Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco worked as the clear lead rusher in his second game back from a fibula fracture Sunday night. He rushed 14 times vs. five for Kareem Hunt and one for Samaje Perine. None found much success. Pacheco also led the RBs in targets but saw pass routes split more evenly.
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Pacheco managed just 3.9 yards per rush, but the whole team averaged a mere 3.8. Hunt and Perine both trailed him in that category.
Pacheco reclaimed the backfield lead against the Chargers. After playing one fewer snap than Hunt in his Week 13 return, Pacheco led Hunt by 12 snaps on Sunday night.
In addition to lead the rushing attempts, Pacheco pulled ahead of his backfield mates in receiving opportunities. His 10 routes in Week 13 trailed both Hunt (20) and Perine (14).
Sunday night found Pacheco (14) slightly ahead (Hunt 13, Perine 10).
The increased work was obviously a positive, but Pacheco might need to grow that receiving lead further to help his fantasy chances the next few weeks.
The Browns and Texans the next two games present worse RB-scoring matchups than the Chargers did, by our adjusted fantasy points allowed. And Week 17 holds a challenging trip to Pittsburgh.
Pacheco will be in the fantasy-starter mix the next three weeks but isn't to the point of being a lineup lock.