Sione Vaki

Sione Vaki News

Sione Vaki Hard to Trust as More than a Stash Option in Week 3

Across his first two games of 2026, Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki has recorded 38 scrimmage yards on five touches. With veteran Lions back Isiah Pacheco (back, knee) currently on Injured Reserve, Vaki has served as the team's RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs. However, Detroit has given Gibbs the vast majority of its backfield work so far this season, utilizing Vaki mostly as a pass-protector for quarterback Jared Goff. Vaki has almost no history of being an impactful offensive player, as he has recorded just 15 touches across 29 career games with the Lions. While the 25-year-old carries some stash appeal in deeper fantasy leagues as a handcuff running back option, Vaki should likely remain on the bench for fantasy managers in his Week 3 matchup against the New York Jets.

Sep 25, 2026 4:01 PM EST

Sione Vaki Moves Into Handcuff Territory

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki is not getting enough touches to help fantasy lineups, but his spot in the backfield suddenly matters a lot more. Vaki has three carries for 14 yards and two catches for 24 yards through two games, including 20 total yards on two touches against Buffalo. Detroit now lists him directly behind Jahmyr Gibbs on the depth chart, with Jacob Saylors third. Isiah Pacheco (back) is also expected to miss significant time after undergoing surgery, so this does not look like a temporary one-week opening. Gibbs is still handling a massive share of the backfield work, which leaves Vaki without much standalone value. The appeal is what happens if Gibbs ever misses time. RotoBaller includes Vaki among its high-upside handcuffs and recommends him in 14-team PPR leagues. He is a deep bench stash right now, but the path to a much larger role is clearer than his five touches through two games would suggest.

Sep 22, 2026 11:34 AM EST

Sione Vaki Remains a Risky Start in Week 2 Despite Emerging Role in Detroit

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki emerged as his team's RB2 in Week 1, playing 29% of Detroit's offensive snaps in its overtime win over the New Orleans Saints. With Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (back, knee) expected to miss three-plus months after undergoing back surgery, Vaki could have an extended runway as the primary backup to star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. However, Vaki still projects to play a limited role on offense, as he recorded two carries for seven yards and one catch for 11 yards in Week 1. With Gibbs fully healthy heading into Detroit's matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, RotoBaller ranks Vaki as the RB68 in Week 2. Deeper-league managers may want to consider stashing Vaki off the waiver wire for his handcuff appeal, but he's not worthy of starting consideration against the Bills.

Sep 16, 2026 4:30 PM EST

Sione Vaki Emerging as Detroit's No. 2 Back

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki only had three touches in Sunday's 31-30 overtime win over New Orleans, but his playing time made the bigger statement. Vaki carried twice for seven yards and caught his only target for 11 more while logging 22 offensive snaps. Jacob Saylors did not play an offensive snap, and Detroit's current depth chart now lists Vaki second behind Jahmyr Gibbs. That matters even more after Isiah Pacheco underwent back surgery and was given an estimated 12-week recovery timeline. Gibbs is still going to dominate this backfield after handling 34 touches in the opener, so Vaki has little immediate starting value. The path behind him is much cleaner than it looked a week ago, though. Vaki still needs to improve after an uneven opener, particularly in pass protection, but he has the first crack at the reserve role while Pacheco is sidelined. He is worth stashing in 14-team PPR leagues and deeper formats before Detroit's backfield hierarchy becomes more settled.

Sep 15, 2026 11:20 AM EST

Sione Vaki Has a Path to Week 1 Touches

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki has a little more life as a deep-league stash with Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve. Dan Campbell said Vaki and Jacob Saylors will split the No. 2 role behind Jahmyr Gibbs against New Orleans, so there is no clean handcuff here. Still, Vaki has earned some trust. Campbell liked the progress he made as both a runner and pass catcher during camp and said he is comfortable using him when Gibbs needs a breather. The problem is we have barely seen Vaki on offense in the NFL. He has seven career carries for 18 yards and three catches for 37 yards, while Saylors is going to get work too. Vaki is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues and sits in the 14-team PPR range on the current waiver list. That makes him more of a cheap bench swing than someone to start in Week 1.

Sep 8, 2026 11:49 AM EST

Sione Vaki Competing for the RB2 Role in Detroit?

