The Kansas City Chiefs’ ground game was a shadow of its potential last season, scraping by with a measly 101.2 yards per game, landing them a dismal 26th in the NFL. Sure, they got the job done—two Super Bowl rings don’t lie—but the run game lacked the spark Chiefs fans have come to expect from Andy Reid’s high-octane offense. Injuries to star running back Isiah Pacheco, who missed half the season, forced the team to sign Kareem Hunt off the couch just weeks into the year. The result? A rushing attack that was reliable but far from explosive.
Enter 2025, and the Chiefs have bolstered their backfield with Elijah Mitchell and rookie Brashard Smith, raising hopes that the run game could finally ignite. But not everyone’s buying the hype. Former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew, in his latest ranking of the league’s top 32 running backs, has thrown a bucket of cold water on Kansas City’s optimism. For teams with a committee approach like the Chiefs, Jones-Drew picks the player he believes will lead the pack. His choice? Isiah Pacheco. His ranking? A lowly No. 25.
“Pacheco missed 10 games last season due to injuries and wasn’t all that efficient when he was on the field,” Jones-Drew wrote. “This offseason, he’s added weight in an effort to recapture his rookie form, which could boost his yards per carry. But with Kansas City’s receiving corps back at full strength, Patrick Mahomes and the passing attack are poised to dominate, keeping Pacheco in this spot.”
Ouch. No. 25 feels like a gut punch for a player who burst onto the scene with relentless energy and a knack for game-changing runs. Pacheco’s first two years in the league showcased a fiery edge—hard-hitting, fearless, and explosive. But last season’s injuries, including a brutal leg break, dulled that spark. Even when he returned, Kareem Hunt had taken over as the starter, a clear sign that Pacheco’s grip on the RB1 role was slipping.
So, is Jones-Drew’s ranking fair? It stings, but it’s not entirely off-base. Pacheco’s efficiency took a hit last year, and with Hunt and Mitchell in the mix, the backfield is more crowded than ever. Still, Chiefs fans have reason to hope. Pacheco’s reportedly spent the offseason grinding, adding muscle to his frame and working to reclaim the burst that made him a fan favorite. With a full preseason (fingers crossed), he’s got a shot to reassert himself as the undisputed RB1.
The addition of Mitchell, a bruising back with a nose for the end zone, and Smith, a dynamic rookie with breakaway speed, could give Kansas City the versatile rushing attack they’ve lacked. But questions linger. Will a healthy receiving corps—led by a fully weaponized Patrick Mahomes—shift the offense’s focus back to the air, leaving the run game as an afterthought? Or can Pacheco, with his revamped physique and fiery determination, prove the doubters wrong and lead a revitalized ground attack?
The 2025 season looms as a make-or-break moment for Pacheco. If he can stay healthy and rediscover his rookie swagger, the Chiefs’ run game could finally become the complementary force that pushes this offense to new heights. But if Jones-Drew’s prediction holds, and Pacheco remains a cog in a committee, Kansas City’s ground game might stay stuck in neutral—leaving fans wondering if their RB1 has lost his edge for good.