The Kansas City Chiefs are in the middle of a playoff chase. But regardless whether they get into the playoffs or not, they will have to take a look at their running back situation for next season.
Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt will both be free agents next year, and Brashard Smith hasn’t been able to live up to the hype in their rookie year. While some have clamored for Breece Hall to be a target in free agency and even a draft pick like Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love to add some juice to the running back room next offseason, the Chiefs may have received a gift when the Houston Texans waived Dameon Pierce on Thursday according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A fourth-year veteran, Pierce hasn’t been able to build off his strong rookie season. But now that he’s available, he has the chance to not only solve the Chiefs’ running back problem for their playoff push but be part of the future in the backfield.
Dameon Pierce Could Be a Winning Lottery Ticket for Chiefs’ Backfield
The Chiefs issues at running back have been glaring this season. Entering Week 12, Kansas City ranks 12th in yards per attempt (4.5) but is 16th with 115.3 rushing yards per game. While the Chiefs run the ball efficiently, they could use some backs with less mileage.
Hunt leads the team in rushing with 353 yards and six touchdowns but while he has a 60.5% success rate, he’ll turn 31 next August. The Chiefs were hoping that Pacheco could rebound after missing most of last year with a fractured tibia but he has also lacked explosiveness with just 329 yards and a touchdown. And Smith has the game-breaking ability the Chiefs may be looking for, but the coaching staff hasn’t trusted him with a bigger role after gaining 82 yards on 28 carries.
Pierce doesn’t give the Chiefs a flashy option but he may be reliable enough to get the job done. A fourth-round pick out of Florida in the 2022 draft, Pierce had a great rookie season with 939 yards rushing and four touchdowns. But after finishing ninth in the voting for the AP’s Rookie of the Year Award voting, Pierce never regained the trust of head coach DeMeco Ryans, running for just 735 yards and four touchdowns in the past three seasons combined. Consider, however, how his career efficiency stacks up compared to the recent performance of the Chiefs' backfield:
Pierce Quietly Stacks Up Well Compared to Chiefs' Current Stable
- Dameon Pierce (career): 4.0 yards per carry
- Isiah Pacheco (2024-2025): 4.0 yards per carry
- Kareem Hunt (2024-2025): 3.8 yards per carry
- Brashard Smith (2025): 2.9 yards per carry
Keep in mind that the Chiefs also are a much better run-blocking team than the Texans, ranking 13th in PFF's run-block grade in 2025 (compared to Houston's 23rd) and 8th in 2024 (compared to Houston's 25th).
Despite the drop in usage, Pierce remains a short-term gamble that could have long-term benefits. At 25 years old, Pierce doesn’t have the mileage of a typical running back in his mid-20s and could be the tough yardage back to replace Pacheco if he leaves in free agency next spring. While he doesn’t have an explosive element in his game, he could still serve as a depth piece, especially if the Chiefs warm up to Smith, sign Hall or draft a back next April.
While the Chiefs would have to win the waiver wire or hope he clears, Pierce should be an addition the front office should consider as a lottery ticket that could hit big.