Latest news with #IsiahPacheco
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Expected To Return To 'Free-Wheeling' Offense In 2025
Chiefs Expected To Return To 'Free-Wheeling' Offense In 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs' offense in 2025, for most, has a couple of question marks around it, one being the offensive line, but also, can Patrick Mahomes' weapons stay healthy? The drop-off in production last season could be attributed to a host of things, but the main reason was that Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown both missed significant chunks of time due to injury and never were on the field together. That should change. The run game with Isiah Pacheco has also been in the spotlight with the running back fighting back from injury last season, but when he returned, he failed to produce as we know he can. When looking at the Chiefs' "triplets" as CBS Sports' Jared Dubin calls them, of Mahomes, Rice, and Pacheco, when ranking all 32 teams' top three weapons, Dubin has Kansas City at No. 5. "This is the lowest the Chiefs have ranked since Mahomes' first season as the starter," Dubin writes. "They've were ninth prior to his debut, and have since checked in second, first, first, second, fourth, second and first before falling to fifth this season. If you ask me, it's too low. "People are ascribing a drop-off to the team that, in my opinion, was caused by offensive line play and injuries (to both Pacheco and the entire wide receiver corps). I think we see Kansas City get back to a more free-wheeling, wide-open offense this season and jump back near the top of the rankings a year from now." There's every reason to suggest that we will see a significant bounce-back from Andy Reid's offense this upcoming season. Yes, they still won 15 games last year, but we don't expect that to happen again. But what we do expect is for the offense to score more than 22.6 points per game (ranked 15th), and for Mahomes to average more than 245 passing yards per game. If his weapons are healthy, both should see a serious uptick in improvement. Many are doubting the Chiefs in 2025, with some thinking they are about to fall off the proverbial cliff, but with a top-five offensive trio in their ranks, we bet they might just surprise a few people this season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football: Forget the original hype — target these sleepers in 2025
Fantasy managers can have very short memories, especially when it comes to players who underperform compared to their draft slots. Taking advantage of value opportunities that arise due to negative public perception is a beneficial aspect of the fantasy draft season. Advertisement [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] This article highlights some of those players experiencing a dip in perceived value in drafts, in part thanks to recency bias from their 2024 campaigns. Editor's Note: All scoring and ADP data is from Yahoo Fantasy Quarterback C.J. Stroud, Texans 2024 fantasy finish: QB18, 14.2 pts per game 2025 Yahoo ADP: QB18, Pick 122 Coming off a QB11 campaign in fantasy points per game as a rookie, C.J. Stroud was the fifth signal caller drafted last year. Due to a perfect storm of bad, he ended 2024 as the QB18, averaging just 14.2 fantasy points per contest. Stroud's o-line was putrid, and he lost Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell to season-ending injuries, with Nico Collins on and off the shelf. This season, he gets a revamped line with new weaponry in the form of both rookies and veterans, as the Texans drafted two WRs, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, and added Christian Kirk and Nick Chubb to the mix. Advertisement Stroud has fantasy QB1 potential in 2025, but is being drafted as a mid-range QB2. Running Backs Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs 2024 fantasy finish: RB62, 7.3 pts per game 2025 ADP: RB24, Pick 68 Let's toss last season aside, shall we? Isiah Pacheco missed Weeks 3-12, plus Week 18, with a broken fibula and rib injury, and when he returned in Week 14, his usage suggested that he wasn't fully healed, as he was not on the field for more than 46% of the snaps in any game for the