Is Isiah Pacheco The Starting Running Back For The Chiefs When He Returns? Week 11 Update

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) had his 2024 season cut short when he broke his fibula in Week 2. He scored 15.8 and 16.1 PPR fantasy points in his only two games, proving that he'd have likely been a significant fantasy asset and dealing a blow to managers who drafted him early.

In his place, RB Kareem Hunt was signed by the team and scored double-digit PPR fantasy points in all but one of his games in place of Pacheco. He's commanded an impressive amount of touches, and managers who were able to snag him in place of No. 10 benefitted handsomely.

So will Pacheco start when he's back, and what's his fantasy football outlook when he returns?

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Will Isiah Pacheco Start For The Chiefs When He Returns?

He'll definitely be the starter, but several factors could lead to him initially sharing touches with Hunt. He's unlikely to be perfectly healthy when he returns. The team could, and probably should, opt for caution and not rush him back to a full workload immediately. Overcompensation injuries can happen.

Isiah Pacheco highlights 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/NIXy4Kld1o

— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) November 18, 2024

He's clearly more talented and explosive than Hunt, so that's not an issue. It will depend on how the coaches want to work him back in and how they believe the risk of further injury will increase with his load. Don't be surprised if Pacheco sees reduced snaps and touches in the game he returns.

Isiah Pacheco Fantasy Football Outlook

It looks like he has a chance of returning in Week 12, but it's questionable if it's a good idea to start him. Players are simply not 100% immediately after returning from injuries like these, and these next few games are crucial for fantasy managers whose playoff chances could swing wildly with each win or loss.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle) is expected to be healthy for Week 12 game vs. Panthers, per @RapSheet

It’ll be a coaches decision whether he plays as Kansas City will be on a short week. pic.twitter.com/70daleItMD

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 17, 2024

After whichever game he returns, it's reasonable to expect a ramp-up in workload for a few weeks. A broken leg is a serious injury, and he could play without a significantly elevated risk of re-injuring the same part of his body and provide a competitive advantage to his team without being back to full strength.

#NFL Injury Updates:#Cowboys CeeDee Lamb - Comments suggest mild severity. Having 2 injuries carries high re-aggravation risk. Would still start him #Chiefs Isiah Pacheco - High risk start Wk 12. Data projects major stats dip + workload limits. Avg ramp up = 4-6 wks

1/7

— Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) November 18, 2024

He may not be there until after the fantasy playoffs start, so he'll create a frustrating situation for fantasy managers moving forward.

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