After just a week on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, Kareem Hunt has been elevated to the active roster.

The Chiefs added the seasoned running back to their 53-man roster on Tuesday, as reported by ESPN’s Field Yates. To accommodate Hunt’s signing, Keaontay Ingram, who had recently moved to the active roster, was released ahead of the team’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Kansas City brought in Hunt before Week 3, following the injury of starting running back Isiah Pacheco, who is expected to be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks. Having been picked by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft, he is anticipated to quickly adjust to Andy Reid’s playbook and make an impact in the team’s running game.

Now that Hunt is officially part of the team, questions remain regarding his role within the Chiefs’ backfield.

Current RB Situation for the Chiefs

With Hunt’s arrival and Ingram’s exit, the Chiefs now have three running backs on their 53-man roster:

• Carson Steele
• Samaje Perine
• Kareem Hunt

Steele and Perine were the sole running backs to play in the game against Atlanta without Pacheco, significantly contributing to the team’s performance. Steele primarily handled the inside runs, while Perine was mostly utilized for passing plays.

In the game, Steele played 62 percent of the Chiefs’ snaps compared to Perine’s 38 percent. Their carries reflected this distribution, with Steele receiving 19 touches (including 17 carries) and Perine making nine (six carries). Steele gained 72 yards on the ground, while Perine accumulated 25, yet Perine was utilized effectively in the passing game, outpacing Steele with 15 receiving yards against Steele’s 2.

It’s anticipated that Steele and Perine will continue in these roles next week, but it’s plausible that they will share some snaps with Hunt, who may not be ready for a large workload just yet.

Fantasy Implications for Kareem Hunt

Hunt’s specific role within Kansas City’s lineup remains uncertain. The 29-year-old remained unsigned for the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, raising questions about his readiness to play and fit into the game plan.

However, given Hunt’s versatile skills as both a runner and a receiver, he could be a great addition as a hybrid player, especially considering the one-dimensional usage of Steele and Perine in their previous game.

If Hunt adapts quickly to the Chiefs’ system, he holds significant potential, potentially emerging as the leading option in the running game during Pacheco’s absence.

That said, Hunt is coming off a disappointing season with the Browns, where he averaged only 3 yards per carry over 135 attempts and caught a career-low of 15 passes for 85 yards. If he is unable to regain his earlier explosiveness, he might end up in a true three-man rotation with Steele and Perine, making each player a frustrating, touchdown-dependent fantasy option.

For those interested in picking up Hunt, there is some positive news: he achieved a career-high of nine rushing touchdowns in the 2023 season, despite his overall struggles. This touchdown ability could position him as the go-to option for short-yardage situations, complemented by his solid ball security (five fumbles across 1,256 career touches).

The potential for touchdowns makes Hunt a viable option for speculative waiver claims, especially for teams lacking depth at running back. Alternatively, fantasy players looking ahead might find it more beneficial to secure Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is set to come off the NFI list by Week 5 as the primary backup.