It was only two years ago that the Fantasy Football community fell all over itself for Clyde Edwards-Helaire because of Andy Reid’s history with running backs.

Since then, it’s been a mixed bag to end all mixed bags. Edwards-Helaire has flashed at times but has mostly been hurt or sharing with guys like Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon.

As he entered Year 3, he saw the Chiefs add Ronald Jones in free agency and then bring back McKinnon. Those additions have driven Edwards-Helaire’s ADP down, but we may have been worried about the wrong guy.

Isiah Pacheco is the most recent running back drafted by Andy Reid, in Round 7 of the 2022 NFL Draft. And if the first week of training camp is any indication, he’ll be sticking around. Pacheco has earned reps with the first team already, working ahead of Jones often enough for multiple reporters to notice it.

He also earned the praise of special teams coach Dave Toub and will open the preseason as the team’s primary kick returner. While he’s still a darkhorse to make an impact in redraft in 2022, it’s time for Dynasty managers to get acquainted with the Chiefs’ rookie, and add him to their bench if they have a spot.

Pacheco had an uninspiring college career on an abysmal Rutgers offense, but his work at the combine shows you just what kind of upside he has. His 4.37 40-yard dash at 216 pounds earned him a speed score at Player Profiler which ranks in the 98th percentile for draft-eligible running backs.

Add in 27 reps on the bench press and you’ve got yourself an elite athlete who just happened to land on one of the best offenses in football surrounded by flawed competition.