Isiah Pacheco
Running Back #10
Isiah Pacheco News
No Timeline for Isiah Pacheco's Return
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that he does not want to put a timeline on running back Isiah Pacheco's (back) return after the team placed him on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. "He's doing everything that he can to get back. He's steadily feeling better," Holmes said. Pacheco's fantasy stock continues to fall because of injuries after he was brought to Detroit in free agency to handle change-of-pace duties behind stud All-Pro back Jahmyr Gibbs. The 27-year-old will miss at least the first four games in 2026, and possibly more if he is not ready by then. With Pacheco now injured, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors will battle for RB2 scraps behind Gibbs, who is one of the few elite workhorse backs left in the NFL. Pacheco, a former seventh-rounder in 2022 from Rutgers, had 1,765 combined rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two years with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023, adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and two more TDs as a receiver. But he played in only 20 games the last two years and finished with 772 rushing yards and two touchdowns and 31 catches for 180 yards and a score.
Sep 2, 2026 9:59 AM EST
Lions Place Isiah Pacheco on Injured Reserve
The Detroit Lions announced on Tuesday that they placed running back Isiah Pacheco (back) on Injured Reserve. Pacheco will now have to wait until at least Week 5 to make his Lions debut in 2026. The 27-year-old also missed time in training camp this summer with a sprained MCL in his knee, so the injury issues that plagued his final two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and 2025 have followed him to Detroit. Pacheco was not expected to see much volume behind three-down workhorse Jahmyr Gibbs, but his fantasy appeal as a late-round handcuff now takes another hit. In Pacheco's absence, Sione Vaki is expected to serve as Detroit's RB2, with Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small fighting for expanded roles as well. Pacheco had a combined 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his first two years in KC, adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and another two scores as a receiver. However, he managed to play in only 20 games over the last two seasons and produced 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in the last two years.
Sep 1, 2026 12:36 PM EST
Isiah Pacheco Up in the Air for Week 1 With Back, Knee Injuries
When asked about Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco's (back, knee) status for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Dan Campbell said, "I can't give you anything definitive." Campbell said that Pacheco picked up a back injury in training camp, in addition to his MCL sprain, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Right now, Pacheco's knee is not the concern. If the 27-year-old Pacheco is unavailable to play in the season opener in early September, Sione Vaki is likely to step up into the RB2 role in Detroit behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco ran for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns on 375 carries while adding 57 catches for 374 yards and two more TDs as a receiver in his first two years with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023, but he combined for just 201 carries, 772 rushing yards, and two touchdowns in 20 games in the last two years while dealing with various injuries. When healthy, he's expected to be the backup in a change-of-pace role for Gibbs, but he is not selling himself as a handcuff target for fantasy managers with more injury issues before the start of the 2026 season. Right now, Pacheco is ranked as the RB54 at RotoBaller.
Aug 27, 2026 8:37 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco Can Follow in the Footsteps of a Different Ball-Carrier
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco didn't have the greatest stint in Kansas City, but landing with the Lions should allow him to be utilized in a more appropriate fashion. We expect the Lions to use Pacheco in short-yardage scenarios, giving Jahmyr Gibbs an opportunity for a breather. That's similar to what we have seen in years past from David Montgomery, who handled some early-down work and got involved near the line to gain or the goal line. That role saw Montgomery score 33 touchdowns over the last three seasons, so there's a real growth opportunity here for Pacheco, who has never scored more than seven touchdowns in a single season. While Gibbs is the undisputed No. 1 back here, Pacheco is a solid handcuff who also has some standalone fantasy value because of his ability to score touchdowns in a really favorable system and environment. The 27-year-old currently ranks as the RB57 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Aug 26, 2026 9:07 PM EST
Isiah Pacheco Will Not Practice Next Week
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) will not practice this week, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain during last week's practice, and it reportedly won't affect his Week 1 status. However, with Pacheco's injury and Jacob Saylors (ankle) dealing with a minor injury, the team signed running back Trayveon Williams to a one-year contract. If this knee sprain lingers as the season approaches, Pacheco could lose reps to star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who has proven he can be a full workhorse back. Fantasy managers of Gibbs and Pacheco should monitor the former Kansas City Chiefs back's status closely, since missed time could impact both players in fantasy.
