Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco entered last season without much clarity on his status as the team’s clear starter. By the end of the year, he put all concerns to bed.
On what should be a much-improved offense, should fantasy football managers target Pacheco this season?
Isiah Pacheco’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
We can officially wipe the Day 3 pick stigma off of Pacheco. He’s now just another starting NFL running back.
By the end of last season, the Chiefs had pushed all their chips in on Pacheco. With Jerick McKinnon injured, Pacheco’s snap share increased to nearly 70%. That’s rarified air in the modern NFL.
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Pacheco averaged 15.3 fantasy points per game, finishing as the overall RB14. And it wasn’t just volume. Pacheco had the 11th-highest percentage of carries to go for 15+ yards. He created 3.59 yards per touch (18th in the league), but that’s all secondary to his big step forward in the passing game.
Pacheco’s target share may have only been 9.9% (26th in the NFL), but that’s enough, especially considering he saw just a 2.3% target share as a rookie.
The Chiefs opted not to bring McKinnon back. Behind Pacheco are failed first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire and UDFA rookie Carson Steele.
This is Pacheco’s backfield. He is one of a select few RBs that has three-down potential.
There’s also the matter of the Chiefs’ offense as a whole. After scoring a mere 37 touchdowns last season, the 2024 Chiefs offense has improved greatly.
A better offense should result in more points, which means more scoring opportunities for Pacheco.
Is Pacheco a Good Fantasy Pick?
It’s hard to poke many holes in Pacheco’s fantasy profile. He’s talented. He’s on a great offense. He has virtually no competition for touches.
If there is one area of his game that might be problematic, it’s his running style.
Pacheco runs violently. He looks like he’s trying to stomp holes in the ground. It’s actually really entertaining to watch, and it works for him. However, it has led to him being banged up multiple times.
Pacheco only missed three games last season. I think any fantasy manager would sign up for 14 games from their running backs before the season starts.
With Pacheco, though, it’s not just the missed games — it’s the missed time within games. Pacheco left multiple games early, missing a drive here or a quarter there, before ultimately returning. It’s great that he comes back, but losing valuable touches is not helping you win fantasy matchups.
Pacheco’s penchant for nicks and bruises is worth remembering, but it’s not a reason to fade him. Anyone can get hurt.
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Pacheco’s RB10 ADP is a bit high at his position. After all, he’s never finished above RB14. At the same time, he’s also never entered a season with zero questions about his role or workload.
Where Pacheco typically goes in drafts is a spot where I really like to take wide receivers. As a result, I don’t find himself taking him much.
However, that doesn’t mean he’s not a perfectly fine pick around the 2/3 turn. I have Pacheco ranked as my RB11.