Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Ashton Jeanty

Saturday, October 4, 10:11 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night in Week 5. Pacheco rushed seven times for 35 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens. Pacheco finished second in carries and rushing yards in Week 4, but he's locked into a backfield committee with Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith. Hunt finished last week's game with the most carries, and Smith's involvement in the offense has increased each week. Pacheco will have to contend with backfield competition and the Jaguars, who allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. The 26-year-old should continue handling RB2 duties this Monday night, but it will be interesting to see how the touches are divided. Pacheco is ranked RB35 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, putting him in the RB3/Flex conversation this week.

Monday, October 6, 3:17 PM

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had some good words to say about rookie first-round running back Ashton Jeanty after his first five games in the league. "I think Ashton is handling everything beautifully," Carroll said. The 21-year-old Boise State product was a disappointment for fantasy managers who took him early in drafts through the first three weeks, but then he showcased his game-changing playmaking skills in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears when he ran for 138 yards and a touchdown on a season-high 21 carries. He has two rushing TDs and has also added two receiving scores, but he only has 12 receptions through five weeks. In the Week 5 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Jeanty had single-game career highs in targets, catches, and receiving yards. It hasn't been perfect early on in the Raiders' struggling offense, but Jeanty's explosiveness is evident, making him a must-start RB1 every week. He could easily bust out again in Week 6 versus the one-win Titans.