Kansas City is primarily a passing team, but it stumbled onto a nice running back in the seventh round. Isiah Pacheco has been starting for them for most of the year, and he moved into that role before Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran into injury problems.

Pacheco carried 10 times for only 26 yards last week, but he caught 5 passes for 59 yards in that game. The previous week, he was a key factor in the win over Jacksonville, rushing for 95 yards on 12 carries. He ran for over 60 yards nine times in the preseason.

This isn’t the kind of production you typically get from a seventh-round pick. Typically, players selected in that round are hoping to make the team and maybe contribute some on special teams or in a backup role.

That Pacheco will be a factor at all in the Super Bowl is unlikely. Only 13 rookie running backs have logged 10-plus carries in Super Bowls, including only four in the last 20 years. Only 20 rookie running backs have carried the ball more than 5 times in Super Bowls, and none of them were selected as late at Pacheco.

ROOKIE RUNNING BACKS IN SUPER BOWLS
YearPlayerPickOppResultAttYdsAvgTD
2018Sony Michel, N.E.31LARW 13-318945.21
2012Bernard Pierce, Balt.84S.F.W 34-3112332.80
2010James Starks, G.B.193Pitt.W 31-2511524.70
2006Joseph Addai, Ind.30Chi.W 29-1719774.10
2000Jamal Lewis, Balt.5NYGW 34-7271023.81
1991Ricky Ervins, Was.76Buff.W 37-2413725.50
1989Bobby Humphrey, Den.3S.F.L 10-5512615.10
1988Ickey Woods, Cin.31S.F.L 16-2020794.00
1987Timmy Smith, Was.117Den.W 42-10222049.32
1977Tony Dorsett, Dall.2Den.W 27-1015664.41
1977Rob Lytle, Den.45Dall.L 10-2710353.51
1970Duane Thomas, Dall.23Balt.L 13-1618351.90
1970Norm Bulaich, Balt.18Dall.W 16-1318281.60
2007Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG250N.E.W 17-149455.00
1994William Floyd, S.F.28S.D.W 49-269323.60
2020Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C.32T.B.L 9-319647.10
1967Travis Williams, G.B.93Oak.W 33-148364.50
1973Chuck Foreman, Min.12Mia.L 7-247182.60
1966Mike Garrett, K.C.18G.B.L 10-356172.80
2013Montee Ball, Den.58Sea.L 8-4361.20
1981Bill Ring, S.F.--Cin.W 26-215173.40
1984Derrick Harmon, S.F.248Mia.W 38-165204.00
2022Isiah Pacheco, K.C.253Phil.?????

—Ian Allan