Brashard Smith’s role surges for Kansas City ahead of MNF: usage, health, and what it means for Week 8

Rookie running back Brashard Smith has moved from gadget curiosity to meaningful chess piece in Kansas City’s offense, just in time for Monday Night Football (Oct. 27, 8:15 p.m. ET) against Washington. Coaches have praised his pass-protection growth and versatility, opening snaps both in the backfield and out wide. With the playbook widening, Smith’s touches and route participation have ticked up over the past two games—momentum that could carry into a national-spotlight matchup.

Health check and depth chart context

Smith entered the week listed with a minor toe issue but practiced fully leading into the game. He remains behind the primary starter on early downs, yet his path to the field is clear in two areas: passing downs and designed space touches (jet action, screens, angle routes). Kansas City has mixed personnel packages to keep defenses in nickel, giving Smith favorable matchups on linebackers.

If the team limits a veteran back’s workload for maintenance, Smith’s snap share could expand situationally, especially on two-minute drives and third-and-medium.

How the Chiefs are using Brashard Smith

• Slot/backfield hybrid: Kansas City has motioned Smith across the formation pre-snap to diagnose coverage, then released him on option and Texas routes that punish flat-footed linebackers.

• Screen game spark: He’s become a quick-hitter outlet on slow-developing intermediate concepts, turning checkdowns into chunk gains.

• Edge stressor: Occasional orbit and jet motion forces safeties to widen, lightening the box for traditional runs.

The staff’s confidence has grown as Smith has cleaned up blitz pickups—always the gatekeeper for young backs seeking more snaps in a Patrick Mahomes offense.

Matchup vs. Washington: where the yards can come from

Washington’s front creates pressure, but its second-level coverage can be exploited by backs who release late. Expect Kansas City to:

• Use misdirection and screens to counter interior rush, putting Smith in space;

• Attack with option routes from condensed formations, letting him break in or out based on leverage;

• Lean on hurry-up packages if the tempo stalls, where Smith’s familiarity with the hurry-up menu is an asset.

If Kansas City jumps ahead, Smith’s role may shift toward clock-friendly touches and safe perimeter runs; if it’s tight, his pass-game involvement likely rises.

Fantasy and DFS outlook for Week 8

Shallow leagues: Smith is a bench stash with spot-flex upside if your roster is thin or if news breaks that limits a teammate’s role.
Deeper PPR formats: He’s a viable flex given the expanding pass-game usage; 3–6 targets is realistic in neutral scripts.
DFS showdown: Salary-saver with real leverage; one broken screen can pay it off. Correlate with a Kansas City defense build (short fields → RB receptions) or with the QB in stacks to capture pass-catching points.
Any format: His kick return ability adds a thin bonus path in leagues that credit return yards or TDs.

Risk factors: he still shares the backfield, goal-line carries skew elsewhere, and a hot night from a veteran teammate can cap his opportunities.

Numbers snapshot and background

• Size/speed profile: About 5-10, 194–196 with legit burst; a former wide receiver who transitioned to running back late in college.

• Draft/role: Seventh-round pick (2025) who earned a roster spot on special teams, then carved out an offensive niche by midseason.

• College arc: Miami to SMU, where slot usage and return skills translated into today’s hybrid role.

Those receiver roots explain the trust on option routes and the willingness to isolate him on backers in empty looks.

What to watch tonight

1. First 15 plays: If Smith appears in the scripted openers, coaches intend to feature him. Look for early screens or motion touches.

2. Third-down rotation: A clean rep in blitz pickup early typically begets more snaps.

3. Two-minute offense: End-of-half sequences are a bellwether for his status in the pecking order.

4. Red-zone creativity: Kansas City occasionally hides Smith as a decoy on orbit motion; a tendency-breaker could flip that into a scoring touch.

Rest-of-season temperature

The arrow is pointing up. Even with a capped carry count, Smith’s growing route tree and special-teams value make him sticky on active rosters. If injuries thin the depth chart—or if his pass-pro remains trustworthy—he can jump a tier from package player to weekly FLEX consideration in PPR leagues. For Kansas City, the bigger win is structural: Smith’s presence forces defenses to declare coverage and respect horizontal speed, which widens throwing lanes for the stars.

Brashard Smith is earning real work in the league’s most flexible offense. On MNF, watch for Kansas City to manufacture touches that leverage his acceleration and receiver instincts—small plays that can tilt drives, and perhaps, the result.