remainder of 2025 which includes the postseason. Before his injury, Pop saw a 72% snap share with 41 touches, which he translated to 189 combined yards and one TD. While Kareem Hunt is still there and the Chiefs did bring in Elijah Mitchell, Pacheco should see the first snaps even if there ends up being some sort of committee. If the start of last year is any indication of his usage, Pacheco is a solid value in the RB 'Dead Zone." Plus, Andy Reid did say that he 'looks tremendous,' so there's that. Advertisement Rico Dowdle, Panthers 2024 fantasy finish: RB24, 10.9 PPG 2025 ADP: RB45, Pick 132 An RB24 finish wasn't too shabby for Rico Dowdle last year, but he got tossed aside by Dallas and signed with the Panthers this offseason. He broke 1,000 rushing yards with an additional 249 through the air and five total TDs, while averaging 17.1 touches per contest. While his move to Carolina won't be in a lead-back capacity, Dowdle is in a good spot for contingency value. He's a strong north-south runner with passing game chops and could see RB2 volume if anything were to happen to Chuba Hubbard. Jaylen Wright, Dolphins 2024 fantasy finish: RB84, 1.8 PPG 2025 ADP: RB46, 131 There was considerable hype surrounding Jaylen Wright coming into the NFL last year, and he didn't produce as desired with just 249 scoreless yards while buried behind Raheem Mostert and even Jeff Wilson Jr. as De'Von Achane's backup in Miami. Advertisement [Visit 4for4 for more fantasy football analysis] He's coming into 2025 in better shape, with Mostert no longer in town to murk up his usage. The Dolphins brought in Alexander Mattison and sixth-rounder Ollie Gordon, so there's no guarantee of that RB2 role, but Wright should have the inside track and makes for a nice late-round piece as part of a Dolphin stack in best ball, or an insurance back with upside in redraft leagues. Wide Receivers Rome Odunze, Bears 2024 fantasy finish: WR47, 7.2 PPG 2025 ADP: WR34, 94 While he may be a tad more expensive in drafts than he was last year— which doesn't necessarily fit the post-hype sleeper prototype — Rome Odunze is coming off a disappointing rookie season primed for a breakout, so I'm including him. Advertisement Last year, he was part of a dysfunctional Bears' offense and ended as the WR65 in half-PPR scoring on a per-game basis. It's a new day in Chicago as OC Shane Waldron and veteran WR Keenan Allen are gone, and HC Ben Johnson should boost the Bears' overall offensive situation. While the target competition is real with rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden II now in the mix as well as DJ Moore, Odunze does have a path to becoming Caleb Williams' go-to WR, and he could put up fantasy WR2 numbers for the draft price of a low-end WR3. Keon Coleman, Bills 2024 fantasy finish: WR67, 7.7 PPG 2025 ADP: WR57, 130 Another rookie who didn't live up to expectations, Keon Coleman did show us some big-time potential at times last season, with four double-digit contests in half-PPR scoring, three of those coming before a mid-season wrist injury. Advertisement He's healthy, and the Bills WR room doesn't appear too different in 2025, as they just swapped out Mack Hollins for Joshua Palmer, so Coleman should see plenty of looks. If he can take a step forward in his separation (he had the lowest among WRs in 2024), there's potential for a big breakout coming for the sophomore, considering he was already on the field the most of any Bill WR last season (73%). His fantasy WR57 price tag seems low based on the possibilities of a Josh Allen-led offense. Tight Ends Jake Ferguson, Cowboys 2024 fantasy finish: TE28, 5.6 PPG 2025 ADP: TE12, 127 Coming off a TE8 campaign in 2023, Jake Ferguson struggled to produce last season as a whole (TE28), but in Weeks 1-9 with Dak Prescott, the 26-year-old was the TE12. With a healthy Prescott and defenders likely keying in on CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and leaving Ferguson unchallenged underneath and on check-downs, there's potential for fantasy TE1 output for the current price of a TE2. Advertisement This story originally appeared on
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Isiah Pacheco's Chiefs Starting Role In Jeopardy?
