Fantasy Takeaways From Super Bowl LVII: Isiah Pacheco Payoff
Super Bowl LVII is in the books, and it’s time to look ahead to the 2023 season. We already had a good idea what the Chiefs and Eagles were all about by the time we got to Arizona (shout-out to Public Enemy), but there were still a few takeaways from the Big Game that might have fantasy implications next season.
We already knew Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts were really good. Mahomes didn’t rack up a ton of yards, but he still threw three touchdown passes in Kansas City’s 38-35 victory. In a losing effort, Hurts produced 374 total yards (304 passing, 70 rushing) and four touchdowns (one passing, three rushing). We knew Travis Kelce is the best tight end on the planet. Kelce had a ho-hum six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Mr. Reliable.
But even with an entire season under our belts, there were a few takeaways from the Super Bowl that we should keep in mind as we prepare for next season.
Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports
Pacheco Payoff. For all the hype about Brock Purdy’s impact this season, let’s not forget that Isiah Pacheco was also a seventh-round draft pick, taken just 11 spots ahead of Mr. Irrelevant. Fantasy managers were excited about Pacheco as a sleeper pick heading into the 2022 season, and he came through with 830 rushing yards and five touchdowns. In the Super Bowl, he had 15 carries for 76 yards and a score, running hard and showing a burst. As long as the Chiefs have Andy Reid running the show and Mahomes under center, they will be a pass-first offense. But Pacheco established himself as the team’s No. 1 back and a legitimate fantasy weapon.
Skyy’s the limit. In his first season without Tyreek Hill, Mahomes still managed to lead the league with 5,250 passing yards. He spread the wealth – Kelce had 1,338 receiving yards, but no wide receivers had 1,000. JuJu Smith-Schuster was second with 933 yards. He’s a free agent, but even if he returns, he’s no lock to be the Chiefs’ WR1. Skyy Moore only had 250 yards receiving in 2022, but the second-round pick from Western Michigan stepped up in the postseason. Moore had a career-high seven targets in the AFC title game, and then he scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the Super Bowl. Moore’s sophomore season could be a breakout.
Ka-dangerous Toney. A 64-yard punt return that doesn’t produce a touchdown is worthless for fantasy managers, but don’t forget that Chiefs receiver Kadarius Toney also had a TD reception Sunday. Injuries and inconsistency have kept Toney from being much of a fantasy factor, but his showing in the Super Bowl will at least put him on the radar when your fantasy draft rolls around.
Gainwell gains momentum. Aside from Hurts, the Eagles didn’t have much of a running game Sunday. But it is noteworthy that Kenneth Gainwell had as many carries (7) as starter Miles Sanders. Sanders is a free agent, and it’s unlikely the Eagles will make an effort to keep him. Gainwell only had 21 yards rushing in the Super Bowl, but it’s worth noting that he also had four catches for another 20 yards. So after averaging 4.5 touches per game during the regular season, Gainwell had 11 touches in the Super Bowl. Tuck that away for next season.
