The Chiefs are looking to make history this week by claiming their third straight Super Bowl victory, but their backfield looks a little different as they look to climb to the top of the mountain again this week. As you get your DFS fantasy football team ready for one more shot at glory before the offseason, let’s take a look at which running back should be included in your roster builds this week between Isiah Pacheco ($5,200 in FLEX) or Kareem Hunt ($6,400).
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The Chiefs’ backfield story so far
The Chiefs started the year with Pacheco as their primary running back and Hunt was not even on the roster. Hunt spent last season with the Browns and underwent sports hernia surgery to repair a ruptured adductor at the end of last season. He was unsigned throughout training camp and the first two weeks of the season. The Chiefs brought him in for a workout and signed him to the practice squad after Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in the team’s Week 2 win over the Bengals.
Pacheco’s absence stretched 11 weeks, and while he was out, Hunt stepped in and performed beautifully. He had seven touchdowns and 728 rushing yards in his 13 regular-season games while adding 176 receiving yards.
In the playoffs, Hunt had a touchdown in each of the Chiefs’ two wins over the Texans and Bills, taking a total of 25 carries for 108 rushing yards and also catching a pass in each contest.
Pacheco had five carries in each game for a total of 30 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and caught two of his three targets for 12 yards. He hasn’t found the end zone since all the way back in Week 1 against the Ravens.
What to expect in the Super Bowl
Hunt has played 40% or more of the team’s snaps in four straight games and played 58% against the Bills in their most recent contest. Pacheco has played 35% of fewer of the team’s snaps in each of the last four weeks and only played 29% of snaps against the Bills while being out-touched 18 to 7.
While Pacheco definitely has big-play upside and could be involved in the passing game, Hunt is much more reliable play for DFS contests. His touchdown upside makes him a strong option especially near the goal line.
Hunt is a safe play you can build around, while Pacheco brings some flier upside if he breaks a big play or finds the end zone for the first time since Week 1. He’s much higher-risk across the board.
It will be a tough matchup for both Chiefs running backs overall since the Eagles have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game in the NFL this season to opposing running backs.
