Are Kareem Hunt, Brashard Smith Must-Add Fantasy Waiver-Wire RBs After Pacheco Injury?

The Kansas City Chiefs got some tough injury news on Tuesday, as running back Isiah Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain during Monday night's 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders and is now considered week-to-week.

While Pacheco hadn't been great for fantasy players this year, averaging just 7.5 points per week, he was getting regular snaps and touches (12 or more carries in three straight weeks).

But with him now potentially set to miss some time, fantasy players looking for a boost at running back are left to question whether Kareem Hunt or Brashard Smith are worth adding in fantasy.

Both players are likely available. Hunt is only rostered in 29.8 percent of leagues, per FantasyPros, while Smith is only rostered in 21.7 percent of leagues.

There's a reason for that, of course.

Hunt has had his moments this season, with two weeks registering 17 or more fantasy points (including on Monday night), but he's been wildly inconsistent, with five games scoring less than six points.

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Smith, meanwhile, has only scored more than seven fantasy points in a week once.

The better bet here, by a fairly wide margin, is to add Hunt. He has 70 touches on the season to Smith's 39 and has found the end zone five times, while Smith has only done so once. Smith will have the bigger impact in the passing game, but Hunt should see the majority of the carries in general, and particularly near the goal line. He already has more than double the fantasy points of Smith this year, and there's little reason to believe that will change all that significantly.

Granted, Hunt isn't exactly your top waiver-wire priority this week. New York's Tyrone Tracy Jr. is only rostered in 41.8 percent of leagues and is about to be the feature back for a revitalized Giants' offense with Cam Skattebo done for the year. He's a much better addition, if available, than either Hunt or Smith.

It's less likely that a Woody Marks is available in your league (rostered in 67.9 percent of them), but he's another player who is starting to cook and would be a better addition. But if you are down to Hunt and Smith, Hunt is the clear choice and a solid flex option. For teams in need of help at running back who miss out on Tracy, Hunt is your next best bet and a must add.

Smith is more of a wild card option and a contingency plan. He's not a must add by any stretch, but if you have the roster spot available and can't get the better options, he's worth an add.