Chiefs RBs Fantasy Outlooks: Should You Draft Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Samaje Perine, and Carson Steele?

The Kansas City Chiefs‘ backfield is a little bit confusing entering 2024 because, behind Isiah Pacheco, there does not appear to be much depth.

Yes, they brought back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, added Samaje Perine after roster cutdowns, and have rookie Carson Steele, but there are not many proven commodities in that group. However, it doesn’t always take proven commodities to provide fantasy value — it takes opportunity.

Let’s examine the fantasy outlook of Pacheco, Edwards-Helaire, Perine, and Steele to see which you should be considering targeting on draft day.

Isiah Pacheco’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections

• PPR fantasy Points: 283.9 (236.9 Non-PPR)
• Rushing Yards: 1390.9
• Rushing Touchdowns: 9.6
• Receptions: 47.0
• Receiving Yards: 301.7
• Receiving Touchdowns: 1.7

Without much in the way of competition for touches in Kansas City’s backfield, an RB1 season is very much in the range of outcomes for Pacheco.

He was a cheat code early in the draft process when he could be had in the late third round, but Pacheco’s ADP continues to rise to where it should be. He’s now considered a late second-round pick, a price that is still palatable but not a “must draft” price tag.

Pacheco is just trailing Travis Etienne Jr. and Derrick Henry in terms of ADP at the position. You could justify taking him over either of them, but they’re in the same tier for me.

Pacheco offers more versatility than Henry and a better offensive environment than Etienne. However, his scoring upside trails that of Henry, and his target count will likely fall short of Etienne’s.

Elite receivers occupy the first half of Round 1 in most fantasy drafts. Assuming that’s the case for you, any of these running backs is a strong addition to your roster. I’d argue for Pacheco as an elevated floor play that also carries the potential to flirt with top-five production at the position if everything runs out in his favor.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections

• PPR fantasy Points: 113.4 (93.1 Non-PPR)
• Rushing Yards: 414.8
• Rushing Touchdowns: 3.3
• Receptions: 20.3
• Receiving Yards: 173.7
• Receiving Touchdowns: 2.4

The Chiefs waived Deneric Prince, a sign that they are content with Edwards-Helaire as their RB2. Also on this roster is Carson Steele, an undrafted back who spent last season at UCLA, and the recently signed Samaje Perine.

CEH has seen his carry count decline each season, and his usage in the passing game last season (22 targets in 15 appearances) was essentially non-existent as Pacheco developed into a true three-down back.

Standalone value is very much a dated belief, but the fact that CEH is one injury away from being on the field with consistency for maybe the best offense in the league makes him worthy of a late-round flier.

We can have the “is he even good” discussion for when a role presents itself, but from a process standpoint, anyone who is a single injury away from sharing a field with Patrick Mahomes is deserving of our attention.

Samaje Perine’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections

• PPR fantasy Points: 70.5 (47.5 Non-PPR)
• Rushing Yards: 177.5
• Rushing Touchdowns: 0.8
• Receptions: 23.0
• Receiving Yards: 187.2
• Receiving Touchdowns: 1.0

The defending champions’ signing of a stabilizing veteran is a wise move, but asking him to return fantasy value is a bit optimistic. Perine is a trusted option on third downs and should be on the field once he gets worked up to speed, though not in a fantasy-friendly role.

He’ll turn 30 years old during the first month of the season and has never been a high-volume type of running back.

If I had to pick a non-Pacheco running back to score the most points on this roster, Perine is it – but I think it comes in small chunks on a consistent basis, and that’s not going to help fantasy managers in anything but the deepest of formats.

Carson Steele’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections

• PPR fantasy Points: 56.8 (49.4 Non-PPR)
• Rushing Yards: 248.6
• Rushing Touchdowns: 2.2
• Receptions: 7.4
• Receiving Yards: 81.8
• Receiving Touchdowns: 0.5

There is size to like in this profile (6’0″, 228 pounds), and the collegiate production was good (5.1 yards per carry across three seasons), but you’re overthinking it if you believe he’d walk into a consistent role should Pacheco sit.

Edwards-Helaire still carries with him first-round draft capital, and while I don’t think the Chiefs are tethered to that, it’s enough to earn him the title of Pacheco handcuff.

Burning a roster spot on a third option in a pass-centric offense isn’t a wise use of valuable bench spots.