The Kansas City Chiefs have bounced back with two straight wins after dropping their first two games of the season. Still, the team doesn’t look like its dominant self from years past. One glaring issue? A sputtering ground game. And one analyst believes the solution is simple: bench Isiah Pacheco.
The Rutgers product made an immediate impact after being drafted in 2022. Over his first two seasons, he racked up 375 carries for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns.
But since fracturing his fibula early in the 2024 season, Pacheco hasn’t looked the same. In nine games since returning, he’s averaged just 33.6 rushing yards per game and hasn’t found the end zone once.
That’s why some analysts say it’s time for head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to make a change. Enter Brashard Smith.
Could Brashard Smith be the answer in Kansas City?
Amid the Chiefs’ offensive struggles, Fansided analyst Justin Carter offered a bold suggestion: “The Chiefs might be able to make the best of it with one simple move.” That move? Give Smith more snaps.
Smith, a seventh-round pick in last year’s draft, is a graduate of SMU and one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 rookie class.
Carter noted that Smith began his college career as a wide receiver at Miami before switching to running back at SMU-a transition that paid off. In just one season at the position, Smith rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“Giving Smith passing-down snaps and using Kareem Hunt on early downs feels like an easy fix for the Kansas City running game,” Carter explained.
A boost for Mahomes and the offense
The return of Xavier Worthy last week gave the Chiefs’ offense a much-needed jolt. Strengthening the run game could further open up the field for quarterback Patrick Mahomes to maximize his receiving weapons.
While Carter acknowledged that Smith may not be ready to carry the full load, he added, “Getting a non-productive running back [Pacheco] off the field wouldn’t hurt.”
If Smith doesn’t pan out, Carter concluded, the Chiefs can always revert to their current game plan. Now the question is whether Reid and Nagy will take the leap and give their running game the overhaul it desperately needs.
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