Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Ashton Jeanty
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.0 | 38.5 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 15.5 | 0.1 |
Isiah Pacheco News
Friday, February 20, 10:44 AM
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.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.9 | 72.0 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 18.6 | 0.1 |
Ashton Jeanty News
Thursday, February 26, 9:27 AM
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak plans to use a committee backfield in his first year at the helm in 2026, saying that "it's important for Ashton Jeanty to have a wingman." "We definitely want to have a two-man show," Kubiak added. It's bad news for Jeanty's already declining fantasy football value after a disappointing showing in his rookie season. Kubiak split the load at RB last year with the Seattle Seahawks, too, using Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in tandem on the way to a Super Bowl championship. Jeanty, the sixth overall pick last April out of Boise State, averaged just 3.7 yards per carry for 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries in 17 regular season games in a bad Raiders offense. The 22-year-old should have a better supporting cast around him, with the team expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, but a backfield timeshare in Vegas will surely cap Jeanty's fantasy upside going into Year 2.
Isiah Pacheco vs. Ashton Jeanty
Still trying to decide between Pacheco and Jeanty? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Isiah Pacheco is projected to score 11.0 points this week while Ashton Jeanty is projected to score 16.9 points.
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