Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Isiah Pacheco and Zonovan Knight

Dan Meylor

Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover at least two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and how well he’s lived up to those expectations at the NFL level to this point, I’ll grade the player in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, rookie season potential and long-term upside.

The series continues as we take a look at a pair of week 12 standout running backs, Isiah Pacheco and Zonovan Knight.

Isiah Pacheco, RB KC

Week 12 Stats: 22 carries, 69 yards, one touchdown, one reception, 17 receiving yards (one target)

Pacheco came out of nowhere for most dynasty managers during training camp but I watched him regularly in college.

His time at Rutgers was very memorable. Every time I watched the Scarlet Knights, I saw the Road Runner carrying the ball. Pacheco’s feet move faster than any tailback I’ve ever seen and although he played on a poor team and in bad game scripts throughout his college career, I always noticed him because of his insanely quick feet and explosiveness.

A one-cut runner who commits to a running lane with timing and anticipation, Pacheco is at his best when he runs in rhythm with his offensive line and running lanes appear on time. He’s aggressive at the point of attack, always facing tacklers head-on, and shows the power to knock linebackers on their heels and the awareness and explosiveness to force defenders into bad tackling angles. When he finds open field, he’s rarely caught from behind.

Pacheco runs like his hair is on fire. His energy and urgency to make big plays make him a threat from anywhere on the field but can also be a problem at times. If running lanes don’t appear immediately, he lacks the patience to allow one to form and has a tendency to run into the backs of his blockers or try to bounce runs to the perimeter which tends to get him in trouble despite his sub 4.4 speed.

Although he caught 47 passes in his four years at Rutgers, Pacheco has never really looked comfortable in that role. For a player with his athleticism and explosiveness, he appears surprisingly unconfident with the ball in the air which affects his ability to make plays after the catch. With college film full of double catches and bobbles, very few expect him to ever be a factor as a pass catcher at the next level.

After sliding to one of the very last picks in the NFL Draft, Pacheco got a solid landing spot in Kansas City but it wasn’t enough to push him out of the fourth round of dynasty rookie drafts. Lots of training camp buzz created a surge in dynasty value in August, however, and Pacheco was suddenly squarely on the dynasty radar.

After quickly surpassing Ronald Jones on the depth chart, Pacheco played behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the first half of the season. Starting in week ten though, the rookie took over as the primary early-down tailback for the Chiefs. In the three weeks since, he’s carried 53 times for 258 yards and a touchdown.

In week 12 against the Rams, Pacheco had the most carries by a Chiefs runner in a game since week six of 2020 when CEH carried 26 times against the Bills. Like he has all season, he ran with authority and urgency throughout the game. Primarily carrying on inside zone runs out of the shotgun, he chopped his feet for a moment before picking a running lane and charging towards it. He didn’t break many tackles but he exploded through creases and finished runs well, always lunging forward for an extra yard or two as he did on his three-yard touchdown.

Clearly, Andy Reid and the Kansas City coaching staff see Pacheco as their top option as a runner. Unfortunately, he has just four targets on the season. His best play on Sunday was actually his only reception, however. Out of the slot, he ran a sharp slant against Rams linebacker Ernest Jones, made the catch (with a slight bobble) away from his body and immediately got up-field for a 17-yard gain. The play was called specifically for him. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.

At this point, it’s clear Pacheco is the Chiefs’ best runner and is in line for a big workload down the stretch of the season and in the playoffs. He’s going to be a hot dynasty name if he continues to get this volume because he plays on a dynamic offense and looks good running the football. He’s an RB2 for the rest of 2022 for all those reasons.

The truth is though, Pacheco could easily be replaced with a more well-rounded tailback and nobody should be surprised if Kansas City does exactly that this off-season. If I had Pacheco on my roster, I’d gladly click the box next to his name for the rest of the season each week and might even run him out in some DFS lineups over the next few months. But I’d be looking to trade him as soon as trading opens back up in my dynasty league this off-season.

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Zonovan Knight, RB NYJ

Week 12 Stats: 14 carries, 69 yards, three receptions, 34 receiving yards (three targets)

A productive college running back, Knight ran for between 745 and 788 yards in each of his three seasons at North Carolina State. Accounting for more than 2,600 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns including three as a returner, he profiled as a “jack of all trades” backup tailback at the next level.

Watching Knight’s college film, it’s easy to see that his vision to find running lanes is his biggest strength. A one-cut runner with a knack for setting up blocks before cutting behind them, he gets what’s blocked for him in a zone-running system.

Another strength of Knight’s is his hands. A very solid checkdown option in the passing game, Knight caught 48 passes in his college career for 337 yards. Primarily an underneath receiver on swings and flat routes, he shows soft hands and an ability to get yards after the catch.

Although he was productive as a runner, pass catcher and returner in college, most draft pundits questioned during the pre-draft process if Knight had the explosiveness to be a productive tailback at the next level. His college tape shows a one-cut runner with limited burst at the point of attack and a lack of speed to pull away from defenders when he does reach the third level.

Knight also struggled throughout his college career with contact balance. Regularly taken down with arm tackles or when defenders would hit him high without wrapping up, he doesn’t appear to have what it takes to carry a large workload on Sundays.

Knight, known by his nickname Bam, went undrafted in both the NFL Draft and most dynasty rookie drafts. He didn’t appear on the fantasy radar until week 12 when he was active for the first time as a rookie, accounting for 103 yards from scrimmage and scoring 13.3 PPR fantasy points.

It took an unforeseen set of circumstances for Knight to get his opportunity. First, rookie Breece Hall is out for the season. Second, despite the Jets sending a draft pick to Jacksonville for James Robinson, the former Jaguar was a healthy scratch in favor of the rookie. Then, starter Michael Carter went down to injury.

Knight shared the backfield with veteran Ty Johnson (six touches for 88 yards and a touchdown) following the Carter injury but looked good in the first regular season game action of his career. He was decisive and finished runs with authority, looking fresh and eager to make an impact. In all honesty, however, with the exception of a couple of slipped tackles, he got what was blocked and didn’t make much happen on his own. The Jets’ offensive line handled the Chicago front on Sunday and the duo of Knight and Johnson benefited.

Depending on the severity of Carter’s injury, there is a path to short-term fantasy production from Knight but in all likelihood, the Jets will split the workload between whoever is healthy moving forward. Likely only active over Robinson last week because he and Johnson can each contribute on special teams, there are no guarantees either get regular touches moving forward.

Nobody should be surprised if Sunday’s game against the Bears is Knight’s most productive as a pro. Nevertheless, he should be rostered in most dynasty formats after his big game. There is the potential for short-term flex appeal if he gets any type of volume, but expecting anything in the long term from a replacement-level talent like Knight is a reach.

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dan meylor
Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Isiah Pacheco and Zonovan Knight