The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for an important Week 12 conference matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Isiah Pacheco is dealing with a knee injury he sustained three weeks ago before the Chiefs’ bye. Will fantasy football managers get the Chiefs RB back this week?
Isiah Pacheco Injury Update
Pacheco was sidelined for the team’s Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos after missing practice throughout the entire week. The running back out of Rutgers suffered his MCL sprain on a fourth-quarter carry during Kansas City’s Week 8 victory over Washington when he took a shot to the knee and immediately limped to the sideline. He was checked by trainers and didn’t return to that contest.​
The injury was diagnosed as a sprained MCL, with the team designating him as week to week. That label typically signals a multi-week absence rather than something day-to-day. MCL sprains generally require 4-6 weeks of recovery time depending on the severity of the damage.​
After missing the team’s Week 9 game against Buffalo, the Chiefs entered their Week 10 bye. The initial hope was that the extra rest would allow Pacheco to return in Week 11, but that timeline proved overly optimistic.
Things took a positive turn on Wednesday when Pacheco practiced in full. This seemed to suggest Pacheco was on track to play Sunday. However, on Thursday, he was downgraded to limited.
It’s difficult to get a read on what this means. It’s possible the limited session was part of a maintenance plan where Pacheco is full go on Wednesday, takes it easy on Thursday, and ramps it up again on Friday. It’s also possible his knee didn’t respond well to the full practice on Wednesday, which forced him into reduced reps on Thursday.
Friday’s participation level will be key. And then will see if he carries a final injury designation.
Pacheco missed nine straight games with a broken leg in 2024, and even when he returned from that injury, he struggled to regain his previous form. The hope is that this MCL sprain doesn’t hinder his performance the way his leg injury did last season. The Chiefs attempted to address the running back position at the trade deadline by inquiring about New York Jets running back Breece Hall, but couldn’t finalize a deal.​
Pacheco’s Fantasy Outlook
With Pacheco sidelined over the past three weeks, Kareem Hunt has operated as Kansas City’s featured back. The veteran carried the ball 13 times for 59 yards and a touchdown while catching one of two targets for three yards in the team’s Week 11 loss to Denver. Hunt has now found the end zone in three consecutive games.​
Hunt logged a season-high 80 percent snap share against the Broncos, continuing his stranglehold on backfield touches. Through 10 games this season, Hunt has compiled 353 rushing yards on 86 carries with six touchdowns. He’s added 10 receptions for 66 yards and another touchdown in the passing game. Hunt filled in admirably for Pacheco last season during his recovery from a broken fibula and has proven capable of handling a featured workload.​
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However, Pacheco’s impending return likely means Hunt’s three-week run as a workhorse back comes to an end. The Chiefs have struggled mightily in recent weeks, dropping to 5-5 on the season after losing their second consecutive game. Kansas City has suddenly fallen behind the 9-2 Denver Broncos in the AFC West standings, creating desperation around their playoff hopes.​
Seventh-round pick Brashard Smith continues to see minimal involvement despite initial expectations that he would split work with Hunt. Smith caught two of three targets for eight yards in Week 11, continuing his limited gadget role in the offense. Since his 14-carry showing several weeks ago, Smith has been relegated to specialty packages and doesn’t need to be rostered in most fantasy formats.​
