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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco rushed 170 times for 830 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie campaign after being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Needless to say, he exceeded expectations and is a hot name in fantasy football heading into 2023.
That said, he's been banged up all offseason with hand and shoulder injuries. His Week 1 status has been uncertain leading up to the kickoff of the 2023 season.
Has Pacheco been cleared for contact yet? Will he be ready for Week 1? Let's dive in.
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Isiah Pacheco Injury Update
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) was seen wearing the team's red practice jersey on Monday, rather than the yellow non-contact jersey. This is the first time he's practiced this offseason without the non-contact jersey, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.
Pacheco has been rumored to return for the Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions, so this is a positive development.
Isiah Pacheco 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook
Pacheco is an attractive fantasy asset thanks to the offense he plays in led by Patrick Mahomes. However, the return of Jerick McKinnon means he likely won't see an expanded role in the passing game. Pacheco caught just 13 passes in 2022 and saw more than two targets only once last season. There's no reason to believe his receiving upside will be unlocked in 2023.
The fantasy football community knows this about Pacheco, so his ADP does make him affordable and worth drafting. In standard leagues, his ADP sits around the RB25 spot. In PPR, he goes off the board around RB29. Given the touchdown upside of Kansas City's offense, Pacheco is a solid bench running back or RB2 in wide receiver-heavy builds. He may not be a consistent producer, but his spike-week potential could make him more valuable in best ball formats.
It would be surprising if Pacheco reaches RB1 territory, but he could have a mid-level RB2 campaign as the Chiefs' primary runner.
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