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Will a true top running back emerge for KC Chiefs after the bye?

By Lyle Graversen

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

Isiah Pacheco

Isiah Pacheco has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. The 7th-round pick has shown some burst in the running game and currently has the best yards per carry of the backs on the team. His 4.9 yards per carry is clearly the best of K.C.’s three backs (CEH – 4.4, McKinnon – 4.1), and even if you take away all three backs’ longest runs his yards per carry remains the clear best.

Yards per carry without longest rush:

  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire – 3.7
  • Isiah Pacheco – 4.5
  • Jerick McKinnon – 3.2

So strictly based on the ability to run the ball so far this season Pacheco looks like he deserves to get more carries. The problem is that Pacheco doesn’t have a proven role in the passing game and that’s obviously a massive part of the Chiefs’ offense. Pacheco only has two receptions and three pass-blocking snaps this season. That’s not even a big enough sample size on which to make an assessment.

Unfortunately, the passing game wasn’t a big part of Pacheco’s game in college either. He played significant snaps in all four years in college but averaged just under 12 receptions per season. So it seems unrealistic to think the Chiefs are going to trust a 7th round rookie with no track record to play a big role in the passing attack.

If that’s the case then how much can we really expect Pacheco to get on the field? Pacheco earned a start against the San Francisco 49ers, but his snaps were still pretty limited. Defenses are smart and if they know that they only put Pacheco in to run the ball then they will be able to key off on him when he’s in the game. At this point, you are probably getting a good feel for why the Chiefs’ backfield has been kind of a mess. They want to use Pacheco in the run game but not the pass. They want to use McKinnon in the passing game but not the run game. Clyde can do both but is probably a slight drop-off over the backs that specialize in each area.

So what should KC do at running back for the rest of the season?

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