We’re only two weeks into the NFL season, and several teams have already seen key players go down with injuries. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is among those likely to miss significant time after fracturing his fibula on Sunday against the Bengals.
Pacheco has been a reliable part of Kansas City’s offense, starting 33 of his last 37 games. However, with the third-year player expected to head to IR, head coach Andy Reid will need to rely on his backups: veteran Samaje Perine and undrafted rookie Carson Steele.
Both players will see increased usage with Pacheco sidelined, but expect Perine to serve primarily as a pass-catching back while Steele steps in as the lead back despite his inexperience. Through two weeks, the former UCLA Bruin has nine carries for 27 yards and a lost fumble but has shown effectiveness in short-yardage situations, converting four first downs when needing just a few yards.
Steele's effectiveness largely stems from his ability to gain yards after initial contact. During his time at UCLA from 2021-23, Steele accumulated 2,497 rushing yards after contact — the most of any player in the country during that span, per Jacob Gibbs of CBS Sports. The next closest player was Troy’s Kimani Vidal, who finished with 135 fewer yards over those seasons.
In his first two NFL games, Steele is averaging 2.56 yards after contact per attempt, which leads all Chiefs running backs, including Pacheco, who is right behind him at 2.26.
With Pacheco recording 34 carries in two games — the 9th most of any player this season — Steele has a significant void to fill. Perine will contribute as well, but through two games, he has zero carries and just two receptions on three targets. He’ll undoubtedly have a larger role in the offense moving forward, but Steele’s playstyle more closely resembles Pacheco’s.
For fantasy managers and DFS players, Steele would be a great waiver wire pickup this week and is my preferred option over Perine. The rookie is still a long shot to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at +12000 at FanDuel, but if he takes over the Chiefs' backfield and replicates his UCLA production, that number could quickly drop.
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