Isiah

Pacheco

Pacheco failed to find the ball on a mesh point that resulted in the game’s only turnover, fumbling the ball away despite the scorer charging the fumble to Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs set up a beautiful screen for him in the second half that gave him a ton of runway, but he turned it into just two yards after stumbling. Finally, he failed to stay inbounds on his second catch, a first down for 10 yards that saved Buffalo a timeout and could have extended the game. Samaje Perine was summoned to finish the game. Pacheco doesn’t look explosive and seems to be gutting it out during the Chiefs Super Bowl run. They might want to use Perine more in The Big Game. With just 19 of 66 snaps, he’ll be touchdown-or-bust in DFS lineups for the Super Bowl.

Pacheco failed to corral his lone passing-game target. Seemingly nowhere close to 100 percent healthy after his regular season leg and rib injuries, Pacheco was a clear No. 2 to Kareem Hunt on the depth chart this afternoon. Although options are always limited on a four-team slate, Pacheco profiles as a poor DFS bet for conference championship weekend.

Pacheco was a full participant in practice all week. With nearly three full weeks to recover from the rib injury he suffered in Week 17’s game against the Steelers, Pacheco is good to go for Saturday’s divisional tilt against a Texans team the Chiefs beat handedly back in Week 16. Pacheco managed just nine carries for 26 yards in the victory, and will likely split touches with Kareem Hunt.

Pacheco suffered a rib injury in Week 17. He missed the Chiefs’ regular season closer, though the game had no playoff implications for Kansas City and Pacheco was far from the only starter to get the week off. After opening the week with a pair of full practices, Pacheco should be cleared on Thursday’s injury report. He will continue to split the backfield with Kareem Hunt versus Houston.

Head coach Andy Reid said Pacheco will be available for the playoffs. With nothing left to play for in the regular season, Pacheco will get Week 18 and the bye to recover from his rib injury. Kareem Hunt is listed as doubtful and will also get the day off on Sunday, leaving the backfield to Samaje Perine and Carson Steele.

Andy Reid said he expects Pacheco to be available for the playoffs but Week 18 is unlikely. With a first-round bye already locked up, Pacheco will be held out of the team’s regular season finale to get as much rest as possible heading into the Divisional Round. The Chiefs could also rest Kareem Hunt and even Samaje Perine versus Denver.

Carson Wentz will draw the start this week. Reid didn’t name every starter getting the day off, but our best guess for the list of names includes Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy, and Hollywood Brown. Expect others to make the cut as well. The Chiefs are massive underdogs to the Broncos this week, all but guaranteeing Denver a spot in the playoffs.

Reid said the team will probably sideline Pacheco for Week 18 against the Broncos, but the team was already expected to sit multiple starters in what is a meaningless game for the Chiefs. By the time he takes the field in the AFC Divisional round, Pacheco will be nearly a month removed from the injury he suffered on Christmas day against the Texans. The Chiefs could feature a heavy dose of Samaje Perine and Carson Steele if they opt to sit their top two backs in the season finale.

Pacheco was hit hard in the fourth quarter on a run and may not be be able to return. If his day is done, he finishes with six carries for 18 yards and he didn’t pick up a reception. Kareem Hunt will almost assuredly get the majority of the carries for the rest of the contest.

The line over the last two weeks: 22 carries for 58 yards with one catch. Pacheco is being squeezed by both Kareem Hunt (11/55/1, 20 snaps to Pacheco’s 23) and Samaje Perine (10 snaps, 3/50 on three targets through the air), leaving little fantasy juice to be had unless he stumbles into a touchdown. Pacheco did not see a single red-zone look today and was stuffed on a fourth-down go at midfield. It’s a profile that is screaming desperation FLEX at us for Week 17’s game against the Steelers, even if we understand wanting to hold on to the priors that he’s the best back on the team for another week.