The Kansas City Chiefs head into their massive matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday a bit shorthanded.
The Chiefs won't have their top running back, Isiah Pacheco. He was ruled out Friday due to injury.
They won't be without RB talent, of course, but things will look different. The Chiefs have heavily rotated their backfield this season, and they won't be able to do that as much in Week 9.
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Chiefs' RB depth chart
With Pacheco out, the Kansas City Chiefs' RB depth chart likely looks like this:
- Kareem Hunt
- Brashard Smith
- Elijah Mitchell
Hunt has already been the short-yardage back, and it makes sense to expect him to see a bit more early-down work, too.
Smith is a promising rookie, but his role has mostly been as a pass catcher so far, and he'll probably remain in that.
Mitchell is the wild card here. The Chiefs got him this offseason after time with the 49ers, and if there's another early-down back on the roster, it's him.
It'll be interesting to see if Andy Reid runs Mitchell out there in some of the spots he would've used Pacheco, or if it's all Hunt in that role.
The Chiefs' decision-making here could decide who wins the huge clash of AFC contenders on Sunday in the late afternoon window.
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