Patriots, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Per McMullen, coach Andy Reid relayed that Pacheco had a procedure done on his shoulder but is doing well, with the team anticipating that the running back will return next week ahead of a Dec. 25 contest against the Raiders. In Pacheco's continued absence this weekend, look for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to get another start in Week 15, with Jerick McKinnon also in line to see his share of backfield touches versus New England.
Pacheco (shoulder) won't practice Wednesday, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Pacheco didn't practice in any capacity last week before sitting out Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Bills. The running back remains a spectator in practice as the Chiefs begin Week 15 prep, but Pacheco will have two more chances to get in some on-field work ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots. If the running back is unable to play through his shoulder issue this weekend, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon would once again lead the Kansas City backfield.
