NFL Power Rankings: Who will have the best rushing attack this season?

NFL Power Rankings: Which teams will have the best rushing attacks this season?

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates with running back Gus Edwards (35) after a touchdown by wide receiver Seth Roberts (not pictured) in the second quarter against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter of Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

NFL Power Rankings: 23. Kansas City Chiefs

2022 rushing yards rank: 20th
2022 yards per carry rank: 8th

The Chiefs finally found their franchise running back. After taking over the starting job in Week 7, Isiah Pacheco seized his opportunity and never looked back.

Over the final nine games of the regular season, he rushed for 633 yards and four touchdowns, while averaging an efficient 5.0 yards per carry. That puts him on pace for 1,196 rushing yards over the course of a full season.

Notably, Pacheco finished eighth in the NFL in rush yards over expected per attempt (0.76), per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Behind Pacheco, things get murkier. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon both underperformed last season.

Curiously, there is a large gap between Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco in yards before contact. Edwards-Helaire averaged only 1.9 yards before contact last season, which was tied for the worst mark in the NFL (minimum 70 carries). Conversely, Pacheco’s 3.2 yards before contact was 10th in the NFL. YBC can be indicative of two factors: offensive line play and speed behind the line of scrimmage. A nearly league-wide gap between teammates is rare to see. It is an interesting stat to monitor moving forward with this group.

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