Chiefs RB Ronald Jones is a healthy scratch for today's opener vs. the Cardinals. He's behind RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco on the depth chart.

Discussing the Chiefs' backfield, ESPN's Adam Teicher writes, "one thing is clear: [Clyde] Edwards-Helaire is atop the depth chart." That's been the feeling out of Chiefs camp and in the preseason, with Edwards-Helaire starting both games. But Teicher adds that, "It certainly seems as if [Jerick] McKinnon and [Isaiah] Pacheco can carve out significant roles, McKinnon as a third-down back and Pacheco more generally." Based on preseason usage, it looks like McKinnon will open the season as the primary pass-catching back. That'd obviously hurt Edwards-Helaire's upside -- although he can still pay off his 6th- or 7th-round price tag.

The Chiefs started RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the preseason opener against the Bears. We all expected that. But rookie RB Isiah Pacheco was notably the next guy in. Pacheco got snaps in the red zone on K.C.'s opening offensive possession, including a reception. It's just 1 drive of 1 game (which is still going as of this writing), but it's another signal that we should take Pacheco's rise seriously.

Update: Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke had the 1st-drive snap counts at CEH 7, Pacheco 3, Jerick McKinnon 1. Ronald Jones didn't see the field until 2 possessions after Patrick Mahomes and other starters had left.

Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney did not include RB Ronald Jones in his latest 53-man roster projection for the Chiefs. Sweeney has RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon making the team. He believes Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco are locks, with McKinnon and Jones battling for the 3rd and final spot. "My thought is the Chiefs preferred McKinnon — but in March, signed Jones just in case McKinnon decided go elsewhere," Sweeney writes, adding that Jones could be traded to a team that loses a RB to injury over the next few weeks. This isn't the 1st time we've heard that Jones is in danger of missing Kansas City's final roster: Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire made the same prediction back in July.

Chiefs rookie RB Isiah Pacheco has been "getting good looks in training camp," according to ESPN's Adam Teacher. That has included the 6th-round pick often working ahead of Jerick McKinnon and Ronald Jones in RB drills, behind only Clyde Edwards-Helaire. It's probably a little early to consider Pacheco the #2, but this should be an open competition. And it's well worth noting that he's already factoring in that prominently, despite McKinnon and Derrick Gore being holdovers and Jones bringing much more experience.

Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire gave a projection this week for the 53-man roster and left RB Ronald Jones out. "Shocked to not see Ronald Jones' name here? [Jerick] McKinnon's return endangers him more than some are willing to admit," Goldman writes. "I'm left wondering about the things Jones does well enough to make this roster." He goes on to point out that Jones stinks in the passing game, and McKinnon has fared well in that area. We certainly agree with that. And Jones was guaranteed just $750K on his 1-year contract this offseason. Goldman's projection includes McKinnon and 7th-round rookie Isiah Pacheco making the team over Jones and Derrick Gore. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in camp and preseason. For now, we're still betting on Jones making the team. McKinnon enjoyed a nice playoff run for last year's Chiefs, but he collected just 12 carries and 20 targets for the regular season. Kansas City then let him linger on the open market until well after it had signed Jones. You can consider us unexcited about either Jones or McKinnon for fantasy football drafting.

Nate Taylor of The Athletic writes that Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s workload “should increase” in year 3. Taylor notes that training camp will turn up a position battle between CEH, Ronald Jones and Jerick McKinnon. But CEH is clearly the favorite for touches — and a clean bill of health is a big reason why. "This offseason, it was pretty much getting back to the basics, being able to have a full offseason," Edwards-Helaire said. "That was one of the things Coach (Andy) Reid and I talked about. He said, 'This is really your first real offseason in the NFL.' Really, health was the biggest thing.” CEH’s first offseason was largely done virtually due to COVID. Then last offseason, he underwent gallbladder surgery. Only 23, Edwards-Helaire is priced fairly as a fringe RB2.

The Chiefs are re-signing RB Jerick McKinnon to a 1-year deal, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. We'll see what kind of money is involved here, but it's at least noteworthy that Kansas City let McKinnon toil on the open market for about 3 months. McKinnon came up big for the Chiefs in the playoffs, carrying 34 times for 150 yards and catching 14 of 17 targets for 165 yards and a score. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was limited during that stretch coming off a shoulder injury, though. And McKinnon totaled just 12 carries and 20 targets during the regular season. We'll see how this backfield shakes out this summer between Edwards-Helaire, McKinnon and Ronald Jones.

The Chiefs placed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee) on IR. So we now know that he'll miss at least the next 3 games vs. Washington, Tennessee and the Giants. It sounds like there's a good chance he's ready when first eligible to return in Week 9. Darrel Williams is the favorite to step in as Kansas City's lead back in the meantime, with Jerick McKinnon mixing in on passing downs.

Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire sprained the MCL in his left knee in Sunday night's loss to the Bills. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the injury will keep him out for "a few weeks." Kansas City has just Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon behind Edwards-Helaire on the roster, with Derrick Gore the only RB on the practice squad. We'd bet on them adding someone else this week, though anything short of a trade is unlikely to bring in a RB with immediate fantasy football relevance. Williams figures to be the lead back for an upside scoring matchup with Washington in Week 6. After that come soft RB matchups with the Titans, Giants and Packers.

The Chiefs released RB Darwin Thompson. They're set to enter the season with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon atop the depth chart.

According to SB Nation's Arrowhead Pride blog, the Chiefs "have their No. 1 and No. 2 backs in place in starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire and third-down back Darrel Williams." That would leave Jerick McKinnon fighting for 3rd on the depth chart, with Elijah McGuire, Darwin Thompson and Derrick Gore as competitors. This might be more opinion than fact, but it's also likely based on the team's usage of its RBs so far in training camp. If you're drafting, Darrel Williams should be the 2nd Chiefs RB off the board. Don't get too high on anyone other than CEH at the position for K.C., though. There's also still the possibility that the Chiefs add another RB.

The Chiefs are signing RB Jerick McKinnon, according to NFL Network's Peter Schrager. We'll see about the contract details, but we'd expect some sort of low-risk 1-year deal. McKinnon averaged just 5.1 carries and 2.1 receptions per game with the 49ers last season, after losing 2 years to an ACL tear (plus complications). McKinnon figures to compete with Darwin Thompson and Darrel Williams for roster spots. We'll see how the backfield sorts out -- and whether Kansas City adds a RB in the draft -- but aren't interested in McKinnon for best-ball drafts right now.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that 49ers RB Raheem Mostert suffered another high-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys and is "likely" done for the season. That leaves Jeff Wilson Jr. likely to lead the Week 16 backfield, assuming his own ankle issue doesn't get in the way. Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon sit behind Wilson on the depth chart.

Update: Tom Pelissero reports that the team is placing Mostert on IR.

49ers RB Jeff Wilson appeared to injure his right hamstring late in the loss to Dallas. We’ll update his status when we learn more. Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon are left as San Francisco’s healthy RBs.

49ers RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. We don't have any details on the ankle injury, but he's clearly in some danger of missing this weekend's game vs. Dallas. Mostert's absence would presumably make Jeff Wilson San Francisco's lead back, with Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon candidates for bigger roles.

ESPN's Adam Schefter lists 49ers RBs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson among the "players returning to play this week." There's no specific report from Schefty on the 'Niners backfield, but we assume Mostert and Wilson will be active for today's game against the Rams. They should join Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty in the backfield. Mostert has been the lead back here when healthy and is the best Week 12 fantasy play.