Kerrane suggested closing drafts with Kareem Hunt as a pure leverage play against an unsettled Chiefs backfield. He and BBG agreed that while Isiah Pacheco is penciled in as the starter, Kansas City has been ‘ambiguous’ about workload distribution, leaving the door open for a veteran like Hunt to siphon high-value touches. Unlike the Bengals’ depth chart, where Chase Brown is clearly ahead, the Chiefs could integrate Hunt immediately on passing downs or near the goal line—roles that deliver outsized fantasy value. For zero-RB builds, Kerrane likes the idea of grabbing Hunt as an eighth back, arguing the minimal opportunity cost is justified by the contingency upside if Pacheco falters or Andy Reid reverts to a committee.

JSU said Kareem Hunt is the kind of near-undrafted running back who can swing DraftKings best-ball tournaments. He reminded listeners that once Kansas City re-signed Hunt last season he immediately led the backfield in carries inside the five, a clear sign of Andy Reid’s trust. With Isaiah Pacheco already nursing the same shoulder that cost him games in 2024, JSU sees an easy path to double-digit touchdowns if the starter is limited or sidelined. Even in a committee, the Chiefs rank top-five in red-zone trips per game, so a monopoly on goal-line snaps plus late receiving work gives Hunt weekly 15-point upside at a giveaway ADP.

Ian Hartitz said drafting Kareem Hunt in round 17 of Best-Ball Mania is an easy lottery ticket because there’s a realistic shot—he put the odds at 30 percent—that Hunt beats out Isiah Pacheco for the Chiefs starting job. Hartitz pointed to Kansas City’s prior familiarity with Hunt from his 2017–18 Pro Bowl seasons and noted that Pacheco is still rehabbing tight-rope ankle surgery, a procedure that historically hampers backs for months. He added that Andy Reid has routinely shuffled backfield roles late in camp; if Hunt takes the first preseason series with Patrick Mahomes, his ADP could skyrocket into the Javonte Williams/Miles Sanders round-10 range. With drafters currently paying a seventh-round premium for Pacheco’s version of the same role, Hartitz views Hunt’s asymmetric upside as the perfect final-round swing in large-field best-ball tournaments.