A disappointing Super Bowl appearance in 2024 has left the Chiefs de-throned. If Kansas City wants to reclaim its place atop the NFL, kickstarting an inconsistent offense might be the key. One of the biggest reasons this scoring attack felt disappointing was due to a fractured fibula for Isiah Pacheco ($11,400). KC’s running back appears fully healthy entering the season, hopefully adding some balance on the ground.
Pacheco’s return is good for everyone other than Kareem Hunt ($5,400). The veteran saw plenty of work last season, but he’s now relegated to RB2 duties. Still, this remains an offense led by Patrick Mahomes ($15,000); expect plenty of passes. Will the Chiefs get their best receiving back involved this year? Our first glimpse into Kansas City’s game plan will come on Friday against the Chargers. Can fantasy football managers start Hunt against Los Angeles?
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Fantasy Football Start or Sit: Kareem Hunt
It was a below-average year in terms of passing efficiency for the Chiefs (6.7 YPA). However, the team ranked sixth in total pass attempts (600). That number comes in spite of Kansas City’s 15 regular season wins. Despite holding a lead in most contests, this offense was still content to throw the ball. In a sense, Mahomes’ reputation has capped this aerial attack. With so many teams afraid of a deep strike, the quarterback is more than willing to dink and dunk.
One of the direct beneficiaries of this new-look Chiefs offense is Kareem Hunt. The running back accumulated a total of 904 yards from scrimmage, 23 receptions and seven total touchdowns. Those numbers were good enough for the 29-year-old to finish as the fantasy RB31 in PPR leagues. Still, his numbers were far worse when Pacheco suited up. Over the five games that the two backs played together, Hunt compiled an average of 6.98 fantasy points.
It doesn’t help that Friday’s opponent is no pushover. The Chargers underwent a major overhaul on defense last year, especially up front. Teams rushed for 120.1 yards per game against Los Angeles, the 14th-lowest mark in football. As a result, the Bolts surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (16.6). In Hunt’s two games vs. LA last season, he accumulated a combined total of 14.4 fantasy points.
If it were midseason, with injuries and bye weeks mounting up, this could be a different story. As things stand, even at a reduced price, it’s tough to justify starting Hunt in DFS or season-long fantasy. It’s not as if he was automatic without Pacheco, merely offering serviceable flex production in most matchups. Now, with Kansas City’s top running back in action, the veteran feels very touchdown-dependent. Facing an above-average Chargers defense could also make life difficult on the ground. With that in mind, keep KC’s RB2 firmly on your bench.