Aug 16, 2026 7:51 PM EST
Isiah Pacheco Has MCL Sprain, Should Be Ready for Week 1
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) is dealing with a sprained MCL, but head coach Dan Campbell told the media that the team still feels good about his Week 1 availability, according to beat writer Nolan Bianchi. Pacheco signed a one-year deal in the offseason but having now missed a string of training camp practices, the Lions have leaned on third-year back Sione Vaki to handle an expanded workload as three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs ramps back up from an early training camp hold-in that resulted in him becoming the league's highest paid running back. After splitting the backfield with David Montgomery for his first three seasons, Gibbs is expected to handle close to a bell cow role in 2026, limiting Pacheco's standalone value but making him one of fantasy's most important handcuff backs and a player who can generally be found in the closing rounds of drafts as RotoBaller's RB44.
Aug 10, 2026 6:28 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco and Sione Vaki Splitting First Team Reps in Gibbs' Absence
With an unexpected absence at the top of the depth chart, Detroit Lions running backs Isiah Pacheco and Sione Vaki have been splitting first-team reps in the early days of training camp. Three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs has not been practicing as he seeks a long-term contract extension, and head coach Dan Campbell is taking advantage of an opportunity to load his other backs up with valuable work. Pacheco signed a one-year deal this offseason and is expected to handle parts of the vacated David Montgomery role, while Vaki enters his third season with the team after Detroit spent a fourth-round pick on him following a collegiate career in which he played predominantly on the defensive side of the ball. While Campbell has expressed confidence that an extension with Gibbs will get done, he is not overlooking the situation in front of him and is using it to prepare both players for any unexpected call to action over the course of a long 17-game season.
Jul 31, 2026 6:01 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco a Flex-Worthy Back with Immense Insurance Upside
When Detroit Lions veterans gather for training camp on July 28, free agent acquisition Isiah Pacheco will have his first opportunity to prove that the Lions still possess the top running back tandem in the league. Expectations are through the roof for three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs following the offseason trade that sent David Montgomery to the Texans, but having already handled 337 opportunities in 2025, it's unrealistic to think he'll absorb the bulk of Montgomery's 182 vacated touches, and so in factors Pacheco. After racking up more than 2,100 yards and 14 touchdowns across his first two years with the Chiefs, Pacheco has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons that have seen his efficiency plummet and limited him to only 952 total yards. In Detroit, he won't be asked to carry the load, but the opportunities he does see could be of the high-value variety, with the Lions again projected to have one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league and Montgomery averaging 16 carries from within the five-yard line over his three seasons with the team. At RotoBaller's WR43, Pacheco holds enough standalone value to make him worthy of selection at the end of 2026 drafts, but his true value comes through the insurance he provides as a back capable of handling an every-down role in a worst-case injury scenario.
Jul 20, 2026 6:26 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco the Clear RB2 in Detroit
The Detroit Lions have made it clear that running back Jahmyr Gibbs will be their bell-cow back in 2026, which means that newcomer Isiah Pacheco must prepare for a backup role in his new digs, according to Kory Woods of MLive Media Group. Pacheco, who won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a one-year deal with Detroit to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans in early March. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Rutgers started 31 of 34 games in the last three seasons in KC, but he's preparing for a much different role in Detroit. He's looking at a drastically reduced role in the Lions' backfield, especially after dealing with injuries in recent seasons. Pacheco missed nine games in 2024 with a broken right fibula and missed a month with an MCL sprain in 2024. In his first two years in the league, Pacheco averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry, but that number has dropped to 3.8 yards per attempt the last two years. Pacheco is committed to his new role behind Gibbs, but he has tumbled to No. 44 in RotoBaller's RB rankings for the 2026 campaign, making him more of a handcuff for Gibbs' managers.
Jun 27, 2026 8:04 AM EST
Is Isiah Pacheco a Sneaky Sleeper Running Back in Redraft Formats?
