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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was a fantastic waiver wire pickup when he took over the starting RB job for his team after the injury to lead RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs), who fractured his fibula after Week 2. However, injuries sometimes run their course before the season is over.
Hunt has been relegated to a committee role since the return of the starter, and has seen his snaps and opportunities increase markedly. Interestingly, though, he's outscored Pacheco in three of their five games together since the RB1's return.
But it's Week 18, and the Chiefs have clinched their first-round bye. So will Hunt start or even play this week?
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Kareem Hunt Fantasy Football Outlook
Unfortunately, we rarely get solid information on which players will be rested in Week 18 among the second-string groups and lower players on the depth chart. We already know that quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (ankle) won't play, but other than most of the starters, it's hard to say for sure where Hunt falls.
Did anyone start Kareem Hunt in the chip? 🙋 pic.twitter.com/qsNhjWeFsG
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 25, 2024
That leaves us to make assumptions. We should probably assume that Pacheco will rest at this point, as he's dealing with a rib issue, leaving Hunt and RBs Samaje Perine and Carson Steele as the remaining options at the position. We expect the best case scenario (fantasy football-wise) for Hunt would be that he plays at the beginning of the game, but gets pulled after a drive or two.
Should I Start Kareem Hunt in Week 18?
No. With the above assumptions in mind, and with Mahomes sitting in favor of backup QB Carson Wentz, it's hard to see any of the team's backs putting up a good fantasy day. This is not a team you want to rely on if you're in a league that has matchups in Week 18.
Did anyone start Kareem Hunt in the chip? 🙋 pic.twitter.com/qsNhjWeFsG
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 25, 2024
It's not too hard to see Hunt getting an early touchdown on a goal-line carry, but there's probably not much more upside than that. And that's if he plays at all.
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