Dynasty Sell Now: Isiah Pacheco

Photo: USA Today Sports

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Few running backs run with uncaged aggression like Isiah Pacheco. He takes the handoff and hits the hole like a bullet, delivering punishment to defenders. But watching this lies in the eye of the beholder. Given the meat grinder of the running back position, it is easy to have questions about Pacheco's potential availability. He never shies from contact and does not get robbed on his attempts; he is going one speed.

But this approach is effective. Pacheco's 830 yards were the fifth most by a Chiefs rookie. That is especially notable, considering most of it happened in a nine-game stretch to end the season. From Week 10, he averaged 70 yards per game, a full-season pace just shy of 1,200 yards.

There are caveats. Pacheco enters the 2023 season already injured, ramping up his involvement in camp. He also saw a minimal passing game role, with just 14 targets on the season. The Chiefs leaned hard into a committee with Jerick McKinnon and Pacheco down the stretch.

Conversely, he is a young running back in a Patrick Mahomes II offense. We could be looking at a player who locks in RB1 finishes for the next five years or the next victim of the Chiefs' hot-hand approach. And therein lies the duality of Pacheco. The Chiefs kept Clyde Edwards-Helaire and resigned McKinnon. They also added undrafted Deneric Prince. The tie between Pacheco and Prince is both lead their respective rookie classes in Speed Score, a metric that combines a running back's size with their 40 times. Big players who can move fast make good running backs.

Why Sell?

This trade conversation is not a clear case. Pacheco's value has bounced around, peaking at RB18 on Keeptradecut.com at the end of February. He sits at RB27 there now and RB31 on Footballguys Dynasty Rankings.

But it is a found money case. For many, the acquisition cost on Pacheco was either a late 3rd or 4th round rookie pick in 2022. In some leagues, he was undrafted altogether. Players can find Prince or Edwards-Helaire on some league waiver wires, which likely should not happen. If we have seen Andy Reid willing to play a 7th-round rookie over Edwards-Helaire, a recent first-round pick, anything is in play.

Flashing back to Pacheco's current injury. Pacheco is ramping up in camp. That gives other players opportunities to gain comfort and show their abilities. As the injury lingers, that opportunity and experience is compounded.