Should you pick up Kareem Hunt in fantasy leagues? RB on Week 3 waiver wire lists after Chiefs sign him to practice squad

If you're a fantasy manager who had a star player go down in one of the first two weeks of the season, you are certainly not alone. It's been a brutal start to the season as so many top names have missed time already or are slated to miss time starting in Week 3. Names like Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa, and Isiah Pacheco are some of the biggest names throwing a major wrench into the plans of so many fantasy managers.

We're going to take a closer look at the Pacheco injury, but more specifically on how the Chiefs will try to patch things up in the running game during his absence. Pacheco went down with a fractured fibula and is now on IR expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

The in-house options for the Chiefs were Carson Steele and Samaje Perine, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire eligible to return from IR after Week 4. But one name in particular has come to the forefront of the speculation, and that's Kareem Hunt. Following a visit with the team, the Chiefs signed him to the practice squad, so should he be a priority waiver wire pickup for fantasy managers?

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Should Kareem Hunt be a top waiver wire pick after signing with Kansas City to join practice squad?

Kareem Hunt still carries with him some significant name value, but will he be fantasy relevant after joining the Chiefs' practice squad? Hunt hasn't really had a significant fantasy impact since the 2020 season when he racked up 1,145 all-purpose yardage and 11 TDs in his second season with the Browns. And the only season in which he surpassed the 1,000 rushing yards mark was his rookie year with the Chiefs when he tallied 1,327 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground as well as 53 receptions and 3 additional scores.

Hunt scored did reach paydirt nine times last season for Cleveland, but he ran for just 411 yards at a 3.0 yards per attempt rate. That kind of touchdown production is unsustainable with rushing numbers like that, so it wasn't very surprising that Hunt was unable to latch on with a team during the offseason or preseason. So, why would that change now for the Chiefs? They clearly like their internal options of Carson Steele and Samaje Perine more, otherwise Hunt would have already been on this team.

In fact, this situation reminds us a little bit of when Dalvin Cook joined the Cowboys before the start of the season. Cook was formerly an elite running back, still carried name value, some fantasy managers got excited, and now Cook hasn't been able to graduate from the practice squad and join Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle, who have both struggled so far.

Hunt is currently listed as the fifth-most-popular players being picked up in Yahoo! fantasy leagues. Heading into Monday night football, Hunt was listed as a free agent, while all other players who played in Week 2 were listed as waiver-eligible. What does that mean? Well, it means Hunt had a bit of a head start in becoming a trendy pickup, since managers were able to start picking him up ahead of waivers.

But both internal options for the Chiefs (Steele and Perine) are better waiver options, and Cam Akers is also a better pickup if Joe Mixon is going to miss time for the Texans. There are names further down the list like D'Onta Foreman and Gus Edwards who would be much better options than Hunt. And Edwards-Helaire might even be a better option, and he's currently on IR recovering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Because of his name, Hunt will be a popular pick, but you're better served to let another fantasy manager take the plunge unless your team is in the most dire of circumstances.

WEEK 3 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE
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Chiefs RB Depth Chart: Who are Isiah Pacheco's backups?

While the Chiefs may look to the outside for some help with Isiah Pacheco landing on IR, let's take a closer look at the internal options and break down the depth chart in the running back room.

Former UCLA star Carson Steele, who earned a spot on the roster with a strong preseason performance, is likely the best bet to take over early down rushing work in Isiah Pacheco's absence. He has accumulated nine carries for 27 yards, along with one fumble so far this season.

Steele is known for his powerful running style, capable of delivering significant hits to defenders as he advances down the field. Although he is currently listed as the team's fullback, the absence of Pacheco and Samaje Perine's increased role as a receiver should provide Steele with the opportunity to take on a larger share of the carries.

Perine joined the Chiefs this offseason after being cut by the Broncos when the team cut down to 53 players. At 29, he is more prominent as a receiver out of the backfield rather than as a rusher, boasting a reputation as one of the league's top pass-catching running backs. His career, spanning eight years, has been marked by his reliable hands and precise route-running.

Perine has yet to record a rushing attempt and has made two catches on three targets for 13 yards. With Pacheco sidelined, it's improbable that Perine will take on the lead-back role due to his limited rushing abilities, but he may become a significant asset for Mahomes in the passing game - similarly to how Mahomes utilized Jerick McKinnon in the past.