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 in a backup role behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. It's a new role for Pacheco, who spent most of his first four seasons in the NFL as the RB1 for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Pacheco has struggled with both injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons, missing 14 games and averaging just 3.8 yards per carry since the start of the 2024 campaign. In Detroit, Pacheco's touches will be limited as long as Gibbs remains healthy. Still, former Lions RB2 David Montgomery recorded 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. If Pacheco can assume a similar role as the thunder to Gibbs' lightning, he could be a productive player for fantasy managers in 2026. Pacheco's handcuff appeal is obvious as well, as he profiles as the clear winner in the Detroit backfield if Gibbs suffers an injury. In redraft leagues, Pacheco could be a late-round sleeper to target in drafts.
Jun 22, 2026 8:20 AM EST
Will a Change of Scenery Re-Ignite Isiah Pacheco's Dynasty Value?
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco finds himself in a new place for the 2026 season, and it could be exactly what he needs to get back on track as a fantasy-relevant running back in dynasty leagues. Pacheco spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs, finishing higher than RB37 just once. He was the RB15 in 2023, but injuries cost him 14 games over the last two years, and he wasn't particularly effective when healthy, either. The Chiefs used him as more of a primary running back, getting him involved on rushing and passing downs, while the Lions may use him as more of a short-yardage option to move the chains or get into the end zone. That could mean fewer touches and yards per carry, but more touchdowns and more of a clear-cut role. The new landing spot could vault Pacheco back into the top 36 fantasy running backs, making him a low-end RB3/flex on a weekly basis. As it stands, he is the RB55 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
May 29, 2026 7:29 AM EST
Can Isiah Pacheco Re-Establish His Dynasty Value in Detroit?
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 looking to revitalize his career after consecutive disastrous seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and 2025. A fractured fibula limited Pacheco to seven games in 2024, and he recorded just 563 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns across 13 games in 2025. The Lions signed Pacheco to a modest one-year, $1.8 million contract in free agency, and he figures to serve as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. While Gibbs' presence obviously limits Pacheco's fantasy upside, former Lions back David Montgomery collected 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while playing behind Gibbs in 2025. Should Pacheco see similar usage to Montgomery, he could be a matchup-dependent flex option while carrying latent handcuff upside. His dynasty stock has obviously taken a hit over the past couple of seasons, but Pacheco may still be a decent buy-low target for dynasty managers.
May 8, 2026 12:59 PM EST
Is Isiah Pacheco a Worthy Buy-Low Target for Dynasty Managers?
Veteran running back Isiah Pacheco had a disastrous year in his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025. Across 13 games, the 27-year-old recorded 563 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 137 touches. Pacheco signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions in free agency, where he will serve as the RB2 behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco's star has fallen quite a bit in recent seasons, as he's failed to average four yards per carry since 2023 and has missed 14 games over the past two years due to injury. Still, Detroit is a solid landing spot for his fantasy value. Former Lions back David Montgomery scored 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons in a role similar to the one Pacheco will likely fill in 2026. Additionally, any injury to Gibbs would immediately vault Pacheco into the RB1 role in Detroit. In dynasty formats, Pacheco could be a decent buy-low target for fantasy managers.
Apr 17, 2026 12:37 PM EST
Can Isiah Pacheco Bounce Back in RB2 Role in Detroit?
Running back Isiah Pacheco signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract with the Detroit Lions in free agency this year after winning two Super Bowls in his first four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old former seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of Rutgers looked like a potential star in the NFL in his first two years in the league, averaging 4.7 yards per carry for 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 31 games (24 starts) in 2022 and 2023. He added 57 receptions on 63 targets for 374 yards and two additional touchdowns. The last two years, unfortunately, were injury-riddled disappointments, as he averaged 3.8 yards per tote for 772 yards and only two rushing TD in 20 games (18 starts), adding 31 catches for 180 yards and another receiving TD. In Detroit, he'll essentially replace David Montgomery as the RB2 behind do-it-all lead back Jahmyr Gibbs. There's some bounce-back potential if Pacheco is healthy, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect the kind of volume that Montgomery had with the Lions, especially not near the goal line.
