Is Isiah Pacheco A Good Fantasy Football Pickup for Week 5? Waiver Wire Outlook

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had plenty of preseason hype in fantasy football, and he scored in his first game as a pro. However, the heat cooled off after weak showings in Weeks 2 and 3, and he was dropped by a ton of fantasy managers.

Now, after logging 11 touches in primetime action (Sunday Night Football), Pacheco is back on the fantasy radar. He plays in one of the best offenses in the NFL and everyone loves rookies, so it's time to dive into his waiver wire outlook.

Is he worth adding once again in fantasy football?

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How Did Isiah Pacheco Play in Week 4?

In a game in which the Kansas City Chiefs held a big lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pacheco carried 11 times for 63 yards as the primary backup to Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He failed to reach the end zone and didn't catch any passes, so he didn't boom in fantasy, but his aggressive running style was on display in front of a national audience.

Every Isiah Pacheco touch from Sunday.

You can feel a difference when he is in the game, almost like any play can go the distance. His hard-nosed style was picking up extra yards, and he still has the speed to outrun guys.

I would like to see more receiving work for him soon. pic.twitter.com/D641vfgJkk

— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) October 4, 2022

Edwards-Helaire got nine more touches than Pacheco, but Jerick McKinnon saw just three touches -- meaning Pacheco was clearly the RB2 for at least that game.

Should I Pick Up Isiah Pacheco in Fantasy Football?

Even though Pacheco doesn't have a defined role in the Chiefs offense every week, he's a strong pickup in fantasy football. He has standalone value in some games and his upside is sky-high if something happens to Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The running back position is scarce so far in 2022, so stashing high upside handcuffs is important. That said, Pacheco could see an increased role even if Edwards-Hilaire remains healthy all season.

There's also a chance this backfield flips every week and is difficult to figure out, but having a piece of the Kansas City offense is never a bad idea.

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