The Kansas City Chiefs set the football world on fire earlier this week by bringing in veteran running back Kareem Hunt for a visit. This move wasn’t a luxury but a necessity after starting RB Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula, sidelining him for potentially months. However, despite the return of the 2017 Rookie of the Year, undrafted rookie Carson Steele will be Kansas City’s top running back in Week 3 and beyond.
The former UCLA Bruin quickly caught the fanbase's support this summer, but the real milestone came when he secured a spot on the initial 53-man roster. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire sidelined and Samaje Perine’s limited usage, Steele went from being on the roster bubble to getting multiple touches in each of the first two games of 2024. His 7-carry, 24-yard performance in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals might not inspire much confidence, but head coach Andy Reid still turned to him the most with Pacheco out of action.
Steele will remain Kansas City’s top running back until he proves otherwise or Pacheco returns.
Kansas City can take a perfect Moneyball approach to replacing Pacheco for now. With Steele’s ability in short-yardage situations and Perine’s pass-catching skills, the Chiefs have a well-rounded backfield.
Hunt remains an emergency option, likely to see just five or six rushing attempts per game. Hunt is sadly a shadow of the player he was when he unceremoniously moved on from the Chiefs nearly six years ago.
Remember that Hunt hasn’t played a game in 2024 and averaged a disappointing three yards per carry last year. Fans may fondly remember his dominant 2017 and 2018 seasons with the Chiefs, but they often overlook his steady decline with the Cleveland Browns, despite playing in a run-heavy offense under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Hunt’s familiarity with the team and his solid, if unspectacular, floor made him the best free-agent option for Kansas City. However, Steele’s fresher legs and knowledge of the 2024 Chiefs playbook—compared to Hunt’s experience with the 2018 scheme—are just two reasons why Steele will handle the majority of carries in Sunday's game in Atlanta. The rookie will remain Kansas City’s top running back until he proves otherwise or Pacheco returns.
Having Hunt waiting in the wings isn’t a bad thing, but fans shouldn’t think this changes anything for Steele. Kansas City remains the team to beat in the AFC, especially after fending off two contenders' best efforts to dethrone the defending champions at Arrowhead. Hunt doesn’t raise the team's ceiling by much, because the next few weeks are the biggest of Steele’s young career.
