Kareem Hunt’s NFL journey has taken unexpected turns, and his Kareem Hunt 2025 Fantasy Outlook is complicated by shifting roles and team dynamics. After Isiah Pacheco’s injury in 2024 forced the Kansas City Chiefs to turn back to Hunt, the veteran running back reclaimed significant workload and fantasy relevance for a brief period. With Pacheco expected to return in 2025, fantasy managers face uncertainty regarding Hunt’s value and whether he is a worthwhile late-round pick this season.
Once an early-career RB1 with the Chiefs, Hunt’s trajectory changed dramatically after his departure from Kansas City in 2018. Once a top fantasy contributor, he fell into a backup role behind Nick Chubb with the Cleveland Browns, where inconsistent playing time due to suspension and injuries further limited his upside.
From Chiefs Star to Browns Backup: The Rise and Fall Before 2024
During his first two seasons, Hunt emerged as an elite running back, posting several top-12 fantasy finishes and demonstrating a potential long-term feature back. However, following his trade to Cleveland, injuries and a suspension led him to miss one-third of his first 48 games there. His fantasy production from 2019 to 2021 hovered in the RB2 range, averaging between 12.7 and 13.8 points per game, significantly below his peak output in Kansas City.
Hunt’s decline intensified over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, evidenced by a career-low 3.0 yards per carry in 2023 and an underwhelming 7.9 fantasy points per game average. The Browns opted not to re-sign him after that season, and Hunt entered the 2024 campaign without an NFL team, appearing to be at the end of his professional football career.
The Unexpected 2024 Rebound After Pacheco’s Injury Opens Doors
Isiah Pacheco’s broken leg in the second week of the 2024 season left Kansas City with one of the NFL’s most depleted running back rooms. With Carson Steele stepping up as the initial lead back in Pacheco’s absence, the Chiefs soon decided to bring back their former star, Kareem Hunt, to stabilize the backfield.
Hunt quickly became the featured ball carrier, receiving 14 rushing attempts in his first game back. From Weeks 5 to 12, Hunt consistently retained a snap share above 55%, hitting 20 or more carries every game between Weeks 5 and 9. His volume translated to solid fantasy returns, with a remarkable 18.0 points per game average over Weeks 5 to 10, reminiscent of his athletic prime nearly a decade earlier.
This resurgence culminated in at least one touchdown for Hunt with the Chiefs, reaffirming his ability to contribute when given the opportunity.
Limited Role Resumes Once Pacheco Returns to Health
Pacheco’s late-season return had an immediate impact on Hunt’s fantasy viability. Once the lead back regained the role, Hunt’s fantasy production sharply declined, scoring more than eight points in only one game from Weeks 13 to 17. His diminished workload relegated him to a change-of-pace role, echoing his position earlier in the 2024 season when the Chiefs attempted to reinstate Pacheco as the feature back.
During that brief period, Hunt’s snap percentages dropped to 27% and 37% in Weeks 14 and 15, with six and 14 touches respectively, resulting in fantasy outputs of 3.9 and 5.9 points — totals that fall short of fantasy startable levels.
Analyzing the Quality Behind Hunt’s Volume-Driven Numbers
Hunt’s 2024 fantasy resurgence was largely due to heavy usage rather than efficiency or explosive ability. His average of 3.6 yards per carry and a target share of just 6.8% underscored an underlying decline in playmaking. With a mere 4.1 yards per touch, Hunt ranked outside the top 50 NFL backs, while his 16.1% evaded tackles per touch rate placed him near the bottom of the league at 46th.
These metrics reveal a player who no longer possesses the dynamic traits needed to reliably produce high fantasy returns without substantial volume. Hunt’s status as a plodder at this stage constrains his ceiling, making his value heavily dependent on opportunity rather than talent.
Chiefs Backfield Competition and Depth Heading Into 2025
The Kansas City running back room remains a crowded and uncertain space for Hunt. Although the team chose to retain him for 2025, they also acquired Elijah Mitchell, a former San Francisco 49ers lead back with more apparent talent but similar questions about durability and draft pedigree as a former sixth-round pick. Additionally, rookie Brashard Smith, a converted wide receiver, brings unpredictability and potential as a versatile back, possibly filling a role comparable to Jerick McKinnon’s.
With these additions, the backfield battle will ultimately be decided on performance rather than reputation, leaving Hunt’s role far from guaranteed. Pacheco is still viewed as the top talent in the group, and if he returns to form after his injury, he should resume his position as the Chiefs’ lead running back in 2025.
Fantasy Community’s View and Draft Strategies Surrounding Hunt
Most fantasy managers have reacted to this uncertainty by dropping Hunt’s average draft position to RB57, signaling a consensus that without injuries, he likely offers little standalone value. Even though Elijah Mitchell may be the more talented option physically, Andy Reid’s trust in Hunt gives the veteran a marginal edge in depth charts but not enough to challenge Pacheco’s lead status.
Hunt will primarily be viewed as a late-round handcuff, potentially useful only if Pacheco sustains another injury. In that event, Hunt could see a roughly 60/40 split of carries with Mitchell, making him an emergency starter rather than a weekly contributor. Ranked as RB64 by some analysts, Hunt’s profile fits that of a depth stash rather than a reliable fantasy starter.
Expert Projection Highlights Hunt’s Role and Risks
Frank Ammirante projects Hunt as a dependable but uninspiring interior runner who accumulated 728 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. However, Ammirante underscores Hunt’s limited big-play ability and diminished explosiveness, emphasizing his role as a plodder rather than an impactful athlete.
With Pacheco improving as he recovers further from his injury, Ammirante expects Pacheco will reclaim the lead back responsibilities, further diminishing Hunt’s opportunities. The presence of Elijah Mitchell and Brashard Smith adds more competition, likely confining Hunt to a specialist or bench role. For redraft leagues, Hunt is deemed virtually undraftable, with even Best Ball formats presenting a risk that managers should avoid.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect From Kareem Hunt in 2025 Fantasy Football
While Kareem Hunt defied expectations briefly in 2024 due to unique circumstances, his outlook for 2025 is clouded by limited efficiency and a return to backup duties behind Pacheco. His workload-driven production won’t be replicated without significant injuries ahead, making him better suited as a reserve or handcuff option rather than a serious late-round pick.
Fantasy managers aiming to build more reliable rosters should prioritize younger, more dynamic backs, given Hunt’s age and declining athleticism. Unless Pacheco is sidelined, Hunt’s versatility will primarily serve as insurance rather than a foundation piece for fantasy success this year.