Isiah Pacheco had just started to hit his stride.
And even on Monday night, the Kansas City Chiefs’ running back appeared to not feel too bad about his injury after trainers examined him on the sideline.
But it turns out things are worse for Pacheco than they appeared.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Pacheco is week-to-week with an MCL sprain.
For fantasy football purposes, it does clear up what was a crowded backfield.
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Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith fantasy outlooks
The Pacheco news is biggest for the veteran Hunt.
He’s already the Chiefs’ goal-line back, which can be a profitable fantasy role by itself. And now he should see more carries in the middle of the field, too.
The Chiefs haven’t used the rookie Smith as a ball carrier too often, preferring to pass to him. He may get a few more touches, but he’s still just a deep-league PPR option at the moment.
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Where this could get interesting is if the Chiefs decide to make a trade based on this news. That would make the RB room crowded again, especially if Pacheco gets back in a few weeks to a depth chart with a whole new name on it.
For now, Hunt is a guy who can be relied on in FLEX spots, Smith should at least be on rosters and the Chiefs are definitely on trade watch for a running back.
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