The Chiefs started RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the preseason opener against the Bears. We all expected that. But rookie RB Isiah Pacheco was notably the next guy in. Pacheco got snaps in the red zone on K.C.'s opening offensive possession, including a reception. It's just 1 drive of 1 game (which is still going as of this writing), but it's another signal that we should take Pacheco's rise seriously.
Update: Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke had the 1st-drive snap counts at CEH 7, Pacheco 3, Jerick McKinnon 1. Ronald Jones didn't see the field until 2 possessions after Patrick Mahomes and other starters had left.
Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney did not include RB Ronald Jones in his latest 53-man roster projection for the Chiefs. Sweeney has RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon making the team. He believes Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco are locks, with McKinnon and Jones battling for the 3rd and final spot. "My thought is the Chiefs preferred McKinnon — but in March, signed Jones just in case McKinnon decided go elsewhere," Sweeney writes, adding that Jones could be traded to a team that loses a RB to injury over the next few weeks. This isn't the 1st time we've heard that Jones is in danger of missing Kansas City's final roster: Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire made the same prediction back in July.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco ran with the 1st-team offense again on Sunday, per NFL Network's James Palmer. "He's picking up the offense and the protections faster than they thought," Palmer adds. The note on pass protection is particularly noteworthy because rookies often struggle in that department. (And because Kansas City's QB is on a $450 million contract.) We're still a month away from Week 1, but Pacheco appears to have a real chance to open the season with a significant role in the Chiefs backfield.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco is "lightning up camp," insider Albert Breer tweeted Wednesday. "Got Kareem Hunt traits, a gear Hunt didn't have," Breer adds. It's high praise -- and not the 1st time we've heard that the 7th-round rookie is having an excellent training camp. It's time to start taking Pacheco seriously as a factor in the Chiefs offense and a late-round flier in fantasy drafts.
Chiefs rookie RB Isiah Pacheco has been "getting good looks in training camp," according to ESPN's Adam Teacher. That has included the 6th-round pick often working ahead of Jerick McKinnon and Ronald Jones in RB drills, behind only Clyde Edwards-Helaire. It's probably a little early to consider Pacheco the #2, but this should be an open competition. And it's well worth noting that he's already factoring in that prominently, despite McKinnon and Derrick Gore being holdovers and Jones bringing much more experience.
Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire gave a projection this week for the 53-man roster and left RB Ronald Jones out. "Shocked to not see Ronald Jones' name here? [Jerick] McKinnon's return endangers him more than some are willing to admit," Goldman writes. "I'm left wondering about the things Jones does well enough to make this roster." He goes on to point out that Jones stinks in the passing game, and McKinnon has fared well in that area. We certainly agree with that. And Jones was guaranteed just $750K on his 1-year contract this offseason. Goldman's projection includes McKinnon and 7th-round rookie Isiah Pacheco making the team over Jones and Derrick Gore. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in camp and preseason. For now, we're still betting on Jones making the team. McKinnon enjoyed a nice playoff run for last year's Chiefs, but he collected just 12 carries and 20 targets for the regular season. Kansas City then let him linger on the open market until well after it had signed Jones. You can consider us unexcited about either Jones or McKinnon for fantasy football drafting.
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