For a few weeks now, the Kansas City Chiefs were rumored to re-sign running back Jerick McKinnon. On Monday, May 1, Ian Rapoport reported the Chiefs were expected to re-sign the running back. On Tuesday, May 2, Field Yates reported the two sides made it official. What can we expect from the Chiefs’ backfield in the 2023 NFL season?
Kansas City Chiefs Re-Sign Jerick McKinnon
The details of McKinnon’s contract remain unclear, but we can reasonably presume it to be a one-year deal. Since the 2020 season, each of McKinnon’s contracts have been for one year, with the last two being in Kansas City. It stands to reason that at age 31, McKinnon isn’t about to start getting a multi-year contract now.
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The reunion makes sense for both sides. Given McKinnon’s age, he’s not about to go get a feature-back job anywhere. In Kansas City, he knows what his role is and that he will be used properly.
McKinnon had arguably the best season of his career in 2022. He played in all 17 games, amassing 803 yards from scrimmage. McKinnon set career-highs in targets (71), receptions (56), and total touchdowns (10).
What Can We Expect From the Chiefs’ Backfield in 2023?
On the same day the Chiefs brought back McKinnon, they also declined 2020 first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s fifth-year option. This decision was not at all surprising.
By the end of last season, CEH was relegated to fourth on the depth chart, behind rookie seventh-rounder Isiah Pacheco, McKinnon, and sub-replacement level talent Ronald Jones. It would not shock me at all if the Chiefs cut Edwards-Helaire before the start of the season.
The Chiefs’ backfield is poised to look a lot like it did in 2022. Pacheco will be the lead runner, operating on early downs and around the goal line. McKinnon will primarily play on passing downs. This is a split that worked really well for fantasy football managers last season.
At one point, McKinnon’s passing game role became so prominent that he posted back-to-back elite RB1 games. In Weeks 14 and 15, two of the most important weeks of the fantasy season, McKinnon scored 32.4 and 34.2 PPR fantasy points. His performance from Weeks 13-17, the home stretch of the fantasy season, was stuff dreams are made of. He undoubtedly carried many teams to fantasy championships.
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Of course, fantasy managers should not expect a repeat performance. With that said, McKinnon’s weekly floor playing with Patrick Mahomes is quite high. As we saw last season, he’s a threat to score any given week.
Pacheco should also be a solid fantasy option, but his weekly floor is much lower. As a complete zero in the passing game, evidenced by his 2.3% target share, the entirety of Pacheco’s production must come from rushing. So, unless he finds the end zone, he’s unlikely to give fantasy managers more than an RB3 performance.
The good news is Pacheco is on the Chiefs. While his fantasy value is largely dependent on touchdowns, he can expect to get plenty of chances to score them on the Chiefs’ explosive offense.
Behind Pacheco and McKinnon is the aforementioned Edwards-Helaire and former Jet La’Mical Perine. It remains to be seen if they go out and sign a veteran, such as Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, or perhaps a Kareem Hunt reunion. But right now, it looks like we have two low-end fantasy RB2s in McKinnon and Pacheco.