These fantasy sleepers might just bring you a Week 11 win
USA TODAY Sports’ Joe Rivera and Jacob Camenker give fantasy managers a few solid sleepers to target before Sunday.
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for a critical, Week 11 battle with the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos. Will they have their top running back available for the game?
Isiah Pacheco was unable to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in their most recent game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. The 26-year-old was dealing with a knee injury he suffered on “Monday Night Football” the previous week.
Pacheco’s malady wasn’t expected to be a long-term issue, and there were even reports he was expected to return to the lineup following the team’s Week 10 bye.
But will that rosy scenario come to fruition? Here’s what to know about Pacheco’s status for Week 11 and the latest updates about his injured knee.
Is Isiah Pacheco playing today vs. Broncos?
No, Pacheco will not be playing against the Broncos in Week 11. He was a non-participant at practice throughout the week and the Chiefs ruled him out for the contest on Nov. 14.
Originally, Pacheco was expected to have a chance to play in Week 11. CBS Sports sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson reported ahead of the Week 9 game between the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills that Chiefs coach Andy Reid told her Pacheco “avoided serious injury and should be back after the bye.”
However, Reid was noncommittal about Pacheco’s status in his first media availability after the bye.
“I’ll have to see on Pacheco,” Reid told reporters when asked about the running back’s practice status on Nov. 10.
Isiah Pacheco injury update
Pacheco is dealing with a knee injury he suffered at the end of the Chiefs’ Week 8 game against the Washington Commanders.
Pacheco’s injury occurred when he was tackled low by Commanders cornerback Trey Amos with four minutes left in regulation of a 28-7 win. The 26-year-old running back was slow getting up and limped to the sideline, favoring his right knee following the play.
Pacheco received immediate treatment from Kansas City’s medical staff. The “Monday Night Football” broadcast showed the Rutgers product lying on the training table as his knee was examined. Eventually, Pacheco was able to get to his feet, clapping hard but did not return to the field for any of the Chiefs’ final three offensive snaps.
Pacheco was reported to be “week-to-week” because of the injury and will now miss his second game because of it.
Chiefs RB depth chart
The Chiefs currently have four running backs on their 53-man roster, including Pacheco. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit.
- Isiah Pacheco (injured)
- Kareem Hunt
- Brashard Smith
- Elijah Mitchell
Hunt received most of the work for the Chiefs during Pacheco’s Week 9 absence. The 30-year-old played 78.9% of the team’s offensive snaps and turned his 12 touches into 55 yards against Buffalo.
Smith has worked as the complement to Hunt with Pacheco out. The seventh-round rookie has been used mostly as a change-of-pace and receiving back this season, but he will continue to have a larger role as a top backup as long as Pacheco remains out.
While Mitchell is on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster, he hasn’t yet dressed for a game this season. Kansas City elevated veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire from its practice squad to serve as the team’s third-string back over Mitchell in Week 9.
It isn’t clear whether that arrangement will continue, but whoever serves as the third stringer in the event Pacheco is again absent will not see much action on offense. Edwards-Helaire played just two offensive snaps against the Bills.
The Chiefs also have Carson Steele, who had 183 yards on 56 carries for the team as an undrafted rookie last season, on their practice squad along with Edwards-Helaire.