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki is a "natural pass-catcher," and "the opportunity is there" for him to cut into presumed Lions RB2 Isiah Pacheco's touches, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. A fourth-round pick in 2024, Vaki has mostly played special teams through his first two professional seasons and has just seven career NFL carries. The Lions still have star running back Jahmyr Gibbs firmly atop their running back depth chart, but the team replaced veteran RB2 David Montgomery with Pacheco over the offseason. Pacheco has significantly more experience than Vaki, but he's averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on over 200 attempts since the start of the 2024 season. If Vaki can prove himself with a strong performance in training camp and the preseason, he could potentially threaten Pacheco's status as the Lions' clear backup running back. In deeper dynasty leagues, Vaki could be worth stashing just in case he emerges as the handcuff option in Detroit should Gibbs get injured.

Jul 24, 2026 9:08 PM EST

Sione Vaki Downgraded To Out

The Detroit Lions downgraded special teamer Sione Vaki (groin) to out during Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens. Listed as a running back, Vaki is a key part of the Lions' special teams, but doesn't have much of a role on offense. His injury will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks for Detroit fans, but he's not on the radar for fantasy.

Sep 22, 2025 11:11 PM EST

Lions' Sione Vaki Questionable To Return

The Detroit Lions said running back Sione Vaki (groin) is questionable to return to their Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens. Though he's listed officially as a running back, the second-year player doesn't factor much in the offense, but is a key special teamer for the Lions. A two-way player who also played safety at Utah, Vaki was a fourth-round selection of the Lions in 2024. From a fantasy perspective, Vaki isn't a rosterable player, even in IDP leagues.

Sep 22, 2025 9:37 PM EST

Sione Vaki Not Playing Against Bears

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Chicago Bears. He was limited in practice this week but was not expected to play after the Lions listed him as doubtful. The 24-year-old played in 16 games last year, totaling 51 scrimmage yards, but has not yet stepped on the field in his second pro campaign. Craig Reynolds will continue to operate as the Lions' No. 3 running back behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

Sep 14, 2025 11:40 AM EST

Sione Vaki Rushes for 30 Yards in Preseason Debut

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki rushed for 30 yards on five carries in his 2025 preseason debut against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday. Vaki has been dealing with a lingering hamstring injury throughout training camp, but he returned to practice in full earlier this week. The second-year back is "showing good vision and wiggle," according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. A fourth-round pick out of Utah in 2024, Vaki is competing with veteran Craig Reynolds for the RB3 job in Detroit behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Vaki is still new to the running back position after playing mostly as a safety in college, so his development could take longer than the average young player. With Gibbs and Montgomery ahead of him on the depth chart, Vaki is highly unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025.

Aug 17, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Sione Vaki Leaves Practice with Leg Injury

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (leg) left practice on Monday with a leg injury and did not return, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. The Lions drafted Vaki out of Utah in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. The 23-year-old mostly played safety in college, but Detroit drafted him as a running back and has been developing him at the position. Stuck behind David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Craig Reynolds in a crowded Lions' backfield, Vaki mostly played special teams as a rookie. He played in 16 games but recorded just six rushing attempts. Vaki is unlikely to be a factor in fantasy this season either way, but a serious injury could impact his long-term outlook. His status will become clearer when Lions head coach Dan Campbell next meets with the media.

Jul 21, 2025 9:27 PM EST

Sione Vaki Leads Backfield In Preseason Opener

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki rushed four times for 29 yards during Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Giants. He broke off a solid 15-yard run in the effort, but perhaps his best play was a fumble recovery after a Giants defender lost the football on an interception return. A fourth-round pick out of Utah, Vaki projects to make the 53-man roster, slotting in behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs on the running back depth chart. He's an appealing option in deep dynasty leagues (and even deeper redraft formats) given that he could earn a handful of opportunities if Montgomery or Gibbs miss any time in 2024.

Aug 9, 2024 3:34 AM EST

Sione Vaki’s Shoulder Injury Not A Long-Term Concern

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki's (shoulder) shoulder injury, which forced him out of practice on Thursday, isn't a long-term concern, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters at Friday's training camp. The Lions grabbed Vaki in the fourth round of this past spring's NFL Draft to bolster their backfield depth chart, but he'll most likely be a healthy inactive on game days this fall while co-starters David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are healthy. The 23-year-old rookie tailback out of Utah should see a decent amount of run in the preseason, however, which starts up on Thursday against the hosting New York Giants in the Meadowlands. For the time being, Craig Reynolds will serve as Detroit's No. 3 back at practice.

Aug 2, 2024 3:00 PM EST