Isiah Pacheco DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco toted the rock five times for 12 yards and hauled in both of his targets for 12 more in his team's 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills. Pacheco and backfield mate Kareem Hunt split time pretty evenly for the first four weeks of the former's return from early season fibula surgery. However, Pacheco injured his ribs in Week 17's victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers and has since produced ten carries and 30 yards on 35 snaps over two playoff games, while Hunt has vastly out-snapped and out-produced him as the team's lead back. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, this appears to be his role, as he's fully recovered from the rib injury he sustained near the season's end. We'll see if that changes in Kansas City's Super Bowl meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he'll be impossible to trust until his volume or production significantly increases.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has been a shell of his former self since returning from injury. Even when given the opportunity to start last week's contest, Pacheco remained inefficient and ceded work to veteran Kareem Hunt. The 25-year-old handled five carries for 18 yards against the Texans, compared to eight carries, 44 yards, and a touchdown for Hunt. Given the importance of the matchup and Pacheco's struggles, the Chiefs likely lean on Hunt as their workhorse back in the AFC Championship game this Sunday. Kansas City will face the potent Buffalo Bills in Arrowhead to determine who will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. With the Chiefs searching for a historic three-peat, the stakes are too high to rely on Pacheco. The second-year back should not be viewed as a start-worthy asset in fantasy playoff leagues and should be considered a dart-throw option in DFS leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco handled five carries for 18 yards in the 23-14 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday. Despite being the starting running back, Pacheco lost work and ceded a touchdown to Kareem Hunt later in the game. Pacheco was stuffed on his first carry and dropped his only target of the game on the team's first drive. Despite having nearly three weeks to rest and prepare for this contest, Pacheco has not regained his pre-injury form. The explosive second-year back was held to just 3.6 yards per carry in this contest. Given how Hunt has performed, Pacheco will likely remain the backup for the AFC Championship game next week. The Chiefs will take on the winner of the Divisional Round matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. Regardless of their opponent, Pacheco's value will remain low as the RB2 on the team.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was listed on the injury report with a rib injury but practiced fully all week and does not have an injury designation for this game. The second-year back has had nearly three weeks to recover since the last time he suited up, so he should be back to full strength come Saturday. Pacheco has been competing with Kareem Hunt for touches out of the backfield, and Hunt appeared to be winning that battle when the duo last played in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pacheco handled six carries for 18 yards compared to nine carries for 20 yards and a touchdown for Hunt. It is possible that the Chiefs were limiting his touches after his return from injury, so it will be interesting to see how the split shakes out in the team's return to play against the Houston Texans. The Texans held the Los Angeles Chargers to 12 points while also collecting four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown. Given the uncertainty around his workload, the 25-year-old is risky to play in playoff leagues. Pacheco is a much better DFS play in case the team decides to lean on him in the run game. The Chiefs are touchdown home favorites, so whichever running back leads the backfield should have some value.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (rib) was a full participant for the second straight day this week in practice on Wednesday and is trending in the right direction to play against the Houston Texans on Saturday in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Although the rib injury that Pacheco suffered in Week 17 on Christmas Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers was not considered serious, the Chiefs held Pacheco out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos, and he had an extra week to rest during the bye in the wild-card round. The 25-year-old is now fully ready to go for this Saturday's game against Houston, where he will likely share backfield duties with Kareem Hunt. Pacheco broke his leg early in the year and didn't return from Injured Reserve until Week 13. Once back, he played less than half the offensive snaps in all five games, and that could continue against the Texans.