Is Isiah Pacheco's Chiefs Starting Role In Jeopardy? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Life comes at you fast in the NFL, and Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is finding that out now. After two superb seasons to start his career that saw Pacheco rush for over 800 yards and at least five touchdowns in both years, a leg injury last season hampered him and is now a big reason why some see him as under pressure to perform. Advertisement Why? A host of reasons, with the biggest being that Isiah will be playing on the final year of his rookie deal, and the other is the competition with Elijah Mitchell and rookie Brashard Smith making up the depth chart. Now, is wondering how the season might shake out for Pacheco if he doesn't hit the ground running early this upcoming season. "The injury bug derailed Isiah Pacheco's third season," wrote. "The Chiefs RB suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2, and when he returned, he didn't appear to be the same angry runner down the stretch of the Chiefs' regular season and playoff run. Pacheco has bulked up to 216 pounds, just like how he entered the NFL. "Meanwhile, the Chiefs took a flier in the draft by selecting Brashard Smith out of SMU in the seventh round. Pacheco will hope he can have an impact just like his first two seasons in the league, but if he has a slow start, Smith, along with Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell, could take some snaps from the electric RB1." Advertisement Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images As training camp gets underway in the next few weeks, Pacheco will be the starter for head coach/play-caller Andy Reid, and it will be up to the four-year veteran to stay there. While there could be a thought that Pacheco could get overtaken in the regular season if he doesn't produce, the same could be said in training camp, too. All it would take is for Mitchell or Smith, or even Hunt, to showcase something that catches the coaching staff's attention, and now we have a conversation about the pecking order. Pacheco was the bona fide starter for two seasons and produced well. However, now, after an injury and entering a contract year, it appears the pressure is on the Super Bowl winner more than ever to ensure he remains the starter. Advertisement Related: Chiefs Urged To Sign Veteran Competition for Camp Related: Chiefs' Receiver Depth Chart Key 'Storyline' Of Training Camp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Icon Jerome Bettis weighs in on the importance of franchise running backs
This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis. Bettis is participating in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe. Bettis shared his thoughts on the importance of teams committing to a franchise running back, as many, including Kansas City Chiefs starter Isiah Pacheco, await word on a potential contract extension."Well, teams must understand that when you find a franchise running back, you sign them. Make no mistake, because he changes the complexion of what your team looks like and how your team will perform. I think people often look at where the NFL is today; it's more of a passing league, and because of that, people have taken the running back position a little bit for granted," said Bettis, "And say, you know what? We can get just a guy to go out and give us 12 to 15 carries, and then we get another guy to give us another 10 or 8 carries. We can do it by just getting a couple of good players, and they don't have to pay the price of a top-tier running back, and they can put that money in other places. They are starting to realize that if I don't have a franchise running back, my team looks different than some of these teams competing for a championship because they have that go-to running back now."Bettis praised Philadelphia's decision to sign Saquon Barkley and his success as an example of a franchise running back. During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, he mentioned several others, including Pacheco from the Chiefs, who hasn't been offered an extension yet."I will say this: it's not easy to find the franchise running backs because the colleges aren't running the ball the way they used to. So you don't see as many coming out of the NFL. Every year, you see one, maybe two. I think they had two solid running backs in this draft, so you felt good about drafting in the first round," Bettis told Easton Jr., "So you're not finding as many as you used to. But when you find one, you better keep them and pay them. You saw Green Bay (Packers). They went out and got a guy who was a bell cow, and he (Josh Jacobs) changed what that team looked like. Then you look at Baltimore (Ravens). They go out, and they go and get a guy (Derrick Henry). They're getting a stud, which makes them look different, so when you find them and bring them in, it changes your team, and you see the difference. So it's not a mistake that these teams have had the years that they have with the running backs that they have."The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC and a first-place prize of $150,000 make the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf world. Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship . Advertisement This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Jerome Bettis weighs in on the importance of franchise running backs
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Running Back Details Learned Lessons Of Rookie Season
Chiefs Running Back Details Learned Lessons Of Rookie Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele had a solid rookie season with Andy Reid's offense despite being a bit-part player. Advertisement An undrafted free agent, Steele had to do things the hard way to begin his NFL career, and he made good progress during the offseason, eventually making the 53-man roster. Steele would total 183 rushing yards from 56 attempts in the regular season, but didn't feature in the playoffs with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco leading the way. But for Carson, going from where he was to making the active roster, he learned a few things. "It's one of those things where you're thinking you're okay and then you got to wait and kind of figure things out," Steele said in an interview with Nate Spangle. "I always try to tell people that if you make a mistake, doing it at 100%, they're going to be mad, but they aren't going to be upset. When you're making mistakes and half-assing it, that's when something is going to need to change." Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele (42) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Zanine-Imagn Images That mindset of not 'half-assing" it got Steele on the field in 2024, and where he did show some flashes (72 yards from 17 carries vs. Atlanta). Advertisement Now, though, as he enters his second offseason, it will be tough sledding getting touches with Pacheco, Hunt, and now Elijah Mitchell and Brashard Smith all vying for reps. But as we know, Steele is no stranger to adversity, having gone from an undrafted rookie to making the final roster, but Carson knows that he might have to replicate his efforts again this offseason to ensure he stays on the Chiefs roster in 2025. Related: Chiefs Fans Learn Where Offense Ranks on 'Entertaining' List Related: Big-Talking Rival Pays 'Ultimate Respect' To Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
