Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith started his rookie season strong; however, an 81-yard from scrimmage outburst in Week 7 had Chiefs Kingdom feeling like he was finally ready to break out. Instead, Smith continued to be out-snapped and outperformed by veteran RB Kareem Hunt during Isiah Pacheco's ongoing absence, leaving Chiefs fans to wonder if the coaching staff had given up on the first-year pro.
But just when his outlook appeared bleak, Smith showed some much-needed signs of life in Sunday's overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Chiefs Finally Know How to Use Brashard Smith After Win vs. Colts
The ex-SMU Mustang saw his most offensive snaps (18) since his standout performance against the Las Vegas Raiders five weeks ago, making the most of his opportunities as he caught three of the four targets sent his way for 31 receiving yards.
The Chiefs might not trust Smith as a runner right now (evident by his zero carries in Week 12), but that doesn't mean he can't have a key role on offense. His speed and pass-catching abilities are the best among Kansas City's current backfield options, and failing to capitalize on those skills would be a major disservice.
Smith is a wideout-turned-RB, so it makes a ton of sense for the Chiefs to use him more often as a receiver moving forward. He tallied 69 catches for 770 yards and four TDs in his three seasons as a wide receiver with the Miami Hurricanes before posting a 39-327-4 stat line as an RB at SMU, proving that he can make an impact in the passing game no matter where he lines up.
While the opportunities haven't been abundant so far, Smith has done well in the few pass-catching opportunities he's seen as an NFL pro. Including Sunday's effort, he's up to 19 catches for 161 yards, meaning the 8.5 yards per reception he's averaging is actually in line with how he performed with the Mustangs (8.4).
It'd be interesting to see Smith used in a Jerick McKinnon-like role moving forward. The two-time Super Bowl winner was used as a change-of-pace/pass-catching back during his three seasons with the Chiefs (2021-23), amassing 811 receiving yards and 14 TDs on 94 catches while only seeing 105 carries across 42 games (2.5 attempts per) during that stretch. Interestingly enough, Smith is seeing the same number of carries per outing so far in his young career.
With Pacheco's return nearing, now might be the time when the Chiefs' RB room reaches its potential. Pacheco can be counted on as the physical back on early downs, while Hunt handles the short-yardage situations, leaving Smith open to lineup as a receiver who can give the offense an explosive play or two when it needs it.
If that happens, there's no telling what kind of damage the offense can do. That's why head coach Andy Reid's staff must continue putting Smith in spots to succeed. He's finally found a role he fits, and failing to capitalize on his newfound momentum would be a colossal mistake, especially when every upcoming game matters more than the last.