Former Kansas City Chiefs receiver calls for dramatic offensive personnel shift for AFC Championship Game vs. Bills
Perhaps the best personnel decision that the Kansas City Chiefs made in 2024 was signing running back Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs were in a tough situation when starting RB Isiah Pacheco went down in Week 2 with an ankle injury that would end up costing him the next nine games. They were down to rookie […]
Perhaps the best personnel decision that the Kansas City Chiefs made in 2024 was signing running back Kareem Hunt.
The Chiefs were in a tough situation when starting RB Isiah Pacheco went down in Week 2 with an ankle injury that would end up costing him the next nine games. They were down to rookie Carson Steele, who wasn't ready for that vital of a role, and Samaje Perine, who is more of a third down back.
In Week 3 Kansas City brought back a familiar face in Hunt, who was drafted by the team in 2017 and released late in 2018 following an off the field incident. He made his season debut for the Chiefs in Week 4 and was the bell cow back until Pacheco's return in Week 13.
As many thought would happen, the workload was split pretty evenly between Hunt and Pacheco throughout the final six games of the season, with Hunt racking up 195 yards on 53 carries and Pacheco 193 yards on 54 carries. However, despite looking rejuvenated during his first couple games back, Pacheco has slowed down as of late.
Hunt has outgained Pacheco by 70 yards over the past four games. He has taken eight more carries than Pacheco during that span, but is averaging four yards per carry to Pacheco's 2.8. In Saturday's divisional round playoff game against the Houston Texans, Hunt averaged 5.5 yards per carry, while Pacheco averaged 3.6.
Former Chiefs wide receiver and current tv/radio host Marc Boerigter shared on X that he believes Hunt should get the majority of the carries moving forward.
While Boerigter thought that was going to be an unpopular opinion, most Chiefs fans actually agree with him. Hunt has clearly been the better of the two between him and Pacheco. He may not have the speed Pacheco does, but his ability to run with power and bounce off of defenders has been very valuable.
It's possible that Pacheco isn't back to form yet coming off of his injury, but the Chiefs have to ride the hot hand as they prepare for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Hunt has been in a great rhythm since returning to K.C. and is determined to win his first Super Bowl.
