Kansas City’s AFC West dynasty — and the impact it’s having on Kansas sports betting — appears to be rolling along without a hitch, with the Chiefs racing out to a 9-3 start behind the play of a litany of stars.
One member of this year’s Chiefs team that might not fit that billing is second-year running back Isiah Pacheco, who has been stellar after getting selected out of Rutgers in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pacheco made a name for himself as a rookie on the Super Bowl champion Chiefs roster in 2022, with 830 rushing yards and five touchdowns, serving as a major catalyst in the Chiefs fast-paced offensive attack. This fall, the 24-year-old has gone a step further, with 779 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 12 games, putting him on pace for his first 1,000-yard rushing season.
As we move into the typical playoff period for most fantasy leagues, BetKansas.com utilized FantasyData.com to compile the current rankings of RBs after Week 13 in a standard points per reception league and then found the average draft position rankings for a standard PPR league prior to the season. Running backs were only included if they were in the Top 60 in original ADP rankings.
Top Fantasy RBs of 2023
The Chiefs Super Bowl odds are +500, second in the NFL behind San Francisco.
Pacheco Among NFL’s Biggest Movers
Of all the backs in the NFL, Pacheco has seen one of the biggest jumps in average fantasy football ranking this season, with the former Scarlet Knight gaining 21 spots from preseason (No. 30) to this week (No. 9).
When broken down by fantasy points per game, Pacheco’s 14.5 PPG rank second among the group. Pacheco will look to keep the good times going Sunday, when the Chiefs host 6-6 Buffalo at 3:25 p.m. Central time. ESPN BET Kansas lists the Chiefs as a 2.5-point home favorite.