Mar 27, 2026 4:49 PM EST
Lions Signing Isiah Pacheco on Tuesday
The Detroit Lions are signing free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Pacheco will essentially replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans, as the backfield complement to starter Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. The 27-year-old former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Rutgers had 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 375 carries for the Chiefs in his first two years in the league, but injuries slowed him down the last two years, as he had a combined 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in 2024 and 2025. The landing spot with the Lions is certainly a good one for a potential bounce-back campaign for Pacheco in his fifth year in the league, and he won't cost much late in drafts this fall as a handcuff for Gibbs.
Mar 10, 2026 9:18 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco Unlikely to Return to Chiefs?
The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco is "likely to sign elsewhere" in free agency this offseason. Pacheco did not show his pre-injury burst out of the backfield in 2025, averaging 3.9 yards per carry while rushing for 462 yards and just one touchdown on 118 rushing attempts in 13 games played. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL scouting combine, but he hasn't shown that same speed after a productive first two seasons in the NFL. In addition to his declining speed, he hasn't established himself as a receiving threat out of the backfield, with his 44-catch season in 2023 looking like an outlier. On top of injuries the last two seasons, Pacheco's fantasy stock is down as he enters free agency. Pacheco's 2026 fantasy value will depend on where he's playing, but most likely, he'll be involved in some sort of timeshare after struggling the last two seasons.
Feb 20, 2026 10:44 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco Not Assured of Starting Role Going Forward After Shaky 2025 Season
After an injury-marred campaign in 2024, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco entered 2025 in need of a bounce-back effort. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old struggled with inefficiency, recording 563 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 137 touches across 13 games played. Pacheco averaged just 3.9 yards per carry, his second-straight season under four yards per rush attempt after averaging 4.7 yards per carry over the first two years of his career. Pacheco spent most of the 2025 season splitting backfield work with veteran Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, with Hunt dominating touches in short-yardage situations and around the goal line. Pacheco is now set to hit unrestricted free agency, so he's not guaranteed to be back in Kansas City. Based on his performance over the last two seasons, it's not hard to imagine a scenario where Pacheco finds himself in a committee backfield or even a straight RB2 role for the 2026 season. In dynasty formats, Pacheco's future fantasy value profiles as uncertain at best coming off his shaky 2025 campaign.
Feb 5, 2026 11:28 AM EST
Isiah Pacheco Sitting Out Week 18 Against Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (rest) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Pacheco had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity this past week. His reduced workload in practice was not injury-related, as the Chiefs allowed him to rest because they had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Kareem Hunt is active on Sunday afternoon and should operate as the primary running back in this Chris Oladokun-led offense. We also wouldn't be surprised to see rookie Brashard Smith earn more snaps if Kansas City wants to evaluate his role and viability for the 2026 campaign.
Jan 4, 2026 3:12 PM EST
Isiah Pacheco Could be Rested Against Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (rest) is officially listed as questionable for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders after being limited in practice all week. Meanwhile, fellow RB Kareem Hunt (illness) practiced in full on Friday and was removed from the final injury report. Hunt missed the first two practices of the week. The Chiefs have nothing left to play for, so they could opt to rest Pacheco in the final game of the season. Pacheco began to see more work than Hunt in recent weeks, but with him potentially being rested in Week 18, fantasy managers would be smart to stay away. If Pacheco doesn't play this weekend, he'll finish his fourth year in the NFL with 118 carries for 462 yards and one touchdown on the ground in 13 games, adding 19 receptions for 101 yards and one more TD on 16 targets.
Jan 2, 2026 5:42 PM EST
Isiah Pacheco Remains the Lead Rusher in Kansas City
Across 13 games this season, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has recorded 563 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 137 touches. The 26-year-old has not recorded more than 34 rushing yards in a game or scored a rushing touchdown since Week 8. However, Pacheco maintains a consistent role in the Kansas City offense, averaging over 11 touches per game over the last three weeks. Pacheco appears to have wrestled the RB1 role for the Chiefs away from fellow back Kareem Hunt, as he's earned double the touches of Hunt over that same three-game period. Kansas City has been consistently chasing points during its ongoing five-game losing streak, which limits opportunities to run the football. However, the Chiefs could have a chance to play with a lead in their Week 18 matchup against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. In fantasy leagues with 10 or more teams, Pacheco could be a running back worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.
Dec 29, 2025 10:20 PM EST
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