If you’ve spent any time watching the Kansas City Chiefs lately, you know that the "Pop" in Isiah Pacheco’s game hasn't quite translated to the box score. Honestly, it’s been a weird year. We’re used to seeing him run like he’s trying to kick the ground into submission, but in 2025, that violent running style hasn't produced the league-winning numbers fantasy managers were banking on.
What the 2025 Isiah Pacheco Fantasy Stats Actually Tell Us
Let’s be real. The raw numbers are kind of a bummer. Through 13 games in the 2025 season, Pacheco has put up 462 rushing yards on 118 carries. That’s an average of 3.9 yards per carry—a noticeable dip from the 4.6 he was ripping off back in 2023. Even more jarring is the touchdown drought. He only found the end zone twice all season (one rushing, one receiving).
For a guy who was once a locked-in RB2 with RB1 upside, he finished the year as the RB48 in fantasy points per game, averaging a measly 6.7 points. If you started him in your playoffs, you probably regretted it. Especially in Week 15 against the Chargers where he handled 11 carries but only managed 21 yards. That’s 1.9 yards per carry. Yikes.
The Impact of Mahomes’ Absence
You can't talk about Pacheco without mentioning the disaster that hit the Chiefs' offense. When Patrick Mahomes went down with a torn ACL in mid-December, the entire ecosystem changed. Opposing defenses stopped fearing the deep ball and started "stacking the box."
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Basically, they dared Chris Oladokun to beat them.
Without the threat of a Hall of Fame quarterback, Pacheco was running into a brick wall every Sunday. In his last few games of 2025, he failed to clear 40 rushing yards in five straight appearances. That’s not just bad luck; that’s an offense that lost its gravity.
The Kareem Hunt Problem
Remember when Kareem Hunt was just supposed to be a veteran backup? Well, 2025 didn't go according to that script. Hunt ended up being a massive thorn in the side of anyone tracking Isiah Pacheco fantasy stats.
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- Snap Share: Pacheco's snap share hovered around 51.9%. He wasn't the bell cow anymore.
- Red Zone: Hunt actually cannibalized a lot of the high-value touches.
- The Rotation: Coach Andy Reid leaned into a committee approach, often favoring Hunt’s reliability in pass protection over Pacheco’s explosiveness.
It’s frustrating. You see Pacheco get 15 carries against the Raiders in October and think, "Okay, here we go," but then he disappears for three weeks with a knee injury. He missed three games between Week 9 and Week 11 with an MCL sprain, and when he came back, the team was extremely cautious.
Advanced Metrics: The Silver Lining?
If you want to feel better about Pacheco for 2026, look at the "Yards Created." According to PlayerProfiler, Pacheco still ranks high in his ability to evade tackles. He had 17 evaded tackles in 2025, which isn't elite but shows the legs are still moving. The problem is he’s getting hit way too early.
His "True Yards Per Carry"—which strips out long runs to show consistency—was 3.9. That actually ranked #46 among RBs. It tells us he’s doing exactly what the blocking allows, but he’s not "creating" the way he did as a rookie or in his sophomore jump.
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A Weird Week 16 Highlight
There was one game that gave us a glimpse of what could have been. Against the Titans in Week 16, Pacheco was suddenly a PPR god. He caught 6 of 7 targets for 41 yards. He finished with 13.5 fantasy points, his best outing of the entire year. It was the only time he looked like a dual-threat weapon, but it came way too late for most fantasy owners.
Looking Toward 2026
Pacheco ended the 2025 season on the "inactive" list for Week 18, mostly for rest since the Chiefs were out of the playoff hunt. He’s 26 now, entering that "veteran" stage for a running back.
The value of Isiah Pacheco in fantasy going forward depends entirely on the Chiefs' QB situation and the health of their offensive line. If Mahomes returns at 100%, the lanes will open up again. If they stick with a committee, Pacheco is nothing more than a touchdown-dependent Flex.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Draft:
- Draft him as an RB3, not an RB2: The floor is lower than we thought. Treat him as a depth piece rather than a cornerstone.
- Monitor the Depth Chart: If the Chiefs bring in a high-profile rookie or keep Kareem Hunt on a cheap deal, Pacheco’s ceiling is capped.
- Watch the Receiving Work: If that Week 16 performance was a sign of a scheme shift, he becomes much more valuable in Full PPR leagues.
- Check the O-Line: Kansas City struggled with run blocking in 2025; any upgrades in the draft or free agency will directly boost Pacheco's efficiency.
The days of Pacheco being a "hidden gem" from the seventh round are long gone. Now, he's a known commodity in a struggling offense, and your draft strategy should reflect that reality.